This year\u0092s Women\u0092s History Month theme is “Women\u0092s Education \u0096 Women\u0092s Empowerment.” At GRID Alternatives, we make it a goal to empower women by providing opportunities to learn the necessary skills to have long-term careers and to help build a successful green collar workforce and solar community for us all. GRID Alternatives \u0096 Inland Empire is celebrating Women\u0092s History Month on a number of fronts: spotlighting some of our women volunteers; and assembling a Women\u0092s Build for one of seven houses at Solarthon in San Jacinto on May 19th!<\/p>\n
After working for years as a bank executive in the desert, Carmen Valles decided it was time to reinvent herself. Her requirements for starting a new career included two things: 1) it needed to be an up-and-coming industry with room for growth, and 2) it needed to be something she would be passionate about. Carmen enrolled in College of the Desert\u0092s PV class to learn about solar because, in her words, “why not use what\u0092s right in front of us?” After attending a GRID Volunteer Orientation, she began volunteering with GRID Alternatives in June 2011. Carmen has since participated in over 21 solar installations throughout the Inland Empire and became a GRID Alternatives Ground and Roof Team Leader in early September 2011. “I have gained a wealth of knowledge\u0097 more knowledge than I could have gained in my classroom setting alone.” Carmen and her business partner recently launched their own solar PV and solar thermal installation company in the desert region!<\/p>\n
Solarthon is GRID Alternatives\u0092 largest annual community solar installation and block party. In the Inland Empire, we will install 7 systems for 7 homes for 7 families in one neighborhood in San Jacinto in one day! The Women\u0092s Build at Solarthon will have all women volunteers and Team Leaders doing the installation, guided by a GRID woman Solar Installation Supervisor. It is an amazing opportunity for women in the Inland Empire to come together, build camaraderie, and demonstrate their solar skills! Dianne Randle, a single working mother with a teenage daughter, looks forward to receiving her 22-module solar electric system at Solarthon. “These solar electric systems will enrich our lives dramatically. Having that extra money plus the benefits to the environment are excellent!”<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This year\u0092s Women\u0092s History Month theme is “Women\u0092s Education \u0096 Women\u0092s Empowerment.” At GRID Alternatives, we make it a goal to empower women by providing opportunities to learn the necessary skills to have long-term careers and to help build a successful green collar workforce and solar community for us all. <\/p>","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":2558,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[79],"tags":[],"audience":[],"content-type":[12],"focus-area":[36,73],"region":[],"series":[],"content-author":[],"class_list":["post-2557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-workforce-education","content-type-news","focus-area-women-in-solar","focus-area-workforce-development"],"acf":{"hero_media_type":"image","hero_media_image":null,"hero_media_url":"","hero_media_poster":null,"hero_video_play":"inline","related_stories":null,"pattern_override":null,"story_callouts":null,"media":null,"featured_blog_post":null,"featured_event":null,"pdf_download":null,"blockquote":null,"author":null,"notice":null,"social_embed":null,"contact_card":null,"meta_details":null,"faq":null,"table":null},"yoast_head":"\n