Van Jones Continues to Drive Change Through Fourth Social Venture

Van Jones, a 1994 Echoing Green Fellow, is a serial entrepreneur. In 1996, he started the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, an organization that unlocks the power of low-income people, people of color, and their allies to transform California and the world. He co-founded Color of Change, an advocacy group for African-Americans, in 2005. In 2007, he created Green For All, a national nonprofit dedicated to creating jobs via an inclusive green economy. And most recently, he co-founded Rebuild the Dream, an initiative to restore good jobs and economic opportunity.  

For nearly twenty years, Van has launched one initiative after another focused on economic development and he has been recognized by the World Economic Forum, TIME magazine, and Fast Company. He published The Green Collar Economy in 2008, with positive reviews from former Vice-President Al Gore and Nancy Pelosi. He had a small budget with promotion, but with the tenacity that is classic Van, a social marketing strategy landed the book at #12 on the New York Times bestseller list. And by connecting with a larger community of activists, the book went on to reach millions of people.

In March 2009, President Obama appointed Van to a newly created position of Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation. Sometimes referred to as the “green jobs czar,” Van preferred to be called the “green jobs handyman,” connecting agencies across the federal government to create jobs for a more green economy.

We are the midst of selecting our next class of Echoing Green Fellows, so we’re thinking a lot about what we look for in social entrepreneurs—those qualities that we have found will help an individual succeed. Because, ultimately, our goal is to find and nurture those people who will stop at nothing to leave their mark on the world—whether or not they fail many times in the process.

Van resigned from his position at the White House following a great deal of criticism in the media. He speaks of this struggle fairly openly and he doesn’t shirk away from questions. But, he also doesn’t let the naysayers distract him from continuing to push for change where it is needed. He says “I was there for 6 months. Best 6 months of my life, followed by the worst two weeks. ... What I saw there is why I am here today. I saw some of the most beautiful people, some of the most well intentioned people…”

Cheryl Dorsey, our President, speaks often about the social entrepreneurship quotient—a theory we have been developing over the past few years on the qualities of successful social entrepreneurs.

• They are focused, with strong abilities to execute—they just get things done.
• They are solutions oriented and they find opportunity in every problem.
• They are resource magnets—attracting people, human capital, media attention, and money to their work.
• And they have a deep and unshakeable obligation to a cause.

For us, Van exemplifies an Echoing Green Fellow. He has continually sought opportunity through every obstacle he encounters and he is constant in creating a more positive vision for economic opportunity in the United States.  And he is continuing to nurture and cultivate the community around him—and the community that looks up to him. Just a few weeks ago, he gave a shout out to Lisbeth Shepherd, a 1993 Echoing Green Fellow and founder of Unis-Cite, and now the Executive Director of Green City Force, for her work to build sustainable, green cities by employing low-income youth.

We just wrapped Finalist Weekend and our deliberations are just getting started. We’ll be sure to have Van in the back of our minds when we hit a few rough spots.