It is not every day that you get the chance to re-create yourself, as in the case of Manuel Lopez. Manuel began his Solarcorps journey on August 29, 2016. That morning, he headed out with six other new Solarcorps Fellows to Oakland for one week of training at GRID Alternatives headquarters. Through the Americorps funded program, GRID Alternatives is giving individuals the opportunity to learn about the solar industry while serving in their communities. One word that Manuel would use to describe his Solarcorps experience is “blessed” because it opened new opportunities in life that he never thought he could achieve.
Manuel’s biggest fear was communicating with others. He recalls his first day at GRID he was quiet, timid, and unsure of what he was doing. That day he met Oscar Mendez, a Solar Installation Supervisor (SIS). Oscar took him under his wings and shared his knowledge with him. Now, anytime you see Manuel you can feel his presence, he is very energetic, enthusiastic and comical. In his term as a Solarcorps Fellow, Manuel learned soft skills and the proficiency to install a photovoltaic (PV) solar system. To him these skills were not just any skills, but marketable ones which he knew he would use in his career in the solar industry. It is difficult to get into the industry without experience but thanks to his Solarcorps experience, he is set to succeed. He thanks everyone in the construction department for helping and guiding him while he learned.
For the first time in his life, he has a full time permanent job as a Solar Installation Supervisor and does not need to worry about looking for a job, season after season. Manuel is ready to help and mentor the new Solarcorps Fellows that have just began their journey. The best part of the day for Manuel is when he gets to go home, not because he’s lazy, but because every day when leaving work he knows he helped a family in need. His hard work is worth it, he knows the solar system he just installed is going to make a difference in the family’s finances and that puts a smile on his face. We want to thank all of our Solarcorps Fellows for their year of service, Thank you.
