“Leaders manage the dream. All leaders have the ability to create a compelling vision, one that takes people to a new place, and then translate that vision into reality. (Bennis, 188) There have been many visionary civil rights leaders in American history, such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Huey P. Newton, Angela Davis, Rev. Al Sharpton and Barack Obama. Recently, the most promising civil rights leader is Van Jones. Van Jones sets himself apart from these other influential leaders by merging his enthusiasm for social equality and his passion for environmental activism. Van Jones believes the combination of these two issues is key to alleviating some of the injustice problems plaguing America. In our Communicating Leadership course, we discovered the main communication styles identified by Warren Bennis, through his book Becoming A Leader. Van Jones demonstrates an understanding of the major themes covered in Becoming a Leader, such as understanding the basics of leadership, knowing the world, and building a future attributable to the impact he has made in America through his activism . Van Jones is recognized worldwide as a result of being a pioneer in human rights and the clean energy economy. He was born in 1968 in a rural town in Tennessee, where the values ​​of education and faith were instilled in him. These values ​​that were instilled in him by his family followed him into adulthood and allowed him to achieve many achievements. He embodies the leadership styles expressed in Bennis (2009), understanding the basics of leadership and knowing the world, which gives him the ability to shape the future. Van Jones encompasses all the ingredients of basic leadership as characterized by Benni. ..... middle of paper ......y: How one solution can solve our two biggest problems. New York, NY: HarperOne. MARK, J. (2013). Conversation: Van Jones. Earth Island Journal, 28(2), 45-47. Mok, K. (October 7, 2008). Book Review: The Green Collar Economy by Van Jones: TreeHugger. TreeHugger | Your source for news, reviews and advice on green design and living. Retrieved October 15, 2013, from http://www.treehugger.com/culture/book-review-the-green-collar-economy-by-van-jones.htmlVan Jones Biography — Climate Solutions. (nd). Home — Climate solutions. Retrieved October 15, 2013 from http://climatesolutions.org/programs/van-jones-biographyWho is Van Jones? Key quotes from SOCAP11 | Innov8Social - Exploring social innovation. (September 12, 2011). Innov8Social - Exploring social innovation. Retrieved October 15, 2013 from http://www.innov8social.com/2011/09/who-is-van-jones-key-quotes-from.html