Greater Los Angeles Staff

As a Bruin and native Angeleno, Ashley loves Southern California and all the great things it has to offer. Ashley realized she really wants to help people and communities at an early age and opted to go to an alternative high school in Compton to prepare for a career in medicine. After receiving her BA in History from UCLA, she began her career path by working in several different industries before catching solar fever in 2011. After working in the for-profit world for 7 years, she realized that the desire to help her community was not being fulfilled and decided to embark on a different path that combined both her love for renewable energy and community development. GRID affords her the opportunity and she could not be happier! She is excited to bring her experience with project administration and business operations to the GRID family and hopes to make a positive impact in her community and spread the culture of GRID wherever she goes. She is thrilled that she has the opportunity to work for such a positive company with such a wonderful approach and diverse perspective on people, planet and employment.

A New York transplant, Alex came to Los Angeles to study urban and regional planning at UCLA, focusing his research on climate change mitigation through a regional planning framework. After graduation, Alex continued policy research at the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation where he led research projects in both the Alternative Energy and Alternative Fuels (PEVs) initiatives. GRID teamed with the Luskin Center for a solar at affordable housing report, where Alex saw GRID’s social mission firsthand and economic and environmental justice in action.

Alex joined GRID in May 2016 to help launch GRID GLA’s multifamily and commercial non-profit program. In his time with GRID, Alex's role has expanded to also include grant development, strategic partnerships, general operating strategies and support of the residential outreach team.

Jonatan Escalante was born and raised in Guatemala City. Following his graduation in construction design, he relocated to the United States, where he began his career in various construction trades. In 2009, he transitioned into the solar industry, marking a significant turning point in his professional journey. With more than 20 years of design experience and a decade of experience at the same solar company, and completed numerous projects ranging from 2KW to 6MW.

Seeking to advance his career, he applied to GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles, where he now contributes his expertise and passion for renewable energy. Jonatan has earned his C10 California Electrical license and is proud to be part of the GRID family. He eagerly anticipates the opportunities that lie ahead with GRID Alternatives and is committed to making a positive impact in the solar sector and our local communities.

Malcolm decided to transition his career into solar/renewable energy after being introduced to the industry through a short consulting project in 2017. Prior to this, Malcolm was a health educator and community health advocate with his efforts primarily in underserved communities. His experience spans various sectors including non-profit, municipal government, higher education, consulting, and private sector corporate.

Malcolm first joined GRID as a solar installation volunteer in 2018. He quickly parlayed this opportunity into a part-time veteran internship which evolved shortly thereafter into a thirteen month SolarCorp fellowship. After subsequently spending three and a half years with SunPower where he was promoted to a project manager role, Malcolm returned to GRID in June 2023 to join the Development team.

Malcolm earned his BA in Economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago and his MBA from Florida International University. He is also a military veteran, enlisting in the Army five months out of high school.

In her role at GRID Greater LA, Stella has effectively engaged and collaborated with local, regional, and state agencies, community-based organizations and nonprofits in pursuing grants and project opportunities relating to workforce development and clean energy /transportation opportunities. Over the past 8 years Stella has been instrumental in organizing partner organizations for both Transformative Climate Communities Implementation and Planning grants, engaging over 20 community based and nonprofit organizations, as well as local government departments, to bring in millions in funding to underserved, vulnerable communities that are addressing climate change, sustainability and clean energy/transportation needs.

Irina was born in Romania and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. She lived in the Pacific Northwest for almost a decade, and she currently calls Sacramento, CA home. Irina received her BS in design from UC Davis and has worked in marketing, branding and graphic design for almost two decades. She has worked mostly in the non-profit field throughout her career. She has a history of activism, primarily in racial justice and queer and trans rights. She is a single mom to two fierce amazing kiddos. She is a multimedia artist and makes paintings and digital illustrations in her spare time.

Lidia Castelo, a native of Los Angeles, began developing her grassroots community organizing skills in High School by organizing her fellow classmates at Belmont High School to advocate for adequate education. She then continued developing her passion while attending CSU Northridge by organizing students around budget cuts affecting EOP and humanities programs. Soon after receiving her Bachelors of Arts degree in Xicana/o Studies and a minor in Business management, she became a Tenant Organizer for Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) through the AmeriCorps Public Allies LA program, campaigning against slum housing and advocating for affordable/adequate housing for working poor families in the Figueroa Corridor area of Los Angeles. Currently, she is a second year term AmeriCorps manager; proud to give back to the SolarCorps community. She has dedicated 13+ years at GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles; known to many as the Original Outreach Coordinator aKa OGOC. She is well-versed in the communities she works in and goes above and beyond to direct families to additional resources in their community. She started at GLA as an outreach coordinator working all over LA, Orange, and Ventura County, then moved up to senior outreach coordinator continuing to enroll families in GRID’s solar programs and providing clients with post solar education. Presently, Lidia is the Outreach Manager for the GLA office and continues to thrive to educate and bring awareness to her community about solar energy…

Teresa Perez grew up in East Los Angeles and has always been driven to help create healthy and safe communities across Los Angeles. Teresa graduated from the California State University, Long Beach in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science and Policy. Teresa started her career with GRID Alternatives as a SolarCorps Fellow in 2016, and then joined the Development team to manage the Corporate Sponsorship Program. After leaving GRID, Teresa worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to help coordinate and plan the largest lead paint remediation initiative in the country. Teresa has returned to GRID help plan and implement the Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Green Together Program for the community of Pacoima.

Shameka Dixon, born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, developed a passion for Community Development that led to a fulfilling career in Workforce Development. With over 10 years of experience and a degree in Economics, she has committed her work to empowering individuals to realize their potential and achieve meaningful success.

Shameka has always believed in the resilience and aspirations of the people she serves. Her mission is not just to address challenges but to tap into the hope and drive present within every community. By working with organizations that provide practical tools and resources, she has helped countless individuals overcome barriers, gaining new skills and opportunities for better lives.

Her passion for Workforce and Economic Development lies in building the capacity of individuals to thrive. Shameka is driven by the goal of helping as many people as possible secure living-wage jobs while reducing disparities in quality of life. She is inspired by the dreams and ambitions within each person, and through her work, she is committed to turning those dreams into realities.