Faith communities demand green jobs

Photo: Rep. Keith Ellison/Flickr

The green jobs movement has grown beyond the traditional environmental activist groups and is now spreading among faith-based communities. The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) and Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) have joined forces to host a series of public events to be held from Oct. 14-21, 2009, in cities across the nation. The Fighting Poverty with Faith: Good Jobs, Green Jobs initiative includes members from 34 national faith groups that represent Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Hindu communities.

 

During these daylong events, attendees will be able to learn about training seminars, home retrofits and weatherization, tour green jobs facilities, and other opportunities related to good, green jobs.

"It is tragic that in today's era, despite being the richest country in the world, there are still those who are unable to make ends meet," said Rabbi Steve Gutow, president of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. "There is no doubt that the United States is making strides to transform our nation into a more clean-energy economy. No matter if one is a Jew, Christian, Muslim, Hindu or of any other faith, all of our religious traditions have a strong ethical mandate of helping the most vulnerable among us. This central tenet of our faiths is why we are speaking as one voice to encourage our nation's leaders to make poverty reduction a central component of any initiatives ushering in this new economy." Source: PR Newswire

The weeklong series of events kicks off with a conference call on Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. EST. The public is invited to join the faith-based communities during the kick off event and the call-in information is available on the Fighting Poverty with Faith: Good Jobs, Green Jobs website.

 

On Oct. 15, the organization will be hosting the Green Pathways out of Poverty Interfaith Clergy Tour in Oakland, Calif. Participants will be able to interact with green jobs training experts and tour a green jobs work site. After the tour concludes, attendees will then be given a resources packet so that they can pass this information on to their local communities. More information on this event can be obtained by calling Jessica Trubowitch at (415) 977-7409 or Myrna David at (510) 318-6417.

 

Clergy members in Southfield, Mich., can attend the Back to the Garden: Growing Our Own Way Out of Poverty event on Oct. 20, 2009. The event will focus on urban agriculture, a trend that is growing in popularity, as vacant lots are being turned into organic countries in depressed communities around the nation. Reservations are required to attend this event; call the Jewish Community Relations Council at (248) 642-5393 to reserve your spot.

 

For more details on this program or to search for an event in your area, visit the Fighting Poverty with Faith: Good Jobs, Green Jobs website.