On July 30th, GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles (GLA) celebrated our new LA Solar Program and our move into the City of Los Angeles with a kickoff party at our new office location in DTLA. For the evening, GLA’s warehouse was transformed from a working solar warehouse into an event space filled with nearly 200 guests; from staff to community groups, job training organizations, solar companies and our individual philanthropic supporters, including our Board of Directors, and partners from Los Angeles Conservation Corps, Wells Fargo, Sunpower, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Southern California Edison, Homeboy Industries, Habitat for Humanity and more. 
Attendees enjoyed delicious food from Homegirl Catering and wines from Chateau Ste. Michelle while learning more about GRID’s new LA program, which since April, has already installed more than 20 solar electric systems for low income families living in underserved communities in the City of Los Angeles.
Michael Kadish, GLA’s Executive Director, welcomed attendees and hosted the event’s speaking program. The night’s speakers all highlighted the core of GRID’s work – people, planet, and employment. Speakers included Jojo Collins, current SolarCorps Project Fellow at GLA and former student volunteer, Karen Edwards, a GLA homeowner from Long Beach, and Melvone Garrett, a successful former job trainee from Compton who has gone on to a successful solar career after training with GLA. 
Partners who spoke about working with GLA to expand solar opportunities included: Bruce Saito, Executive Director emeritus of Los Angeles Conservation Corps, Ted Bardacke, Mayor Garcetti’s Director of Infrastructure for the City of LA, Michelle Garakian from Mayor Garcetti’s Office of Economic Development, and Thaddeus Skiles from Homeboy Industries.
The program culminated when GLA’s Board Chair, David Revelt, shared his vision for the future of GLA in LA and Gabriela Marquez, District Director for Congressman Tony Cardenas’s office spoke about the importance of passing national low income solar legislation, followed by the presentation of an award from Assemblywoman Autumn Burke.
The event was made possible by the generous sponsorship of Verengo Solar, as well as Titan Solar, Orion Solar Racking, Gigawatt Inc., and American Solar Power. In addition, Zero Waste Company helped make the event environmentally sustainable!
Click here for photos from the event!
See the photobooth photos here!
