The Unusual Suspects: The Surprise Environmentalists Who Are Spreading the Clean Energy Gospel
A soldier, a minister and a businessman walk into a bar. Seems like the start of a bad joke, but in this case they’re about to advocate for clean energy. In fact, a broad national coalition of unusual suspects has shifted the climate change and clean energy debate in recent months. They've helped protect cap-and-trade proponents from the kind of attacks brought on by the health care debate. But why and how? Major efforts to recruit, train and position clean energy spokespersons from the military, religious and business communities have allowed the national clean energy campaign to greatly expand its reach. Now, if conservatives want to call clean energy “anti-American,” they risk saying it to the face of an Iraq vet, a priest or their local small businessman. We’ll shine the light on how to build widespread coalitions of community leaders to support progressive organizing efforts.
Michael Moschella currently serves as Political Director for the Truman National Security Project, primarily managing political training programs. With the Truman Project, Michael hastrained hundreds of elected officials, candidates for Federal, Stateand local office, Congressional staffers, political consultants, and progressive activists to promote astrong, smart and principled 21st century national security framework. Recently, Michael launched the Truman Project Partners, a first-of-its-kind national security training program specifically forcampaign and advocacy professionals.
Michael was previously a Democratic campaign consultant with specific expertise in large-district voter targeting, grassroots field mobilizations, and online political organizing. Michael has consulted with and managed Congressional campaigns in FL and MA, a Gubernatorial race in MA, and state-level races in CA and MA. In 2004 and 2005, Michael worked with NDN (the New Democrat Network) on a variety ofprojects including: the creation of the New Politics Institute, a think tank for new political strategy; the NDN Hispanic Project, then the largest Spanish-language political ad campaign in US history; the Restoring America's Promise campaign, which promoted progressive values in "red-states;"and NDN-PAC, a fundraising organization for 40 US Representatives and 18 Senators.
Michael also serves as the Secretary of the Board of Directors of New Leaders Council, Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Netroots Foundation, and as a member of the DC Education Fund's Young Professionals Committee. He is a graduate of Cornell University,and a native of Boston, MA.
Erin Ross is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the NanoAssociation of Natural Resources and Energy Security(NANRES), an industry organization established to address 21st Century energy security and natural resource challenges through the advancement of research, development, and commercialization of innovative energy and environmental-specific nanotechnologies in the US marketplace.
Ms. Ross works across industry, academia, government, finance and policy sectors to actively engage and foster collaboration between key stakeholders involved in initiatives central to nanotechnology, national security, clean energy and the environment. She is also a strong advocate for creating new bi-partisan efforts in clean energy and the environment through the use of technology. Prior to joining NANRES, Ms. Ross served as a Joseph S. Nye Jr., research intern for the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) where her research focused on energy, climate change and national security policy. During her tenure, she played an integral role in the logistical support and execution of a groundbreaking Climate Change War Game, involving senior-level national and international participants.
In addition to her experience in public policy and industry relations, Ms. Ross also has experience in banking and finance, and holds a degree in Business Management from Johns Hopkins University.
Jon Powers, Chief Operating Officer of the Truman National Security Project, was previously the Veterans Program Director for The Eleison Group, LLC, where he worked on developing the outreach efforts of the progressive community to the veterans and military families. Prior to joining The Eleison Group, he served for four years as an Officer in the U.S. Army, including a 15 month tour in Iraq as part of Operation Iraq Freedom I. In 2005, Jon founded War Kids Relief after returning to Iraq as a civilian to develop programs to engage Iraq’s youth and minimize recruitment by radicalized elements. The youth and counterterrorism research and program development efforts led to War Kids Relief becoming a leading advocacy organization working to create a bridge between American and Iraqi youth to build a foundation for peace. In 2008, Jon was a Democratic candidate for New York’s 26th Congressional District.
While the term “green-collar jobs” gains more press and pundits daily, very few people have actually marshaled the resources to get unemployed Americans trained and placed on pathways out of poverty in this growing economic sector. Majora Carter has. Born, raised, and continuing to live in the South Bronx, her work takes her around the world in pursuit of resources and ideas to improve the quality of life in environmentally challenged communities. She founded Sustainable South Bronx in 2001 and by 2003 had implemented the highly successful Bronx Environmental Stewardship Training (BEST) program— a pioneering green-collar job training and placement system — seeding communities with a skilled workforce that has both a personal & economic stake in their urban environment. She is currently president of the green-collar economic consulting firm the Majora Carter Group, LLC.She is probably the only person to have received an award from John Podesta's Center For American Progress; AND a Liberty Medal from Rupert Murdoch's: New York Post.
Most recently, she was named one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company Magazine, and of them, one of the 10 Best Small Businesses in the US.
Her vision, drive, and tenacity earned a MacArthur “genius” Fellowship. Newsweek named her one of “25 To Watch” in 2007, and one of the “century’s most important environmentalists” in 2008. She a board member of the Wilderness Society, SJF, and CERES. She host a special national public radio series called “The Promised Land” , and “Eco-Heroes” on the Sundance Channel.
Follow her on twitter at @majoracarter and on facebook.com/majoracarter
