Frogtown Farm

Here's a preview for a meeting being held by Frogtown Gardens to build a farm in a vacant lot in their neighborhood. Check it out:

http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2010/01/13/frogtown-residents-meet-discuss-urban-farm-proposal-january-14

Obama Rally, Target Center

Here's video of yesterday's rally. What a zoo the Target Center was! I didn't know employees were going to have to wait in line, too, but there I was, going through a metal detecter. After all the waiting the crowd had to do, I was surprised how rude they were to my employees about not getting those Chicago dogs fast enough.

Green the Block 9/11

Green the Block is a national initiative taking place on 9/11. Block parties are going on across the U.S. to promote peace and honor 9/11 through a day of service. Green the Block is educating low-income communities about building a clean-energy economy.

Here's some info from greentheblock.net:

Both environmental and economic survival compel America to transition from dirty fossil fuels to clean energy. Through true for everyone, this is especially urgent in our country’s vulnerable communities. The economic collapse has left low-income communities of color particularly vulnerable to high unemployment and rising living costs. These populations also suffer disproportionally from the environmental and public health impacts of climate change. A new, green economy promises the opportunity to fight climate change while simultaneously revitalizing communities that, now more than ever, are struggling from decades of economic and environmental degradation. That is why the Hip Hop Caucus and Green For All partnered to create Green The Block. Green the Block is a national campaign and coalition aimed at helping low-income communities of color become driving forces of the clean-energy economy.

Green the Block’s comprehensive strategy has four primary pillars.

Education & Awareness: Green the Block will raise awareness within low-income communities of color about the particular impacts of climate change and climate policy on their communities. Green the Block will uniquely leverage its strong celebrity relationships to reach these communities with effective spokespeople. Celebrities will make special appearances that highlight the green economy at the grassroots level, as well as create public service announcements and generate earned media. The content of Green the Block’s education and awareness messages and materials will focus on how low-income communities of color can participate meaningfully in the clean-energy debate, and how they can join the movement for a just, green economy. Through effective platforms, including urban radio, mixtapes, and barber-shop materials, Green the Block will also provide low-income communities of color with information about how to live greener, healthier lives, while living within their means.

Grassroots Advocacy: The only way to ensure that climate policy provides economic opportunity and meets the specific needs of low-income communities of color is to involve these communities in national and local policy debates. Green the Block will help low-income communities of color advocate effectively to their Members of Congress and Senators for strong equity provisions in the federal climate bill. Equally important, Green the Block will help communities work with local and statewide officials and leaders in crafting fair and effective implementation plans for green projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Youth Activism: Green the Block will place a particular emphasis on keying young people of color into the economic and social growth opportunities of a clean-energy economy. Extending the reach of our “Education and Awareness” strategy, Green the Block will organize an educational tour on the campuses of historically Black and Latino colleges and universities. This tour will inspire and mobilize young people of color to become leaders, innovators, and practitioners in the clean-energy economy. The tour will help build infrastructure on these campuses to organize efforts that engage students, faculty, and surrounding communities in “Green Schools of Economics” and “Green Our Campus” initiatives.

Private Sector Development: Green the Block will provide support to businesses in our target communities through Green For All’s Capital Access Program, which helps green businesses develop capacity through social, intellectual and financial capital via a business incubation model. That support will include a webinar, at least two conference calls, a three-day Business Academy, and print and online tools. These will help businesses develop their basic capacity and, in particular, take advantage of the opportunities of the Recovery Act.

Obama on Health Care

Barack Obama will rally on health care reform this Saturday at the Target Center. This event is free to the public. Doors are 9:30.

Here's some info I pulled from Target Center's website:

On Saturday, September 12, 2009, President Barack Obama will travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota to hold a rally on health insurance reform.

In Minneapolis on Saturday, President Obama will discuss what’s at stake for the American people in this debate – why we need health insurance reform and why we need to act now.

President Obama’s health insurance reform plan has two goals—to bring stability and security to Americans who have insurance today, and affordable coverage to those who don’t. And his plan will bring reforms that will reduce the unsustainable growth in the cost of health care, which has doubled in the last decade and will again, unless we act.

The rally will be free and open to the public.Space is available on a first come, first serve basis. No ticket is required.

All attendees will go through airport-like security and should bring as few personal items as possible. No bags, no sharp objects, no umbrellas, no liquids, no strollers, and no signs will be allowed into the venue.