It was only the second day of GRID Central Valley\u2019s latest training series when the orders came down: all Californians had been instructed to shelter in place due to the rapidly growing COVID-19 pandemic. Training was immediately put on pause while the Central Valley team worked quickly to develop a contingency plan. In the following days and weeks, similar lockdowns and restrictions fanned out across the country, posing a unique challenge for GRID\u2019s hands-on training programs.<\/p>\n
In the Central Valley (CV), eight trainees were able to wait out the pause in the program and come back to a newly adapted socially-distanced training program. A maximum of six trainees are now allowed in the training lab, which has safety signage, hand-sanitizing and cleaning stations, and socially distanced desk and work spaces. The training lab includes a mock roof that gives trainees a chance to experience installing solar using fall protection. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s amazing how our organization has been able to be so creative and find avenues to continue our training,\u201d explained Karina Gonzalez, CV\u2019s Workforce Development Director. <\/p>\n
On the other coast, the lockdowns occurred during the third week of a training program led by GRID Mid-Atlantic\u2019s Workforce Training Supervisors Dominic \u201cDom\u201d Paul-Baha and Ayaz Porter. The team immediately switched to online training, streaming themselves online as they demonstrated installation techniques. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a little bit challenging, because the turnaround time was instant,\u201d explained Dom. \u201cSome people weren\u2019t able to attend the online training, so we had to print packets and drop them off at people\u2019s homes.\u201d After a while, the DC Department of Employment provided iPads to the participants, which improved the training experience.<\/p>\n
In response to the changing times, Greater Los Angeles (GLA) saw an opportunity to advance GRID\u2019s mission of equity and access, particularly around emerging technology needs. David Andrade, GLA\u2019s Training Specialist, advocated, \u201cOur trainees need better access to technology.\u201d Through partnerships with nonprofits, GLA was able to offer Chromebooks to trainees who needed laptops and\/or hotspots for the duration of their internships. This transition presented itself as an opportunity to directly connect with the community without the associated cost of transportation, such as time and distance.<\/p>\n
GLA continues to be creative, discovering new ways to support trainees in this space. The GLA team believes they will maintain and implement some new practices as standard for a more well-rounded training program in the long-term. Adewale OgunBadejo, GLA\u2019s Workforce Development Manager, noted, \u201cAs technology advances we are committed to ensuring that vision continues to include everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
To be able to continue to do [the training], it\u2019s a challenge, but it\u2019s also rewarding,\u201d said Karina. Despite the ongoing challenges, there\u2019s still much to celebrate. Of Central Valley\u2019s recent cohort of eight graduates, seven are currently employed in the solar industry, proving there are still opportunities in the solar industry as well as a real need for training programs like GRID\u2019s. <\/p>\n
To celebrate, the Central Valley team hosts individual socially-distanced graduations for their trainees. \u201cGraduation is the most important part of what we do. For some of the trainees, this is the first graduation they\u2019ve had. We still have to celebrate their accomplishment,\u201d said Karina. <\/p>\n
As GRID\u2019s workforce departments are adapting, affiliate offices are sharing best practices with each other. \u201cWe\u2019ve been working together more than ever. GRID has united as one during these tough times,\u201d said Dom, noting that the Mid-Atlantic office is now exploring hybrid in-person and online options. <\/p>\n
While we all grow accustomed to this new post-pandemic reality, one thing is certain – our workforce development teams across the country will continue to adapt, infuse their work with positivity, and always keep an eye to the future to ensure our trainees are given the best opportunities for success.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
GRID’s workforce development teams around the country innovate to provide safe training in a post-pandemic world.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":5858,"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],"region":[63],"series":[],"content-author":[],"class_list":["post-7010","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-workforce-education","content-type-news","focus-area-job-training","region-central-valley"],"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