“It still doesn’t feel like work.”
This is how Batrina, a local Washingtonian, describes her new Workforce Training Supervisor position with GRID. As a trainee in the Spring Solar Works DC cohort, she was told by her classmates that she was a leader who took charge when there was a need. So, it was a natural step for her to become a supervisor for the following cohorts after graduating the 12-week training program. And Batrina had no anxiety about stepping into her new role. “I felt GRID prepared me,” she said of her new position. “I felt empowered.”
Batrina’s first cohort of 17 trainees graduated earlier this month. The six-week summer session was tailored for DC youth ages 18-24. Batrina admits how great it was to see the trainees grow throughout the program, just like she did in the program. “They started to take responsibility for one another. They held each other accountable.”
And now she is already itching to start the 12-week Fall cohort. “I don’t want to be stuck in an office,” she says, explaining that she can’t wait to get back to leading the classroom. What is she most looking forward to? “The ‘aha’ moments - when the trainees connect something with solar and you just see it click for them.”
While Batrina is guiding others in their professional development, she is continuing her own solar journey. She just took her NABCEP certification exam and is eagerly awaiting the results. “I just want to be part of the sustainable future of DC,” she explains, “and I want to thank GRID for inspiring and hiring me.”
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