Over the last several years, I have been involved in various aspects of the solar industry, from funding advanced solar technology research and developing solar systems for schools to funding leasing programs to make solar affordable for home owners, to finally starting a solar and green summer camp for kids. Additionally, I have attended many conferences and made quite a few presentations advocating the importance that eco-entrepreneurs will have on our new green economy.
I have attended these conferences with as little as 200 people and as many as 20,000. Along the way I have noticed an alarming trend, which is the lack of representation by the African American community, specifically that of the African American entrepreneur.
Van Jones, author of The Green Collar Economy and founder of Green For All, a national NGO dedicated to building an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty, had this to say, "Our success and survival as a species is largely and directly tied to the new eco-entrepreneurs - and the success and survival of their enterprises." So I ask you, where is the African American entrepreneur?
I am sure that I am not the only one who notices that the African American community is not taking a leading role in growth of green technologies. Sacramento Mayor, Kevin Johnson, an African American himself, wants his city to be known as the emerald city, emerald referring to green technologies and green manufacturing. Mayor Johnson is hoping that Sacramento will be the place that eco-entrepreneurs call home when they begin investing and building the hundreds of projected green businesses of the future. The Mayor speaks at green seminars several times a month, sometimes to crowds of more than 200; however the African American community is still a minor percentage of those in attendance.
Several years ago, African American representation could be blamed on the government for not properly educating the public on the vast business opportunities that are available through the green technologies industry, however with President Obama's state of the Union Speech and recent recovery package, which dedicated billions of dollars towards training for renewable energy and energy efficiency, this cannot be the case.
Maybe the blame, or rather the responsibility, should be placed on the private sector. Through advertising and marketing they can help to spread the word and influence the public, not only on the importance of green technologies, but the opportunity the new green economy has for entrepreneurs. Or maybe it's African Americans themselves for again failing to see the opportunities lying directly in front of them today just like they have failed to see those opportunities within arm's reach in the past. Or finally maybe it's our religious leaders! While the business of God has clearly been the most successful business in the African American community for the last 200 years, the benefactors of this 10,000,000 weekly customer base may have forgotten to pass out the latest news of "the green business revolution".
Whatever the case may be, some industry experts, including myself, feel that if the current trend doesn't change soon, the African American community will miss out on an enormous opportunity to change the way they live.
Thanks in part to Obama's recovery package, today there are numerous training programs available throughout the country in different types of green energy, such as solar power. Non-profit groups like Solar Richmond (an organization that specializes in the education and training of solar energy installation to disadvantaged youths) have begun training people all over the country, usually at little to no cost for the course. Many private companies are also offering training programs in the solar industry, however these programs can run anywhere from $1,000 to as much as $3,500 per week for specialized courses in solar installation and instructional courses on how to start a solar business.
With all the available training and education, it is not clear why the African American community still remains underrepresented in the pursuit of this industry. The unfortunate part about lagging behind today is that it will make it that much harder to break into the industry tomorrow. It has been projected that in just 3 to 5 years there will more than 20 thousand solar and related businesses across the country, some big and some small, all of which will need competently trained employees. The time is now for African Americans to get ready for these incredible opportunities to come.
The fact is another year is coming to a close, the festive season will soon be upon us with all the trimmings and fun of Christmas: the tinsel, the lights, the excited children and general making merry.
But are there undertones of fear, which will spoil the festive season? The expenses you will be paying back on your card most of the next twelve months...
You did promise yourself this wouldn't happen again, but where are the planned savings?
Did they get blown on a great holiday or just not materialise at all? Where does your money go? On paper there should be money at the end of the month, but there seldom is.
Next Year it will be different! You say this every year but - until you change,nothing else will change, "if you keep doing what you're doing you will keep getting what you have got"! So now is the time to prepare a plan!
First you will reduce the cost of "Christmas", you will warn everyone not to expect expensive gadgets this year. Anyway they still have stuff from last Christmas that wasn't appreciated anyway. This year every gift will be something you really choose carefully. There will be quality in the choice, not quantity. Christmas has become too commercial anyway!
This year you will have Christmas dinner at home with family and friends, you won't book a restaurant meal. Grocery shopping can be managed carefully in a budget store. You have seen the advertisements on TV of the sumptuous things on offer. You don't need that hand reared turkey you had planned or the six-foot Christmas tree, a smaller one will be fine. There are plenty of ornaments for the tree in the loft you don't need more even if they are in tempting piles in the stores.
That pretty dress / (smart shirt) from last year will be perfect for parties.
Now for the New Year Resolutions, perhaps you should start to plan them now... You really need to find a way to supplement your income. What could you fit into your spare-time? What could you do to earn some extra cash?
Time to consider a hobby business, that will grow over the year and make for a better Christmas next year. It might even boost the holiday fund for a lovely sunny holiday.
So now is the time to consider what you would love to do. It needs to be something you will enjoy if you are to invest your spare-time / evenings working it. Something at home, because of the children, and you really don't want to turn out on cold winter evenings to work in a bar or stock shelves...
No comments:
Post a Comment