Easy Being Green
According to a popular music show coach (and bona fide pop star), every kid should get the chance to go green.
Some of us know the funny and flamboyant CeeLo Green because of his mega-pop hits like "Crazy" and "Forget You." Even more of us know him because of his prominent position in one of the red revolving coaches' chairs on the wildly popular music competition, NBC's "The Voice." But did you know that somewhere in his busy schedule, he's also found time to launch a foundation to help disadvantaged kids learn about taking care of the earth?
CeeLo, both a solo artist and one-half of the musical duo Gnarls Barkley, hails from Atlanta, where he recently established a 501(c)3 organization with his sister to level the field, so to speak, when it comes to environmental education in schools. The GreenHouse Foundation, as it's called, explains its goals succinctly: "Through our Green Garden Education Program, we are supporting schools with the tools, curriculum and resources necessary to create and maintain an outdoor “teaching” garden. With the garden as the primary focus, children will learn the fundamentals of gardening along with the health and environmental benefits of growing their own produce. Children will also learn how to start and manage their own school farmers market with proceeds of cash and/or product being distributed to other nonprofit organizations fighting hunger in their community."
A summer school, college scholarship program, school waste diversion project and career development initiative are all planned for future phases as the foundation grows; clearly, 'Green' is much more than just the man's last name -- it's also arguably part of his calling.
Not sure about you, but we can't wait for the shorter-than-average yet larger-than-life crooner to sing a duet with Kermit the Frog -- changing the lyrics, of course, to "It IS easy being green." We'd definitely turn our chairs around for that.
About the GreenHouse Foundation
Cee-Lo Green's GreenHouse Foundation launched in August 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. Its goal is to educate, inspire and influence school-aged children in disadvantaged areas to become responsible stewards of their environment, communities and future.
In what ways are schools in your community engaging kids in environmental consciousness?