Green Summit Wrap-up: Day 1

As a participant of the Newark’s Green Futures Summit, I heard many fantastic ideas and strategies brainstormed among stakeholders. The guest list included community advocates, public and private investors, students, corporate and small business owners, local and state officials, higher education administrators, and concerned citizens. While dialogue at times reached steamy, the general consensus was: going green can, will, and must happen. The question now becomes: how soon and how much? (Standby day-2)

Politics and bureaucracy are never fun facilitators, but with positive and progressive leadership, they should never become barriers of change. It’s interesting that change has been a thematic control of 2008 hot-topics. This fact goes to show that the mindset of the 21st century American is focused on improving quality of life by a standard other than current (see Bush administration) or previous leadership models.

For Newark, this has meaning tenfold. On Monday, September 15th, 2008 former Newark Mayor Sharpe James will reap what he sowed. A legend in his own right, he did not have the right to steal from his constituents- citizens of a city who have already been underrepresented, mistreated, and misunderstood.

As Mayor Cory Booker galvanizes a coalition designed to restore that which was taken from us, it is my sincerest hope that the citizens of Newark remain steadfast in faith that this administration holds true to its charge: to bring our great city where she belongs- at the epicenter of commerce, culture, class, and opportunity.

From the hand of...

LadyPink