“I have always believed that if the sun shines for everyone, its power should be a benefit for all.”
This message, one part of a passionate speech by Carmen Zamudio, former GRID Alternatives SolarCorps Outreach Fellow, perfectly captured the tone of GRID’s 4th annual Interconnection gala fundraiser last week in San Francisco.
At a time when our hearts break almost daily with increasing climate chaos, pollution, housing affordability, racism, intolerance, deportations, and more, Carmen’s words remind us that access to clean, affordable energy is one string in a web of hopeful, courageous solutions that unite us all. This small, but bright spot is the spirit of Interconnection.
Nearly 200 energy advocates, community and solar industry leaders, and our incredible volunteers, clients and supporters came together for a lovely evening of dinner, mingling, music, and a heartfelt celebration of environmental justice wins in the Bay Area and beyond. The event, which featured a highly competitive silent auction, raised approximately $100,000 for GRID’s efforts to make solar energy and solar job training accessible to the communities that need them most. Thank you to everyone who contributed!
Interconnection also gave us the opportunity to honor some incredible movers-and-shakers working towards environmental justice and clean energy access:
- Greenlining Institute, one of the nation’s largest and most successful multi-ethnic, advocacy and leadership development nonprofits, is an environmental justice leader and a tireless coalition-builder behind California’s solar access wins. Accepting the award was Orson Aguilar, President and GRID Alternatives board member.
- The City of Richmond, whose work in environmental justice, equity and empowerment makes them an nationally-recognized climate leader. Through the City's partnership with GRID and beyond, Richmond has consistently demonstrated its commitment to make clean, renewable energy and green job training accessible to their low-income residents. Richmond City Councilmember Ada Recinos joined us to accept the award.
Huge thanks to our individual and corporate sponsors that helped make the event a success:
Presenting (Gigawatt) Sponsors:
Additional sponsors:
Individual Sponsors:
Adam Bad Wound & Loïc LeGland | Mara Feeney | Tim Lindl, Keyes & Fox LLP | Thomas Van Dyck, RBC Wealth Management | Jeff Atkin, Foley & Lardner LLP | Seth Weissman
We are so grateful to everyone that attended Interconnection and to our incredible community of changemakers and advocates that we have the pleasure of working alongside in this clean energy transformation. We share a vision of a just future in which all people have access to clean air, affordable homes, and fulfilling livelihoods, and our partnership and mutual support is needed now more than ever.
You can view photos of the event here. And for more information about getting involved in next year’s Interconnection event, please contact Mara Ervin at mervin@gridalternatives.org.