Washington – The National Conference of Black Mayors today calls on the Senate to chart a new direction for America’s future through comprehensive climate and energy legislation that will provide for the sustainability of our nation’s most vulnerable communities. Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Barbara Lee and Members of the Congressional Black Caucus joined 20 African American mayors along with the Hip Hop Caucus in their call for Senate action.

“The National Conference of Black Mayors accepts the obligation to actively engage in the national conversation on clean energy and advocates for a new and comprehensive climate and energy federal policy.  Our federal lawmakers must have the courage to step away from status quo provisions that have marginalized vulnerable communities and debilitated generations of American citizens with health and economic consequences,” said NCBM Executive Director Vanessa R. Williams.

The call for action is a part of the NCBM Green The City Initiative, which has recently partnered with the Hip Hop Caucus to strengthen its outreach to our nation’s youth.  The initiative aims to assist African American mayors in putting their cities on a path to long-term economic and environmental sustainability.

“Regular Americans in cities represented by these Mayors want to see action.  They are ready to help make their cities thrive again, working with their Mayors and city governments.  They realize that while the Senate is being indecisive, their cities and communities are suffering, and a clean energy future sits in the balance,” said Hip Hop Caucus President Reverend Lennox Yearwood. “This generation is fighting for its very existence.”

The delegation of Mayors convened in the nation’s capital for a three-day summit to strategize on advancing a national plan to move their cities to become more energy efficient, reduce pollution and create new clean energy jobs and businesses. While in D.C., Mayors met with Senators, Cabinet Leadership, industry experts and environmental advocacy groups.

The group aims to impress on the Senate the need for decisive action on comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation that will undergird their local efforts.  Mayors and their communities want to create new opportunity through clean energy investments, but they need Washington to act.

The group urged our nation’s leaders to take responsible and reasonable action as it transitions from a fossil fuel economy to a clean energy future for the sake of the American people, and requires the energy industry to operate with regard for our communities and our planet.

Entertainers, elected leaders, activists and performers get on the bus to promote a clean energy economy

WASHINGTON, D.C.--The Alliance for Climate Protection’s Repower America campaign is teaming up with the Hip Hop Caucus on a bus tour that will bring together leaders from the faith, business, and climate communities alongside entertainers and prominent figures, including DJ Biz Markie, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, actress Gloria Reuben, performer D. Woods and many others. The Hip Hop Caucus Clean Energy Now! Tour will assemble diverse participants to amplify the voices of the young people and communities of color that are calling for a transition to a clean energy economy. The Hip Hop Caucus Tour kicks off this week in New Orleans on Thursday, February 18 and rolls through Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio and the District of Columbia for a variety of events including community rallies, roundtables on college campuses, tours of clean energy job sites and musical events.

• Little Rock, AR: Friday, February 19
• Columbia, MO: Saturday, February 20
• Indianapolis, IN: Sunday & Monday, February 21-22
• Bloomington, IN: Monday, February 22
• Columbus, OH: Tuesday, February 23
• Washington, DC: Tuesday-Wednesday, February 23-24

“The Hip Hop Caucus Clean Energy Now! Tour will amplify and unite the voices of young people, African Americans, the Hip Hop community, and the faith community, around the critical need for clean energy jobs now and a clean energy future for our country,” said Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., President of the Hip Hop Caucus. “We are excited to work with the Alliance for Climate Protection and numerous national and local partners on this historic effort. We anticipate this tour will go a long way to educate and mobilize communities for a brighter future through policy that will reduce poverty and pollution at the same time.”

“Our partnership is proof positive that people from all walks of life are united in their support for a shared clean energy future,” said Maggie L. Fox, President and CEO of The Alliance for Climate Protection. “It is clear that our young people and communities of color will benefit greatly from the economic opportunities that come from investing in clean energy. Together, we support comprehensive new energy policies that will start us on the path to creating millions of new jobs, reducing our dependence on foreign oil and stopping the devastating effects of carbon pollution.”

“The clean energy choices we make today will have a profound impact on the environment of our young people and communities of color — the very people this tour is bringing together and the voices we need to hear,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “We’re going out and meeting people where they live, work and learn to talk about how we create clean energy jobs, protect our planet, and break our dependence on foreign
oil.”

