Empowering Today’s Youth and Tomorrow’s Solar Leaders in the Inland Empire!

Most high school students can tell you how to navigate their cell phone, but many may not know what powers it, where that energy comes from, or even the impact that power has on our environment. This generation of youth also knows that solar technology exists – from seeing solar panels on homes to advertisements on local billboards. But few have access to it, worked with it, or even imagined a career in solar.

The solar industry is one of the fastest growing industries today. According to a recent report by The Solar Foundation, it is expected to grow by 16% this year. In fact, there are now more workers in the solar industry than in the automotive industry. With that in mind, GRID Alternatives Inland Empire (GRID IE) developed our Solar, Energy, and Outreach Training (SEaOT) Program for high school students to help bring a new generation of workers and leaders into the solar industry. The Program is designed to increase their awareness, knowledge, and skills about solar while engaging in actual hands-on solar outreach and education campaigns and solar installation projects for their low-income community members.

Recently launched with Arroyo Valley High Schools' Cultivating Organic Recycling Environmentalists (CORE) Academy in San Bernardino, CA, 32 at-risk students will learn about energy efficiency, renewable energy, community outreach and marketing, and solar design and installation through the 8-week hands-on Program. They will also be exposed to a variety of solar professions and building job-readiness skills, such as public-speaking and teamwork, to power their solar careers!

“SEaOT has been a positive experience for our students by providing them with real world training for jobs of the 21st century,” said CORE Academy Coordinator, Laura Gallardo. “Through our partnership with GRID Alternatives, we are helping CORE Academy students develop the skills needed so they can obtain jobs in the solar industry once they graduate high school.”

“We want to inspire and empower our youth in the Inland Empire about solar technology and to give back to their community,” said Bambi Tran, GRID IE Regional Director. “The SEaOT Program will get them involved in building an inclusive clean-energy economy and shaping a sustainable future for all.”

Bring SEaOT to your high school or youth program and educate and empower our young people through solar! Contact GRID Alternatives Inland Empire at 951-272-4743 or infoie@gridalternatives.org GRID Alternatives is a nonprofit organization that brings the benefits of solar technology to communities that would not otherwise have access, providing needed savings for families, preparing workers for jobs in the fast-growing solar industry, and helping clean our environment.

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