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Van Jones

Van Jones, esq. is the founder and National Executive Director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights (EBC). Headquartered in San Francisco, EBC is a national organization that challenges human rights abuses in the U.S. criminal justice system.

Working to challenge the criminalization, incarceration and abuse of low-income people and people of color, Mr. Jones has received many major awards and honors including: designation as a Global Leader for Tomorrow, 2002; a feature as one of 50 human rights activists in Kerry Kennedy Cuomo’s 2000 book “Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders Who Are Changing Our World”; the Reebok International Human Rights Award, 1998; the Rockefeller Foundation ‘Next Generation Leadership’ Fellowship, 1997-1999; and the Do Something BRICK Award for Community Leadership.

Under Mr. Jones’ leadership, the Ella Baker Center has begun to pioneer new methods of promoting the human rights agenda, such as incubating a record label, Freedom Fighter Music, harnesses urban music and youth culture to tackle human rights issues. Mr. Jones has also worked diligently to build bridges between socially responsible business leaders and human rights activists.