PEACE Family,

And I mean it when I say that - FAMILY!  This Green Jobs -ish is the shiznilly bang-boogie that gives us a platform for cross-League-affiliate collaboration like nothing before. Why:

1) We are saving the world and all its species from extinction! If you know your stuff, you can convince anyone of 1 Sky's importance.  If they want the science, the numbers are real. If they want the value - the economics are sustainable.  If they want the practicality - prisons are releasing thousands of people everyday who need training for a job that they believe in. Training that that gives life-skills AND prepares "folks who most need jobs for the jobs that most need doing." - Van Jones

2) We have Maine making big moves on the state level with a band of savvy and creative organizers. We have PA looking at Philly (where I am right now) with a strong piece of PGH on lock - traditional white progressives, a good deal of Hood buy-in, camps-game on the build-up and an overall on-fire rep that is respected.  And of course I need to shout out Wisconsin, with crazy hood juice, and all the potential for campus and progressive alliance-building in the world.

Climate change, safe and renewable energy, jobs!

Who's on our side (or will be)? Labor, green businesses, enviros, and social justice.
Its all there.

3) We are going against the "Energy" lobby, which happens to control the white house right now. But we have more positive momentum, we have more hustle, we have lots of friends on campuses and in hoods all through every state in across the country, and we look WAY better on camera than the rest.

We are also challenging manufacturing unions, which are already preparing in a big way for the new energy economy to be on our side, and open their doors to poor Black and White Folks with barriers to employment such as being formerly incarcerated.

4) The League can and needs to be SO crucial to this movement. The question is - can we UNITE to do it? What are our plans for 2008? UNITY!

A couple more points:

ROOM TO GROW - The mantra of powershift 2007. Meditate on that, and ask yourself where you and your affiliate has room to grow. How will our unity catalyze that growth?

Everything that Billy said was true with a two-piece. We have all been to a lot of conferences between our entire network. Powershift was VERY WELL ORGANIZED with $$$ like a deli - and it was INSPIRING! It was by-far the best youth conference I have ever been too. Cats were in full attendance every day at 8 AM. Fockery levels were at an all time low!

That's just how I feel. But I am ready to spend the time it takes to collaborate with every League and other group out there to ensure that we have a crucial seat at the table in this movement.

Here are a couple links, to brush up on the policy and language:
www.greenforall.org
www.apolloalliance.org
www.ssbx.org

Lets keep this conversation going. I would like to extend Billy's invitation for everyone to chime in on initial thoughts.

PEACE
Mikhail