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.
School gardens teach going green
Posted by Lisa Gilbride
I was watching the news a couple of months ago when an interesting “good” news story caught my attention. It was about an elementary school in Atlanta where the students were growing their own garden on campus. I wish I remembered the name of the school so I could plot their progress as it was a brilliant idea! These kids were growing different kinds of vegetables, and the harvests were being used in the school cafeteria, thus saving the school money. They gave away what the school didn’t use to local food banks.
Now what if this trend caught on in schools and colleges all across America? Maybe they could go beyond gardening and learn how to make their schools even more self-sustaining. Perhaps they could learn how to harness the sun, wind and rain by building systems that would get them off the local utilities and cut the school system’s overhead costs. Maybe there would be more money for their education!
As we hear all the time, our children are our future. It’s true!!! Kudos to the teachers and organizations that developed this learning experience for their students!! I hope to see more “good” news stories about our younger generations thinking outside the box. Like I said a couple of posts ago, no idea should go unnoticed, as one of them could spark a trend and get young people excited about helping not only themselves but those around them. That is what community is all about!
Come on young people everywhere! I challenge you to follow the lead of this Atlanta school and dream green! Anything is possible when you put your mind and passion into something you believe in. One person CAN make a difference!
– by Lisa Gilbride
Atlanta Light Swap 2009
Posted by Sonja Ebron
We gave away 700 bulbs last Sunday and expanded the event to serve three Black churches in metro Atlanta. See the press release below:
Saving Money One Light Bulb At A Time
2nd Annual Light Bulb Swap Helps Consumers Save Money Through Energy Conservation
April 26, 2009 (ATLANTA) – On Sunday, April 26, 2009, the Concerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta, in partnership with blackEnergy and Georgia Interfaith Power & Light, distributed 700 compact fluorescent light bulbs in Metro Atlanta with a message of sustainable living during the 2nd Annual Light Bulb Swap. This free event was designed to introduce a cost effective way of “Going Green” to the African American community and in turn encourage them to be proactive in conserving energy and saving money.
After Service at True Light Baptist Church
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.
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.
Out Of Gas In The Dirty South
Posted by Sonja Ebron
Hurricanes Gustav and Ike have struck again, not with high waters and strong winds, but with the partial shutdown of a gasoline pipeline serving the southeast. Half the gas stations in Atlanta are out of gas. Those with gas inventories have long lines of cars with drivers willing to pay very high gas prices. Georgia officials recently negotiated a waiver of environmental regulations that required gas in Atlanta to carry anti-smog chemicals, so gas has been imported from surrounding areas. But even gas imports haven’t reduced the lines at gas stations, which are expected to last through mid-October.
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.
The Cuban Counterpoint
Posted by Sonja Ebron
Any post-Katrina disaster response would have been better than the fiasco three years ago in New Orleans, but the response to Gustav was startling. I was happy to see a generally well-orchestrated mass evacuation of New Orleans last week as the hurricane approached. Mass transit in the city had never worked so well. And was I dreaming or were they flying people out of town? I agree with Kanye that “George Bush doesn’t like Black people,” and Katrina’s devastation caused no change of like minds or hearts. So give thanks that the Republican convention schedule motivated the government to get it right this time.
Community Is The Solution
Posted by Sonja Ebron
By far, the best part of my job is visiting with community organizations and seeing the great work they do to help people better their lives. Whether they’re working on housing, health, education or women’s empowerment, the people in these organizations choose to spend their working hours and careers improving the odds for other people. There’s an obvious cultural difference between for-profit corporations and nonprofits, and it shows up clearly in the attitudes and enthusiasm with which people in community organizations do their jobs.