Wyclef Jean :: "Because I Want You To Hear Us"

photo: remember this album? :)

Hip-hop artist, former member of the Fugees, and Haitian native Wyclef Jean has led efforts to help Haiti for years through his charity Yele Haiti.

The term "Yele" comes from a Haitian Creole word meaning 'to yell,' and when asked by CBS's Scott Pelley why he chose this name for his charity, Wyclef responded "Because I want you to hear us."

Jessica Calefati at Mother Jones reported on Wednesday that Yele spends $100,000 a year on athletic programs for Haitian children and helps feed 50,000 people a month with food donated by the UN.


photo: Angelina Jolie and Wyclef Jean in Port-au-Prince in January 2006, celebrating Yele's 1st anniversary. Credit: Brennan Leslie / Associated Press.

When Wyclef received word of the disaster, he immediately acted, sending a “flurry of tweets” for people to donate $5 by texting 501501. He has already returned to Haiti to help.

More details on Wyclef's actions over the past few days here on Treehugger.com.

Saw this on Twitter today, from @dosomething:

NEWS: we're offering grants of $500 for people under 25 who are working on Haiti relief projects.

"Green The Block" National Launch Party Sept 26 in Washington, DC

photo: Wyclef Jean
The Green the Block campaign will officially kick off with Wyclef & Friends at the Green the Block Launch Party after the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference Gala, tomorrow (September 26th).

On August 4th, the Hip Hop Caucus and Green For All publically announced Green the Block from the White House.

Green the Block is a partnership between Green for All and the Hip Hop Caucus to educate and mobilize low-income, traditionally under-served communities to ensure they have the resources and platforms needed to access the benefits and opportunities of the growing clean energy economy.

On September 11, you all organized 94 Green the Block events in 24 states as a part of the first National Service and Remembrance Day.

This Saturday, we will be rolling out the red carpet and introducing Green the Block to the nation, with our gracious host Wyclef, Members of Congress, and friends from around the country.

If you are in or near Washington DC, join us. The Launch Party begins at 8pm and is at Lux Lounge (649 New York Ave). All the info is here.

If you can't join us check out the Green The Block website, get involved, and take action today.

For Future Generations,
Rev Yearwood
Hip Hop Caucus