Joint Center's Climate Change Commission Hosts Town Hall Meeting

HOUSTON, June 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being issued by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies:

WHO: Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies (Joint Center) and its Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change (Commission)

WHAT: The Commission seeks to increase the involvement of communities in the climate change debate and will hold a Town Hall meeting this month to hear from local residents on the impact of global warming on Houston's African Americans and Hispanic/Latino communities. In addition to climate change and energy policy, the Town Hall meeting will focus on opportunities related to green jobs and green-related employment opportunities, and funding for projects to lessen the progression or impacts of climate change, including weatherization, building efficiency, transportation, alternative energy, and green spaces. The event is part of the Joint Center's partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative, an organization established by former President Clinton to help turn ideas into action, and the Commission's own "commitment to action" is to convene a series of regional meetings around the country exploring ways to raise awareness of the impact of climate change on minority communities and to ensure their voices are heard in the process of developing policy solutions.

The Town Hall meeting is open to the public and materials will be available in English and Spanish. Translators will also be available to ensure maximum participation.

WHERE: Communications Workers of America Local 6222

1730 Jefferson Street, Houston, TX 77003

WHEN: Wednesday, June 17, 2009

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Note: Registration will open at 5:30 p.m. and refreshments will be provided.

PARTICIPANTS:

The Honorable Rodney Ellis, Texas State Senate, District 13 and Commission Co-Chair

Ralph B. Everett, Esq., President and CEO, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and Commission Co-Chair

Dr. Georges Benjamin, Executive Director, American Public Health Association

Dr. Robert Bullard, Director, Environmental Justice Resource Center, Clark Atlanta University

Calvin G. Butler, Esq., Vice President of State Legislative and Government Affairs ComEd, Inc.

Milton Carroll, Chairman of the Board, CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

Leslie G. Fields, Esq., National Environmental Justice Director, Sierra Club

Carolyn L. Green, Managing Partner, EnerGreen Capital Management, LLC

Dr. Gabriela D. Lemus, President, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement

Frank M. Stewart, President and COO, American Association of Blacks in Energy

Dr. Beverly Wright, Executive Director, Dillard University Deep South Center for Environmental Justice

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies is one of the nation's leading research and public policy institutions and the only one whose work focuses primarily on issues of particular concern to African Americans and other people of color. For more information about the Joint Center, please visit our Web site at www.jointcenter.org.

SOURCE Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies