OAKLAND, CA \u2013 GRID Alternatives Bay Area, in partnership with New Horizons Career Development Center and supported by the Wells Fargo Foundation, is pleased to announce the graduation ceremony for its second cohort of Installation Basics Training (IBT) 200 solar trainees. The event will occur on Monday, July 28, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at GRID Alternatives, 1171 Ocean Ave Unit 200, Oakland, CA 94608.<\/p>\n
“We are thrilled to celebrate our second graduating cohort from our Installation Basic Training 200 program. This success is a testament to the power of collaboration, and we are deeply grateful to our partners at the New Horizon Career Development Center for their trust in our work. We also extend our sincere gratitude to Wells Fargo. Their critical investment provided the stipends that enabled our trainees to fully commit to this five-week program and launch their careers in renewable energy,\u201d says Arthur Bart-Williams, Executive Director of GRID Alternatives Bay Area. <\/p>\n
This graduation ceremony will honor the eight participants who have completed the 200-hour summer training program. Attendees can meet the trainees, learn about their experiences, and celebrate their achievements. A celebratory lunch will follow the ceremony, served around 12:30 p.m. Guests are encouraged to RSVP to ensure an accurate headcount for lunch.<\/p>\n
GRID Alternatives is dedicated to providing an effective, efficient, and equitable pathway into the solar industry. One of its key training programs, Installation Basics Training (IBT), is a competency-based certificate program designed to equip participants with the skills most relevant to entry-level solar installation jobs and related construction employment fields. The IBT program focuses on individual certificates in industry-recognized skills, offering trainees valuable hands-on training and access to potential employment opportunities.<\/p>\n
This cohort was made possible through a collaboration with New Horizons Career Development Center, which referred participants from their job skills class and offered free career services to clients. Additionally, the Wells Fargo Foundation provided direct financial sponsorship for trainee stipends, making this training program free of charge while incentivizing participation and attainment of the IBT 200 certificate.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew Horizons partnering with GRID Alternatives for the IBT 200 Cohort is more than a collaboration; it\u2019s a shared commitment to hands-on training, opportunity, and equity, which aligns with our mission of empowering individuals to become self-sufficient and live enriched, fulfilling lives,\u201d says Dr. Anthony A.K. Hodge, Sr. Executive Director of New Horizons Career Development Center.<\/p>\n