There’s a robust clean energy transition afoot, created to develop clean, renewable energy sources across America and beyond to combat the rise and threat of climate change. This clean energy industry is growing rapidly, offering tremendous opportunities to create a vast number of jobs, build wealth, and help establish pathways to a sustainable future to stop the ravages of climate change.
Yet, if there are two colors associated with this cutting-edge industry, they are “white,” representative of the overwhelming number of Caucasians already dominating the growing clean energy industry, and “green,” indicative of the monetary opportunities to achieve financial wealth. In essence, the clean energy industry has taken flight and is soaring to unlimited heights for one non-minority group of people while Black and Brown people and other minorities are on the ground looking up wondering, how to make the quantum leap into the clean energy paradigm shift.
Nevertheless, the narrative centered on opportunities in the clean energy transition amid the inequities across its broad sectors will take its own flight for Black and Brown people when Detroit-based Walker-Miller Energy Services and Real Times Media present the first of its kind Resilience & Equity in the Clean Energy Sector Summit (RECESS23) from Monday, Oct. 30 to Wednesday, Nov. 1, at Newlab @ Michigan Central in Detroit’s Corktown community.
Generally speaking, clean energy is from renewable sources that don’t pollute and is defined as energy created without the combustion of coal, petroleum, petroleum products, and other fossil fuels. The three most common sources of clean energy are wind, solar, and hydroelectric.
The Summit will provide attendees with ample information and insight into why there’s a need for clean energy and the opportunities it presents to Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC). And just as importantly, how BIPOC can avoid being left out of cutting-edge opportunities – again.
“The summit will present an empowering platform for Black and Brown leaders to spearhead positive changes and open gateways for those aspiring to join an industry where Black people and other minorities are significantly underrepresented across its broad sectors,” said Carla Walker-Miller, Conference Chair and founder & CEO of Walker-Miller Energy Services, one of the nation’s top women-owned energy efficiency companies. “It’s really important for Black and Brown people to understand the ramifications and opportunities in the clean energy transition. I don’t feel that we have a good appreciation for the opportunities associated with this industry.”
The Summit, according to Walker-Miller, will feature over 30 speakers, who are content-subject-topic experts and stakeholders in the fields of clean energy transition, environmental-energy-climate justice, government, entrepreneurship, and community and social advocacy.
Summit speakers will include Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan; Dr. Henry C. McKoy, U.S, Department of Energy’s Director of State and Community Energy Programs; Brett Isaac, Founder and Executive Director of Navajo Power; Kimberly Andrews Espy, President of Wayne State University; Michael Nutter, former Mayor of Philadelphia; Shalaya Morissette, U.S. Department of Energy’s Chief of the Minority Business & Workforce Division; and Dug Song, Co-founder and President of The Song Foundation.
RECESS23 will also include breakout sessions and in-depth workshops, where attendees will walk away with pertinent information and knowledge congruent to clean energy opportunities and actionable solutions to questions and issues about the industry. Workshops/breakout sessions will include: “Business Innovation: Clean Energy Entrepreneurship, Upskilling and Education: Empowering the Clean Energy Workforce, and Sustainable Development: Driving Equity and Environmental Justice.
In addition, the Summit will feature an Exhibitor Showcase demonstrating the future of clean energy transition, allowing attendees to experience the latest projects, technologies, and entrepreneurial endeavors associated with the industry.
While the Summit’s goal is to provide broad clean energy information, solutions, and ideas for Black and Brown people across the country, there is a clamor for Detroit to become the nation’s leading city for unearthing the intersections of clean energy, equity, and social justice.
“Detroit is rightfully best positioned to establish itself as that leader in clean energy equity,” said Hiram E. Jackson, CEO of Real Times Media, parent company to one of the nation’s most extensive portfolio of brands geared towards news, events, and information for Black audiences.
“Detroit is a Black city with a long, successful history of establishing civil rights and social rights ideologies, movements, and organizations that have gone on to empower African Americans in Detroit and across the nation. The city is poised to take the mantle and set the standard for eradicating inequities and energy injustices experienced by Black people in their quests to access and advance in every sector of the industry.”
Jackson, who will also serve as the Conference Chair, solidifies Real Times Media’s position in the clean energy transition and industry.
“Real Times Media is honored to partner with Carla Walker-Miller and her outstanding energy services company to present and explore viable opportunities for Black and Brown people to access jobs and careers, but more importantly, learn how the clean energy industry can empower underserved communities and keep Black and Brown people safe from climate change,” Jackson said. “We have the power, the platforms, and the unwavering desire to take advantage of this paradigm shift in clean energy matters, which will help advance our communities to learn everything possible about this incredible industry and the vast opportunities available.”
Dr. Brandy Brown, Chief Innovation Officer at Walker-Miller Energy Services, agrees, saying RECESS23 will spotlight the latest innovations and opportunities in clean energy, with a strong emphasis on fostering equitable economic growth.
“Many of our Black and Brown communities are on the frontline of climate change, where they see increased flooding and more days of higher temperatures,” Brown said. “However, if Black and Brown people are exposed to clean energy opportunities, we can learn to use them to help our communities prosper through related jobs and careers, and that’s a win-win situation.”
“The clean energy transition is an opportunity for Black and Brown people to help build, develop, and benefit from every dollar invested in this industry,” said Walker-Miller. “My dream is that Black people, Brown people, and Indigenous people will actually help provide not just the muscles in jobs and careers in clean energy, but also the thought leadership, the innovation process, the problem-solving and have the opportunity to impact and influence what clean energy actually is – and what it will become. In my mind, the clean energy industry is the biggest opportunity for Black and Brown people to create economic stability and establish generational wealth.”
Registration for the inaugural Resilience and Equity in the Clean Energy Sector Summit (RECESS23) is closed. However, for more information on the topics and speakers for the event, log on to https://recess23.com/.
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