Studies show that clean energy investments will create up to 1.9 million new jobs, including those for entry-level workers, professionals and entrepreneurs. Investments in building insulation and other efficiency improvements will cut down on energy bills for low-income families. Moreover, limits on pollution will reduce medical bills and protect communities from the ravages of global warming.

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"GREEN THE BLOCK" 9/11 SERVICE AND REMEMBRANCE EVENTS

TAKE PLACE IN NEARLY 100 URBAN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 11, 2009)--Nearly 100 Green the Block events - in more than 24 states across the country - were organized by churches, schools, and community groups to honor the victims of the September 11th attacks.  The Green the Block events were in association with President Obama's United We Serve initiative for a National Day of Service and Remembrance.

"Eight years ago today, we suffered a terrible loss - a loss that brought us closer together as a country," said Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, CEO of Green For All. "Today, we honor and remember those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, by working in service to bring our country closer together still, to unite America on the path to a prosperous, healthy future."

Hip Hop Caucus and Green For All announce the Green the Block campaign to further borad participation

WASHINGTON - Members of President Obama’s Green Cabinet and the community engagement campaign, Green the Block, met in Washington today to discuss ways to ensure that opportunities from the new green economy are available to a broad cross section of the American people.  In response to the president’s call to service through the United We Serve campaign, Green the Block also presented a birthday gift to President Obama in the form of a call to action for green community service projects in underserved communities on September 11th, the National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Participants in today’s event included Secretary Shaun Donovan, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, Environmental Protection Agency; and Under Secretary Kristina Johnson, Department of Energy.  They were joined by Reverend Lennox Yearwood, Jr., president of the Hip Hop Caucus; Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, CEO of Green For All; and leaders of Green the Block.

Hip Hop Caucus and Green For All announce the Green the Block campaign to further broad participation

WASHINGTON – Tomorrow, the Obama Administration is scheduled to hold a briefing for members of Green the Block to discuss the need to involve vulnerable communities in the emerging green economy.  Immediately following there will be a press avail at noon at the White House West Wing stakeout area to discuss opportunities in the new green economy and to announce the first major initiative of the Green the Block.

President Obama is committed to building a thriving clean energy economy  that drives our national recovery through innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation.  In order to realize the full potential of a clean-energy future, all Americans must be informed and have access to the new opportunities available.

Convened by Green For All and the Hip Hop Caucus, Green the Block is a new campaign to more deeply engage our most vulnerable communities in the transition to a 21st century economy.  Green the Block will encourage education, legislative advocacy, private-sector development and youth activism, and is supported by a broad base coalition of partners.

Administration representatives for this event include Secretary Shaun Donovan, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Administrator Lisa Jackson,  Environmental Protection Agency; and Under Secretary Kristina Johnson, Department of Energy.  They will be joined by Reverend Lennox Yearwood, Jr., president of the Hip Hop Caucus, Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, CEO of Green For All, and leaders of Green the Block.

WHO:    Obama Administration officials and members of the Green the Block

WHAT:  Press conference on opportunities in the new green economy

WHEN:  Tuesday, August 4

Noon

WHERE:  White House West Wing stakeout area

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Summer of Service Creates Opportunity for Hip Hop Caucus Members

Washington, D.C (June 23, 2009) – Yesterday, President Obama and the White House kicked off a new summer-long service initiative, United We Serve, to get all Americans to give back to their country. As a part of United We Serve, the Hip Hop Caucus is encouraging young people in urban communities to participate in service projects over the summer, to immediately impact their communities and to gain valuable experiences to help them in their lives.

Creators of the “Respect My Vote” Campaign to Hold Celebrity Driven Concerts with Mary J. Blige, Common and Nelly as well as Day of Service in Honor of Dr. King’s Birthday

Washington, D.C (January 8, 2009) – The Hip Hop Caucus, a non-partisan Washington, D.C. based organization that ensures the Hip Hop Generation’s voice is heard in politics, today announced its run of events to honor the historical Inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. The Hip Hop Caucus will host a variety of events January 14th – 20th which include celebrity driven concerts featuring Mary J. Blige, Common, and Nelly. Other initiatives include a Day of Service to recognize Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday and a Hip Hop & Politics Roundtable discussion. The Hip Hop Caucus’ feature event will be its “Dreams from My Father” Inauguration Ball at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown.

