Tax season is coming to a close with April 15 quickly approaching.

My name is Sawani Poornima Goonatilleke and I am a junior at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), pursuing a B.S. in Sustainability.

April is national volunteer month and GRID Inland Empire kicked it off early with a Volunteer Appreciation event on March 8.

Healthcare is a necessary part of everyday life. However, when burdened with the weight of taking care of a sick loved one and trying to pay bills, it becomes clear how vital good healthcare and a good support system play in navigating through tough times.

Homeowner Pamela Whyte is the sole breadwinner of her household with two adult children and one grandchild.

At 17 years old, Michael Elkins followed his good friend's lead and joined the world of military service.

Longtime Perris School Board member Virniecia Green-Jordan has always seen the value of technology, both in the classroom and industry.

My name is Caroline Magana, a fourth year Sustainability Studies major at the University of California, Riverside. As a Sustainability major, one of the requirements is we must complete an internship.

Ahmed Habib has always been extremely interested in renewable energy, installation, and design. He decided to pursue a degree in electrical engineering at Northern Arizona University and eventually graduated in 2013. Ahmed recently designed a $53,000 interactive solar PV system for an elementary school and wanted to further expand on these projects. Wanting to also advance in the solar industry, Ahmed decided to volunteer for GRID in order to obtain more skills and experience. “I have always had an interest in solar and wanted to help people,” he states, “GRID was the perfect opportunity to get some training.”

Our armed forces hails brave men and women who not only serve our country, but also provides troops with training in various fields. GRID IE Construction Intern Jesse Mota moved through the ranks from Private to Master Gunnery Sergeant while serving in the United States Marines before landing at GRID Alternatives. “I was stationed in Panama as an Embassy Guardian. My duties included acting as a ‘changing of the guards’ to gain confidence and develop trust with the locals,” Jesse reflected. While in the Marines, Jesse developed a broad range of skill sets that set the stage for his career in the solar industry, including his experience as a combat engineer. He was honorably discharged after 25 faithful years of service to the American people.