The purpose of the Southeast DC Green Jobs Now Rally and Shepherd Parkway Clean-up is two-fold:

1) Promote green-collar jobs in Southeast Washington, DC as a pathway out of poverty.

2) Partner with organizations, agencies and elected officials to clean up Shepherd Parkway and expose the community to environmental stewardship by protecting a valuable natural resource.

Green DMV partnered with the National Park Service, DC Department of Public Works, Green Earth Coalition, DC Jobs Coalition, DC elected officials, community leaders and volunteers for 2 days of action to clean up Shepherd Parkway. Community leaders and volunteers collected trash that was pulled from the large ravine along 4th and Mellon St., SE. The debris was then separated for recycling and picked up for disposal.

As residents in the Washington Overlook neighborhood gathered for the clean-up, Green DMV educated the residents of the community on environmental stewardship and opportunities of the new green economy and green-collar job opportunities.

"It's great that everyone came out to help with a great cause like cleaning up Shepherd Parkway, however we want to make sure that this enthusiam for environmental stewardship in Washington Overlook turns into a permanent lifestyle through green-collar job opportunities east of the river ", said Rhon Hayes, co-founder of Green DMV.

A new wave of green investment is sweeping our nation's cities, driven by policies from green building laws, to renewable energy standards, to Mayor Adrian Fenty's climate change pledges. Reorienting our antiquated urban and energy infrastructure in Washington, DC around the platforms of efficiency, sustainability and reduced greenhouse gas emissions presents the perfect opportunity for people in southeast DC to capitalize on the emerging green economy that will rebuild communities, regional economies and people's lives.

With billions of dollars poised to flow into cities in the form of green investment, a movement is growing to ensure that the new green economy builds local businesses and creates good jobs for those who need them most. The question people are asking is: "who will get the green jobs?"

As cutting edge businesses, community activists, and forward-thinking elected officials are grappling with how to leverage emerging policies on green building, clean energy, waterfront restoration, and climate change as an opportunity to reinvest in jobs, skills, and local businesses, Green DMV is educating low-income communities on environmental stewardship and preparing people for green-collar job opportunies by creating a green-collar workforce to rebuild our neighborhoods and restore aging infrastructure.

Shepherd Parkway is part of Washington Overlook. It is located East of the River and is close to I-295. Hundreds of low-income residents and dozens of schools surround the park area. Unfortunately, Shepherd Parkway is also home to pollution caused by illegal dumping in the Washington Overlook neighborhood.

Illegal dumping is a serious problem in the Washington Overlook neighborhood. As reported by the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Agency, debris is one of the major human contributions to the threat of global warming.

The pollution taking place on Shepherd Parkway can be mitigated by taking the following steps to ensure its preservation.

1. Continue to draw attention to the pollution problem on Shepherd Parkway to stimulate interest in its continual maintenance and end the practice of neglect.

2. Develop a comprehensive plan for the preservation of Shepherd Parkway.

3. Develop a public/private partnership for oversight of the Parkway by forming a permanent Shepherd Parkway Steering Commitee.

4. Report an sightings of illegal dumping along Shepherd parkway to the authorities and others will be informed through (http://dc.everyblock.com)