After waiting for years, Homeboy Industries, a nonprofit that provides training and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated men and women, goes solar. The project, originally launched in 2014, involves a multitude of partners, ranging from: Everybody Solar—a nonprofit dedicated to raising funds to help other community serving nonprofits go solar, to TrapDoor Social—an alternative rock band that incorporates social activism into their work , and Grid Alternatives—a nonprofit that helps provide job training and solar to underserved communities. The project faced delays when it was discovered the roof needed repair. However, it goes to show that perseverance can indeed overcome great obstacles, something well understood by the ex-gang members the benefit from the services Homeboy offers.
Youness Scally, executive director at Everybody Solar said, “We are ecstatic to have worked with so many great partners on this project and to bring this solar project to Homeboy Industries. Homeboy Industries has been a beacon of hope to the community and to Los Angeles on what is possible when people are given a chance. It is my hope that this solar project can be a similar beacon of hope in the fight against climate change and the possibility of putting people to work in clean energy jobs.”
As stated by Michael Kadish, executive director at GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles, “With the support of the partners here today, we’ve brought clean power to Boyle Heights that will save Homeboy Industries $2,900 in the first year alone. We look forward to continuing to train more people in the years to come.”
A group of formerly incarcerated men and women who went through Homeboy Industries’ program, learned how to install solar with GRID and then led the installation of solar panels at Homeboy’s Boyle Heights location will be featured at the Dec. 14 ribbon-cutting event.
News item from Everybody Solar
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