Job Training

People often ask me, “What’s the difference between sustainability studies and environmental science?” The simple answer is this: Sustainability is the study of the environment in which we care about people. At GRID Alternatives, they take a multifaceted approach to climate change; decreasing our collective carbon footprint, while simultaneously increasing diversity in the workforce, empowering individuals with minimal access to resources. My name is Mikaela Kato and as a Sustainability major at University of California, Riverside (UCR) the work GRID does is not only endlessly fascinating to me, but also so extremely relevant to what I study.

On Friday, May 25th, 22 trainees took another step closer to a career in solar by graduating the Solar Works DC program.

Solar Futures students have the opportunity to get real-world solar installation experience with GRID.

Blaine Boyer is an educator at Rancho Vista High School, a continuation school in Temecula, who has been an active partner of GRID Alternatives since 2012.

Imagine, at age 18, receiving an opportunity that will guide you to your ideal career. Although the journey to finding your career is always a challenge, one Inland Empire high school in San Bernardino is making those first steps a little easier.

Five years ago, several schools approached GRID IE with an idea to enhance their vocational academies through GRID’s unique hands-on solar training program.

When Pittsburg resident Liduvina Abud learned about GRID, she knew she needed to include her son, who lives just around the corner from her. But when she found out that she and her son were going to have solar installed by GRID on the same day, she didn't realize that they would also be giving back to local job trainees, providing hands-on training to a Pittsburg-based crew from Future Build.

Welcome to our May installment of our Staff Spotlight feature, where we share a brief interview to introduce you to some of our amazing staff members here at GRID Bay Area! This month, we are introducing you to our SolarCorps Construction Fellow, Emily Goldenberg! Emily is passionate about making the Bay Area a better and more accessible place to live, and hopes that her example will inspire others to take action on the causes they care about. Read on to learn more about Emily, including what inspired her to speak before hundreds of people at City Hall!

“I had a pizza delivery job, I wasn’t really making money, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with myself.” At 21 years-old, DC native Reginald “Reggie” Chandler was facing an uncertain future before he became a GRID Alternatives SolarCorps Fellow.