THE HIP HOP CAUCUS AND THE HIP-HOP SUMMIT ACTION NETWORK JOIN FORCES TO LAUNCH THE RESPECT MY VOTE! NATIONAL GET OUT THE VOTE (GOTV) BUS TOUR WITH HIP-HOP SUPERSTARS T.I. , JAY Z, RUSSELL SIMMONS, KEYSHIA COLE, T PAIN AND OTHERS DURING BET HIP-HOP AWARDS THIS WEEKEND IN ATLANTA

The Hip Hop Caucus (www.hiphopcaucus.org), today announced a partnership with the |Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (www.hsan.org) to jointly launch a national 18 city RESPECT MY VOTE! Get Out The Vote Bus Tour, urging potential first time voters and all voters to Get Out The Vote on Election Day. The GOTV Bus Tour of key battleground states will launch on Friday, October 17 at 4pm EST at the Atlanta Hip-Hop Summit on Financial Empowerment taking place at Clark Atlanta University’s Cornelius L. Henderson Student Center at 223 James P. Brawley Drive, S.W., during the BET Hip Hop Awards this weekend. Participating in the launch weekend will be hip-hop stars T.I., Russell Simmons, Keyshia Cole, Yung Joc, BET “106 & Park” host Rocsi, Gorilla Zoe and more.

Hip Hop Caucus Registers More Than 30K Voters During Nationwide “One Vote” Registration Drive

Washington, D.C (October 3) – The Hip Hop Caucus’ – Respect My Vote! Campaign (www.hiphopcaucus.org), along with Radio One, Inc. (www.radio-one.com) and the Hip Hop Summit Action Network, registered more than 30,000 voters during its national “One Vote Day” voter registration drive on September 30th.

Thousands of citizens in sixteen cities across the country participated in events aimed at mass voter registration. Radio One stations broadcasted live from central locations in each of the participating cities urging unregistered voters to attend their local registration site to register onsite. Artists such as Nelly and Raheem DeVaughn helped draw large crowds to registration stations, allowing Hip Hop Caucus volunteers to register an average of 1,200 voters within each of the different markets.

Radio One Stations Partners with the Hip Hop Caucus to Register 50K Voters During Nationwide “One Vote” Registration Drive

Washington, DC (September 18th) – Radio One, Inc. (www.radio-one.com) along with the Hip Hop Caucus – Respect My Vote Campaign (www.hiphopcaucus.org) is planning to set a World Record by registering more than 50,000 eligible persons in one day during the “One Vote” National Registration Drive Tuesday, September 30th from 6:00am to 9:00pm.

Working with Radio One in 15 cities across the country that include Atlanta, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Detroit, St. Louis, Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Philadelphia, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, Richmond and Washington, DC, the Hip Hop Caucus will attempt the first ever one-day 50,000 person voter registration drive through live call-ins, online and on-site registration.

(New York, NY – July 28, 2008) – The Hip Hop Caucus, www.hiphopcaucus.org, and Multi-Platinum, Grammy Award Winning Superstar T.I. have joined forces to launch a powerful new voter registration and Get Out the Vote campaign that combines the power of celebrity and media with 21st century grassroots organizing tactics to mobilize and educate young people between the ages of 18 and 29, who are not in college. The campaign slogan, “Respect My Vote!” and t-shirts were unveiled today at a press event in Washington, DC, with Hip Hop Icons Rakim and Bun B, DJ Green Lantern, Dawn from Danity Kane, Young Berg, Maino, Young Steff, Young Dro, Washington Wizard Etan Thomas, Olympic Gold Medalist Anthony Killieberew, Immortal Technique, Kidz in the Hall, Big Kuntry King, Pleasure P, World Class Sprinter and Champion Michael Walton and many others turning out to support.

The campaign, led by T.I. will employ other celebrities, athletes and high profile influential figures to get out the vote in a variety of ways including PSAs for radio, television and online use; in person appearances; press events; mobile and email alerts from celebrities themselves; and an aggressive online campaign. Famed photographer Jonathan Mannion has been exclusively tapped to shoot portraits of the famous faces adoring the “Respect My Vote!” slogan and t-shirt produced by forthcoming AKOO clothing line as well as direct and produce the PSA’s. Confirmed participating talent will be announced throughout the campaign leading up to the November election.