Job Training

One year ago, Reggie and Devonta were working on their applications for the Mayor Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), to get a summer job. Little did they know they would find themselves a year later as full-time AmeriCorps members, completing a year of service installing solar in the community with a brand new career path.

My name is Caroline Magana, a fourth year Sustainability Studies major at the University of California, Riverside. As a Sustainability major, one of the requirements is we must complete an internship.

At 17 years old, Michael Elkins followed his good friend's lead and joined the world of military service.

On Klensy’s first day at Solar Works DC, he didn’t know too much about solar. “I had wanted to work in solar, but the first day, I didn’t understand too much,” he says, “I wasn’t sure what racking was, what modules were… but now, everything is so easy.” Now, Klensy is a seasoned installer, working for New Columbia Solar.

Watch the video clip to hear Sharon's inspiring story about her journey from living under a bridge to creating a 'symphony' with her teammates installing solar.

My name is Jisela Herrera and I am a fourth-year student at the University of California, Riverside. Science has always been a passion of mine and more specifically, environmental science. I knew I wanted to intern at an organization where I could make a positive impact in people’s lives and the future of our planet. As someone who is deeply passionate about social justice and environmentalism, I found GRID Alternatives to be the perfect internship for me as it has given me the opportunity to contribute to the environment and society in a much broader spectrum. The first thing that attracted me to GRID Alternatives was their mission statement. GRID Alternatives installs solar systems at no cost to low-income homeowners and I knew from the start that I wanted to partner up with an organization with integrity, which I found here at GRID.