Justan Randolph, a team leader for the 2018 summer cohort, would be the first to tell you that it's not just the trainees that are benefiting from the professional development opportunities offered by Solar Works DC.
As a Green Zone Environmental Program (GZEP) team leader, Justan led the trainees through the program’s activities, and was able to mentor the summer cohort trainees through the solar installation process on the roof. “It was a great experience. I never managed people in this capacity, and I learned a hands-on skill installing solar panels at the same time,” he said of experience, adding that “You learn a lot about yourself as far as being on top of the roof and working with people that you don’t usually work with.”
Before coming to Solar Works DC, Justan finished up his junior year at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), where he studies Environmental Science and Technology. He’s also juggling roles outside his student responsibilities. When he began at UMD, Justan became the chapter president for Do Better Community-Improvement Incorporated, a community service and self-improvement organization that provides local service opportunities to its members, as well as practical skill lessons on subjects not normally covered in school, like personal finance and home ec. He also participated on the University’s team for the Solar Decathlon, a Department of Energy competition to create buildings powered with renewable energy. Apart from that, he is co-founder and design specialist at GRNDZRO, LLC, which he describes as a digital solutions company that handles everything from marketing and branding strategies to event promotion.
When the summer cohort ended, Justan used his new connection to the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) through Solar Works DC to land an internship at the agency. He’s now working with the Watershed Protection Division to fight nonpoint source pollution. His ultimate goal, however, is to help address the food desert issue in low-income areas of the District by promoting community gardening at schools participating in the RiverSmart program.
GRID Mid-Atlantic is glad that Justan was able to guide Solar Works DC trainees to make the most of the program, and use his leadership as a launching point to pursue his ambitions for environmental preservation and community improvement, and we wish him luck in his future endeavors.