{"id":4255,"date":"2018-05-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-05-16T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gridalt.wpenginepowered.com\/the-current\/the-difference-a-year-can-make\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T12:04:45","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T16:04:45","slug":"the-difference-a-year-can-make","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/live-grid-wp.pantheonsite.io\/es\/the-current\/the-difference-a-year-can-make\/","title":{"rendered":"The Difference a Year Can Make"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cI had a pizza delivery job, I wasn\u2019t really making money, I didn\u2019t know what I wanted to do with myself.\u201d At 21 years-old, DC native Reginald \u201cReggie\u201d Chandler was facing an uncertain future before he became a GRID Alternatives SolarCorps Fellow.<\/p>\n

After being introduced to GRID through the summer Solar Works DC cohort<\/a>, Reggie applied to serve a year as a SolarCorps Construction Fellow at the GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic office.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s now been nine months since Reggie began installing solar on roofs of underserved DC residents, helping reduce their electric bills. He\u2019s become a proficient installer and GRID team member, now mentoring trainees in the Solar Works DC cohort while leading them step-by-step through the solar installation process. \u201cI\u2019ve gained so much, I\u2019ve got a driver\u2019s license, I\u2019ve got education, I\u2019ve got stability in my own life and finances,\u201d says Reggie when describing his experience so far, adding that \u201cthere\u2019s so many benefits with SolarCorps.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the benefits he\u2019s looking forward to is the $6000 education award he\u2019ll receive when he completes his term of service. Considering his future, Reggie thinks that he\u2019d like to stay with GRID Alternatives if he decides to stick with solar, and perhaps earn his NABCEP certification. He may also pursue his passion for fixing up cars by using his award to attend an auto service technology program.<\/p>\n

\"Dave,<\/p>\n

As a recently-recruited SolarCorps fellow myself,<\/a> I find it inspiring that Reggie went from not knowing what he wanted to do with this life to having great options for his future in less than a year. I can\u2019t wait to see what the future has in store, and I\u2019m looking forward to developing myself in the same ways Reggie has through his SolarCorps experience.<\/p>\n

GRID is hiring its new SolarCorps cohort! If you\u2019re interested in taking the next step towards a career in solar, view our open positions here!<\/a><\/p>\n

The SolarCorps Fellowship Program is part of the AmeriCorps network of programs. SolarCorps is made possible with funding support from AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps VISTA, and Bank of America. AmeriCorps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency for volunteering, service, and civic engagement. CNCS engages millions of Americans in citizen service through its AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs and leads the nation\u2019s volunteer and service efforts. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cI had a pizza delivery job, I wasn\u2019t really making money, I didn\u2019t know what I wanted to do with myself.\u201d At 21 years-old, DC native Reginald \u201cReggie\u201d Chandler was facing an uncertain future before he became a GRID Alternatives SolarCorps Fellow.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":4256,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[79],"tags":[],"audience":[],"content-type":[12],"focus-area":[20,25,73],"region":[],"series":[],"content-author":[],"class_list":["post-4255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-workforce-education","content-type-news","focus-area-job-training","focus-area-solarcorps","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":"\nThe Difference a Year Can Make - 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