All Good Things Must Come To An End
Posted by Sonja Ebron
After nearly 10 years in business, the time has come to turn out the lights at blackEnergy. I’m grateful to our past and present staff, suppliers and vendors, advisors and coaches, and most of all, to our loyal and demanding customers over the years. Personally, this has been the best job of my career, at all times tough and satisfying in equal measure. But bank accounts don’t lie, and the truth is we’ve run out of steam in pursuit of our mission.
When we started 10 years ago, Enron was on top of the heap and California’s utilities were going bankrupt. We wanted to increase the options for Blacks and others vulnerable to mistreatment as energy deregulation moved across the country. We partnered with community organizations like the American Association of Blacks in Energy (Atlanta chapter) and the Concerned Black Clergy of Metro Atlanta for everything from free light bulb swaps to energy town hall meetings to countless workshops on home energy efficiency. We worked with natural gas companies to provide services with lower rates, low-credit options and cash contributions to local organizations working on issues we cared about. We sold tons of energy saving products through our e-commerce store. We took pride in serving the needs of Black communities throughout the country.
I want to share a few lessons learned over the years. First, while we found tremendous value in our focus on the needs of Black people, the problems we wanted to solve really required a solution that worked for everyone. Second, a social enterprise is first and foremost an enterprise. It’s tricky to balance social, environmental and financial goals, but financials must be primary for the other goals to have a chance. Third, having said that, it’s so important to follow your heart where it leads you. Rewards of the heart far exceed all others.
I’m going to rest for a moment or two before dreaming up a new adventure. Those who want to stay in touch can find me on Facebook and Twitter, and in the ether. Toksa Ake! (Lakota: Until next time!)
Super Tuesday Celebrates Atlanta’s Black Business Women
Posted by Sonja Ebron
The Atlanta Business League put on a fine celebration of the achievements of Black business women last week. ABL was established in 1933 as an affiliate of the National Business League, founded by Dr. Booker T. Washington. In 1984, under the leadership of Alice White Bussey (of Bussey’s Florist), ABL’s Women In Business committee created Super Tuesday to raise awareness of African American women business owners. Last week’s celebration marked the 25th anniversary of this sistah-fest, headlined by Radio One magnate Cathy Hughes. More than 1000 women (and quite a few men) gathered to meet and greet and do business with Atlanta’s best and brightest Black women leaders at the Atlanta Marriot Marquis.
2009 Energy Town Hall Meeting in Atlanta
Posted by Sonja Ebron
With a collapsing economy and stable gasoline prices, you wouldn’t expect Atlanta activists to come out strong for a discussion on energy. But like most places, Atlanta had a rough year energy-wise, and people want to know what happened last year, what’s happening now, and how to avoid the next crisis. On some level, most of us understand the link between energy and the economy, as well as the huge potential of green jobs. So all ears were open for blackEnergy’s first Energy Town Hall Meeting of 2009 on March 9th.
The Genius Of Van Jones
Posted by Sonja Ebron
I like simple yet powerful concepts. “Green the Ghetto First” is the clarion call of Van Jones, a brilliant brother some have called the Martin Luther King of the green jobs movement. At this weekend’s State of the Black Union in Los Angeles, he said, “You can’t green the earth without greening the cities, you can’t green the cities without greening the ghetto, and you can’t green the ghetto without giving Pookie a job!” You cannot beat that logic.
Say So, Mr. President
Posted by Sonja Ebron
I think I’m one of those cynics our new president referred to in his inaugural speech, the ones for whom the ground has shifted under our feet. I voted for him because of the hope his presence in the White House would bring to young Black people, but I never thought he could lead us out of the calamity we’re facing. Lately, though, I’ve been engaged in some very uncynic-like behavior. Somehow I can’t stop singing, humming and dancing to that inaugural band music.
2008 Energy Town Hall Meeting In Atlanta
Posted by Sonja Ebron
We hear a lot about energy and the economy in Atlanta, and for good reason. While gasoline prices have come down, supply is still spotty due to Hurricane Gustav, and the almost daily reports of job losses are worse than I can ever recall. National pundits blame our economic crisis on the housing bubble bust, but historical oil prices have always predicted recessions. Despite a dramatic decline in oil prices, we’re still paying three times the historical average in today’s dollars. Like all crises, this one hits Black people first. Add the impact of climate change, and it’s clear we have some difficult times ahead.
Blacks Must Lead On Climate Change
Posted by Sonja Ebron
Black people in the U.S. have a lot to lose from the twin crises of energy decline and climate change. These are global catastrophes that will soon cause massive changes in our lives. We can expect everything from utilities to common household goods to become much more expensive, and new regulations will make everyday activities more difficult. Increases in epidemics and natural disasters will make health insurance and mobility far more important. Our tough economic circumstances and lower access to information will make it harder to adapt to these changes.
A Windmill In Malawi
Posted by Sonja Ebron
I often wonder how much faster the world’s problems could be solved if resources were allocated fairly, if the natural genius in people weren’t stifled by hunger or lack of education or violence or other ills. William Kamkwamba is that rare genius who shows us that human talent can thrive regardless. Using a bicycle, chunks of wood and plastic pipe, this young man built a huge windmill to provide electricity to his small village in Malawi.
PBS On Blacks And Energy
Posted by Sonja Ebron
Check out this 10-minute PBS Online story on how Blacks are coping with the recent rise in energy prices. High gas prices and utility rates are taking a bigger bite out of typically lower Black household incomes. People are juggling transportation and food issues along with trying to keep the lights on. Luckily, the story covered some weatherization projects, the best way to combat high home energy costs. But there’s so much more that can be done.
There’s a short mention of blackEnergy midway through on the difference between the last oil crisis and this one — pointing out that price will be the rationing force this time around. We need a new deal.
Why Blacks Pay More For Utilities
Posted by Sonja Ebron
Blacks do pay more for utilities, but not because we get different rates or a special energy tax. It’s because, since the 1980s, we use more. A 1975 Ford Foundation study (The American Energy Consumer) found that Blacks spent less on energy than others, mostly because of our limited housing choices. At that time, the typical Black home had no running hot water, few windows and doors, natural gas heat (gas was a lot cheaper then), and few appliances.
Then as now, most of us paid rent each month instead of a mortgage. But now, even renters are living large. We have all the amenities — washers and dryers, frost-free fridges, central air and heat, and all the electronics we can stand. But don’t ask us about the level of insulation in the walls or attic, the amount of weatherstripping or caulk on our doors and windows, or the number of Energy Stars on our appliances.