Van Jones.

Anthony K. "Van" Jones is an American environmental advocate, civil rights activist, and attorney. Jones is a co-founder of three non-profit organizations. In 1996, he founded the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, a California non-governmental organization (NGO) working for alternatives to violence. In 2005, he co-founded Color of Change, an advocacy group for African Americans. In 2007, he founded Green For All, a national NGO dedicated to "building an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. His first book, The Green Collar Economy, was released on October 7, 2008, and reached number 12 on the New York Times Best Seller list. In 2008, Time magazine named Jones one of its "Heroes of the Environment". Fast Company called him one of the "12 Most Creative Minds of 2008"On February 26, 2010, Jones received the NAACP President's Award at the 41st annual NAACP Image Awards.
On October 2, 2010, Jones spoke at the One Nation Working Together rally in Washington, DC, where he spoke about linking the fight against poverty with the fight against pollution, saying that green jobs would bring "real solutions" instead of "hateful rhetoric".
On April 15, 2011, Jones spoke at Powershift 2011 in Washington, DC, where he addressed over 10,000 students on issues of climate justice and standing up for underrepresented communities. Powershift 2011 was the largest youth activism and organizing training in our country's history.
In 2011, Jones worked with MoveOn.org to launch the Rebuild the Dream campaign, which was intended to start a progressive American Dream movement to counter the Tea Party movement. Following a kickoff on June 23, 2011, Rebuild the Dream announced a "Contract for the American Dream", intended as a counter to the Tea Party-supported "Contract from America, and held house meetings in July. Jones claimed 127,000 people had become involved in the movement by the end of July 201.


Awards and honorsAwards and honors.
1997-1999 - Rockefeller Foundation "Next Generation Leadership" Fellowship
1998 - Reebok International Human Rights Award
2000 - International Ashoka Fellowship
2008 - Best Dressed Environmental List (#1 of 30); Sustainable Style Foundation
2008 - Time Magazine Environmental Hero
2008 - Elle Magazine Green Award
2008 - One of the George Lucas Foundation's "Daring Dozen"
2008 - Hunt Prime Mover Award; Hunt Alternatives Fund
2008 - Campaign for America's Future "Paul Wellstone Award"
2008 - Global Green USA "Community Environmental Leadership" Award
2008 - San Francisco Foundation Community Leadership Award
2008 - Puffin/Nation prize for "Creative Citizenship"
2008 - World Economic Forum "Young Global Leader"
2009 - Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award
2009 - Eco-Entrepreneur Award, Institute for Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Innovation; Howard University
2009 - Individual Thought Leadership, Energy & Environment Awards; Aspen Institute
2010 - NAACP President's Award
2010 - Commonwealth Club of California - Inforum's 21st Century Visionary Award