This year, in honor of Women in Construction Week 2023, GRID Alternatives San Diego took an internal look at where we are and how far we have come. We discovered hope and joy but also - a lot of room for growth.
En 2021, GRID lanzó un programa de capacitación básica sobre instalaciones solares, llamado IBT por sus siglas en inglés, este programa tuvo una duración de 5 semanas y fue dirigido a mujeres nicaragüenses.
In 2021, GRID launched a 5-week hands-on solar installation training program for women in Nicaragua called Installation Basics Training (IBT). Sixteen women graduated from the program in 2021 and seven have already been hired in the local solar industry.
GRID Alternatives’ mission supports multiple levels of workforce development and service-learning opportunities, from volunteerism to in-depth solar training and paid internships.
For Women’s History Month, GRID Mid-Atlantic has been celebrating the efforts and excellence of women in solar. Ramonita Ramey, a GRID client who lives in Northeast D.C., worked in solar a little earlier than the rest of us. To be precise, she got a job making solar cells in a Maryland factory 43 years ago, long before rooftop solar power became popular.
We're highlighting a fantastic and integral member of the GRID Mid-Atlantic staff, Nikki Mammano. Nikki began working with GRID as a SolarCorps fellow for the Outreach team, and was eventually hired on full-time as an Outreach Coordinator. Known for her compassionate approach to working with clients, outside of work Nikki is also an amazing salsa dancer and houseplant enthusiast. In 2019, Nikki was in a life-changing car accident and continues to work through her recovery process.
In honor of Women’s History Month and Women in Construction Week, GRID caught up with Monica Slabaugh, a GRID NV Solar Installation Supervisor and Solar Installation Training Supervisor. She started as a Solarcorps Construction Fellow three years ago after leaving an office job that had her feeling drained and unfulfilled. She decided that a more active position working in environmental sustainability would be a better fit for her.