Van Jones is the host of "The Van Jones Show" and a CNN political commentator, regularly appearing across the network's programming and special political coverage. "The Van Jones Show" airs twice monthly and explores major issues that continue to shape the country's political and cultural movements with guests from across the country and political spectrum.
Jones serves as the president of the Dream Corps, an organization that brings people together to solve America's toughest problems by backing initiatives that close prison doors and open doors of opportunity for all. The Dream Corps includes #cut50, which works to reduce crime and incarceration in all 50 states; Green For All, which works to build an inclusive green economy to lift people out of poverty; #YesWeCode, which works to help 100,000 young women and men of diverse backgrounds find success in the tech sector; and #LoveArmy, a national network of people committed to revolutionary love.
Jones has founded and led four other not-for-profit organizations engaged in social and environmental justice including, Rebuild the Dream, focused on promoting innovative policy solutions for the U.S. economy; the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights that focuses on economic empowerment and skills training in California and Color of Change, that offers training and guidance on issues related to racial equality and fairness on behalf of communities of color. Jones is also a senior fellow with the Center for American Progress and focuses on policy matters related to green jobs and how cities are implementing job-creating climate solutions.
Jones is a Yale-educated attorney and author of three New York Times best-selling books, The Green Collar Economy (2008), Rebuild the Dream (2012), and Beyond the Messy Truth: How We Came Apart - How We Come Together (2017).
He was the main advocate for the Green Jobs Act that was signed into law by George W. Bush in 2007. The Green Jobs Act was the first piece of federal legislation to codify the term "green jobs." During the Obama Administration, the legislation resulted in $500 million in national funding for green jobs training.
In 2009, Jones worked as the green jobs advisor to President Barack Obama. In this role, he helped to lead the inter-agency process that oversaw the multi-billion dollar investment in skills training and jobs development within the environmental and green energy sectors.
He has also been honored with numerous awards and spotlighted on several lists of high achievers, including: the World Economic Forum's "Young Global Leader" designation; Rolling Stone's 2012 "12 Leaders Who Get Things Done"; TIME's 2009 "100 Most Influential People in The World"; and the Root's 2013 "The Root 100."
