Center for American Progress

‘Clean Up To Green Up’: Building a Clean Energy Workforce and a Brighter Future in Detroit
Video

‘Clean Up To Green Up’: Building a Clean Energy Workforce and a Brighter Future in Detroit

The Green Door Initiative is using federal investments from President Joe Biden's Justice40 Initiative and the Inflation Reduction Act to ensure that all people—regardless of race, income, or ZIP code—have access to good jobs and live in safe and healthy communities.

Part of a Series

Industrial facilities are most often located in or near Black, Latino, Indigenous, and low-income communities, exposing residents to disproportionately high levels of pollution, public health risks, and hazardous working conditions. Donele Wilkins created the Green Door Initiative after realizing the impact of these inequities in her community in Detroit. This organization aims to revitalize neighborhoods and ensure that everyone is environmentally literate and capable of participating in the clean energy economy—living out and promoting a sustainable lifestyle regardless of ZIP code, income, and race.

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Authors

Margaret Cooney

Senior Campaign Manager of Storytelling, Energy and Environment Campaigns

Hannah Malus

Senior Director, Strategy and Operations

Cathleen Kelly

Senior Fellow

Producers

Matthew Gossage

Events Video Producer

Toni Pandolfo

Video Producer, Production

Jeremy Hill

Contractor

Andrew Sonntag

Former Events Video Producer

Hai-Lam Phan

Senior Director, Creative

Team

Domestic Climate

It’s time to build a 100 percent clean future, deliver on environmental justice, and empower workers to compete in the global clean energy economy.

Explore The Series

A group of environmental justice activists is seen in front of some trees and cars.

Black, brown, Indigenous, and low-income communities are tapping into the Biden-Harris administration’s unprecedented climate, clean energy, and environmental justice investments. These communities are using this new influx of funding to secure clean air and water, affordable clean energy, living-wage jobs, and improved public health.

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