On August 25, Administrator Jackson spoke at the Blacks in Government 31st Annual Conference. The Administrator announced the creation of a new position at EPA - Associate Assistant Administrator for Outreach, Diversity and Collaboration – to “spearhead and coordinate diversity initiatives across the entire agency.” The announcement reflects the Administrator’s commitment to “diversify the voices of those calling for environmental change – even if they don’t call themselves environmentalists.” Remarks

Administrator Jackson spoke to the 2009 graduating class of the Student Environmental Development Program (SEDP). The SEDP is an environmental education and leadership development program for students ages from 12-14 from diverse backgrounds. Below are excerpts from her remarks:

Politics Daily: EPA Chief Lisa Jackson Links Civil Rights and Environmental Justice

TAMPA, Fla. — … One question to Jackson was how $30 billion of government investments in energy and environmental policy would lead to improvements in some of the country’s most vulnerable communities. She answered by speaking about green jobs reaching those who need work and about cleaning up communities where toxins trigger high incidences of asthma and other illnesses. “Poisons in the ground mean poisons in the economy,” she said. Read complete article

On August 7, Administrator Jackson asked the National Association of Black Journalists for help in communicating the impacts of environmental issues on communities of color across the country. The Administrator laid out the ways that environmental challenges contribute to other challenges faced by low income communities across the country – how unclean air and water drive up health care costs, put children at risk and undermine economic growth. The Administrator conveyed her belief that “environmentalism goes hand-in-hand with traditional civil rights and social justice issues in our community.” Remarks

On August 5, Administrator Lisa P. Jackson traveled to Florida to announce a $95 million grant for Saft America, Inc. to construct a new plant in Jacksonville, Fla. The new plant will manufacture battery technology for electric vehicles. Nationwide, President Obama announced $2.4 billion in recovery act funding for advanced battery and electric drive components manufacturing and electric drive vehicle deployment.

Administrator Jackson said the following:   

“President Obama has called for us to unleash American innovators, engineers, workers and entrepreneurs. We need to get into the global clean energy race – and today we’re firing the starting gun. This recovery funding will propel America into global leadership in innovative battery manufacturing, position our auto industry to reclaim the lead in producing the cars of the 21st century, and lay a new foundation for prosperity with new jobs in clean energy.”  Read the press release

Administrator Jackson joined Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and members of Green the Block at a community meeting and press conference at the White House to discuss potential opportunities in the 21^st century green economy. Green the Block is a non-profit devoted to ensuring low-income communities take advantage of those opportunities. Administrator Jackson announced $61 million in funding to train local workers and fund the cleanup of contaminated sites in neighborhoods that can be restored and reused. That funding will put residents to work at good jobs cleaning their neighborhoods and preparing for them new development. Read more

Administrator Jackson was a keynote speaker at the National Urban League Conference that took place in Chicago, IL on July 31, 2009. The Urban League, which has been around for 100 years, has been instrumental in knocking down economic entry barriers and increasing the social and human capital of many neighborhoods.

Administrator Jackson explained that “EPA is working to show urban communities facing environmental challenges that their issues are our issues, their struggles are our struggles, and their work is our work.”

On July 30, Administrator Jackson announced that eighty Chicagoans will receive critical job training funded by an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant. These workers will be trained for various environmental jobs, including the clean-up of so-called “brownfields,” which may be contaminated by hazardous chemicals or pollutants, turning sites from rundown eyesores to revitalized, productive properties. Workers will also be trained to weatherize buildings, lowering energy costs and reducing wasteful energy usage. Read the press release