If you or your children have ever watched Sesame Street, you might have heard Kermit the Frog’s famous lament It’s Not Easy Being Green. The song is sweet and one of Sesame Street’s greatest hits. But I’d like to challenge the noti
If you or your children have ever watched Sesame Street, you might have heard Kermit the Frog’s famous lament "It’s Not Easy Being Green." The song is sweet and one of Sesame Street’s greatest hits. But I’d like to challenge the notion that it’s not easy being green, though some in the business community might agree with the Muppet.
For sure, there’s excitement brewing about the green economy, but trepidation, as well. Lately, there is not a week that goes by when someone doesn’t stop me on the street and ask, “What is the Chicago Urban League doing to help the African American community access green opportunities?”
The minority entrepreneurs I encounter, especially, tell me they want to get in the green game early. This is one instance in which being on time would be the same as being late.
With an economic stimulus plan that pays close attention to green jobs and energy efficiency, the discussion about how to successfully participate in the green economy cannot wait. African Americans have been late to the table of economic opportunity before – or kept away from it.
Today, a nation watches as the economy gets worse and worse. President Obama warned us that this was going to happen. Layoffs continue to mount, with tens of thousands more announced this week.
Some industries are getting slammed harder than others, such as the professional services sector that employs people like lawyers, accountants, IT professionals, finance and investment banking experts and consultants. In Chicago, professional services account for an estimated 30 percent of the jobs that fuel our economy in good economic times.
Here’s the good news: We are fortunate to be staring in the face of a growth industry such as the green economy that holds such promise, especially for small businesses. In some ways, the African American community is already playing catch-up on the green scene. But some businesses are gearing up for the green jobs of the future. Take Stinnett and Brown. The Chicago-based construction firm is a participant in the Urban League’s nextONE entrepreneurship program and has weathered the economic storm by embracing green opportunities.
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