September 2010 QUOTE OF THE MONTH: "Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground." - Anonymous. Submitted by Joshua Martarella, Grade 10, Boulder CO.
September 08
Coastal Clean Up at Albany
Sophie Barrett, Albany High School, Albany
Solar Richmond for Green Collar Jobs
Traci Crain, El Cerrito High, El Cerrito

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Solar Richmond for Green Collar Jobs
 
By Traci Crain
Grade 9
El Cerrito High
El Cerrito , CA


Angelique Phillips, current Green Screen reporter and summer intern at Solar Richmond was part of creating the student documentary about Solar Richmond, working with Lana Husser, EarthTeam's Multimedia Director. 6 students were paid by the City of Richmond's youth employment program and got to learn to make video while they were also learning about solar energy.

In the video, which will appear on Solar Richmond's website, on YouTube and on The Green Screen TV, you can see Angelique on the rooftop next to the solar panels and you can hear her interview with Michelle McGeoy, the founder and director of Solar Richmond.

Angelique tells us that "Solar Richmond is a group of about 100 people who want to do two things, bring solar panels to Richmond and green jobs to the people."

Michelle McGeoy, "Solar Richmond is a nonprofit that I started and the reason why is that, unfortunately, Richmond is known for our pollution and are violence. Well, solar is obviously a great anrtidote to pollution and jobs are the antidote to violence. I have lived in Richmond for all my life, and I finally looked around and I had to do something about it.

Angelique: "Solar Richmond is not in the business of making money. Solar Richmond is a non-profit, their main goal is to serve the communiti by traning for green collor jobs. "

Michelle: "Our trainees go through a two week process and part of the training is that they actually install a live system on low-income owners' homes here in Richmond. It's quite powerful to see these men and women installing a solar system on a home right here in their own community.

What I found was that folks from communities like ours, are not really represented in the solar field, so I wanted to provide for people right here in Richmond to be able to participate in this new economy. What's really powerful about what's going on here in Richmond, it's all about partnership between non-profits and business and government that enables projects like this to succeed."

Go Solar Richmond! and Thanks to Michelle McGeoy.