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Van Jones (1968-) is an attorney in Oakland, ] working to combine solutions to both social inequality and environmental destruction. He is the founder and executive director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.
Jones founded the Ella Baker Center in 1996. Named for an unsung civil rights heroine, the Center "promotes alternatives to violence and incarceration". As an advocate for the toughest urban constituencies and causes, Van has won many honors. These include the 1998 Reebok International Human Rights Award, the international Ashoka Fellowship, selection as a World Economic Forum "Young Global Leader," and the Rockefeller Foundation "Next Generation Leadership" Fellowship.
Van is also a national environmental leader, having served on the boards the National Apollo Alliance, Social Ventures Network, Rainforest Action Network, Bioneers and Julia Butterfly Hill’s "Circle of Life" organization.
Van’s dual roles have given him a unique perspective on the country’s problems – and its potential solutions. He is calling for green economic development for urban America. The City of Oakland has adopted the Ella Baker Center's "Green Jobs Corps" proposal, which will train youth for eco-friendly “green-collar jobs.” Now Van is pushing to create the first-ever Green Enterprise Zone, to attract environmentally-sound industry to Oakland.
A 1993 Yale Law graduate, he is also a husband and father. A rising star, Van champions the most hopeful solutions to America's toughest challenges.