Get Inspired

Written by Tamara Schweitzer

Despite the early Saturday morning start time, there was a packed room when Van Jones took the stage on the second day of the SVN member gathering, and he did not disappoint. After a tough year of scrutiny and speculation following his September 2009 resignation as the green jobs advisor to the Obama White House, Van Jones came to SVN with a renewed spirit and optimism, and his message about keeping hope alive despite the dismal political atmosphere definitely resonated with all.

Van, who is the founder of Green For All, Color of Change, and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, acknowledged the feelings of disillusionment – and even depression – that seem to have taken over the country in the past couple years. “There is a level of pain in this country,” he said, “and there is a hope deficit right now.” Usually when these feelings arise, Van says people are quick to point fingers and blame our leader. They are upset and angry because the president hasn’t made all the changes that he promised, or because they are questioning the political agenda of the White House. Van believes the loss of faith in Obama has actually enabled extremist groups like the Tea Party to come to power and make inroads as much as they have. Too many people in this country are focusing on what hasn’t happened or gotten accomplished, and that is becoming destructive. Van reminded us that Obama’s campaign was never about “Yes I Can,” but rather it was “Yes We Can,” and that we shouldn’t blame one person if we are unhappy about the level of change that has taken place.

We need to take some collective responsibility for making things happen. Van says social entrepreneurs of all people out there, should understand that change is not easy. Many have had to fight against the odds – against misinformation, against ignorance – to change the status quo and accomplish what they have. “What we have to understand as a movement is that change is harder than hope,” Van said. Especially during this poignant time — and on the eve of the midterm elections — it is up to us to be leaders and visionaries within our own circles and start to change the mindset of the majority. If we don’t believe in our president, Van said, then that has a negative ripple effect throughout our communities.

Instead of dwelling on the pain, we need to look at how far we’ve come. Van believes that SVN represents an important success story about American enterprise and entrepreneurship that’s full of courage and innovation. But, we aren’t doing a good enough job of broadcasting that story. He says we can’t sit back and wait for Barack Obama to give a speech about what we’ve accomplished with the green economy, although there is plenty to be proud of. Because of President Obama’s policies, we now have 80,000 people working in the wind industry (as many as in coal mining), and 36,000 jobs that are supported by the solar industry. Additionally, there are 3,600 renewable energy projects happening in 46 states. Van ended by telling the group that the best thing we can do is to be cheerleading for our cause. “The movement that we’re part of needs to grab a microphone,” said Van. “Let’s get that mic back and not wait for one guy in the White House to let the country hear itself sing again.”