Job Training

GRID Alternatives provides career exploration and solar education to K-14 students through its Solar Futures program. The curriculum provided through Solar Futures inspires young students to become the next generation of solar leaders. It also offers the opportunity to get hands-on experience in a field that is growing by 20 percent each year. Over 600 students have already been trained through this program, and approximately 65 solar projects have been built for Inland Empire’s disadvantaged communities as a result of these students efforts.

Roger Stark was born and raised in Ohio. At 18 years old and fed up with harsh Ohio winters, Roger trekked across the nation, finding himself in sunny San Diego where he was recruited as a Marine. He served during the Vietnam era for three years. He was filled with excitement when he first enlisted, learning quickly what serving this country means – leadership, teamwork, reliability and community service.

Solarthon is GRID Alternatives’ flagship community installation event, bringing together people from all walks of life – including individual volunteers, corporate sponsors, and community leaders – and with the completion of this achievement low-income residents of Los Angeless will benefit from over $200,000 in lifetime savings.

“I’ve been to college job fairs so far, but this is the best so far in terms of approachability, opportunities, and general interactions with companies. It left a good impression as my first professional career fair,” says Seqen, an electrical engineering student who just moved to DC after graduating from Penn State.

“I just really love to learn,” said Tarik Mickel, when asked about his hectic schedule and commitment to study solar. Even after a full day of working on the roof or attending workshops through our Solar Works DC job training program, he still has the energy to play hide-and-go-seek with his young kids and crack open his solar photovoltaic text books late into the evening.