A solar industry re-entry program is helping to change the lives of inmates and gang members in Los Angeles. Homeboy Industries is the largest gang rehabilitation, intervention, and re-entry program in the world. The organization was started by a Jesuit priest who wanted to show compassion towards former gang members and offer them an alternative life. Unfortunately, even if someone vows to stay out of gang life once they leave prison, about 1/3 of probationers are arrested again within a year of release. Since there isn’t much of a support system for them once they leave, they often fall back into old habits. Homeboy Industries is working to decrease those odds.
David Andrade is a 32-year-old who has been in and out of jail a couple of times since he was 18. In 2013 when he was released he vowed to turn his life around and found Homeboy Industries. He has since been able to completely change his life habits. He says it’s because of Homeboy’s solar panel installation program. It’s a 4-month program that teaches you all about solar panels and how to install them. Andrade graduated at the top of his class and quickly got promoted to supervising the project.
Homebody Industries has had almost a thousand gang members go through their solar installation program. The statistics from this program are impressive as well. About 90% of students graduate, and three-quarters of the graduates have found a job within three months. Solar energy is a growing industry, especially in California where there’s a lot of sun! According to the US Department of Energy, more people had jobs in solar power last year than in coal, gas, and oil energy. Andrade has completely jumped on the solar power bandwagon and views it as the future of energy.
Since being in the program, he has moved to a new role with Grid Alternatives which is the largest nonprofit solar installer in the United States. According to their website, GRID Alternatives mission statement is to have a “successful transition to clean, renewable energy that includes everyone. Our mission is to make renewable energy technology and job training accessible to underserved communities.” They want to make it so that solar panels and other renewable energy isn’t something you do if you have a lot of money, but something anything can do. They also focus on providing employment to women and Homeboy Industries graduates.
Both of these companies are all about providing a second chance to people. They recently worked on installing solar panels for Hazel Patterson who will potentially save upwards of 80% on her electricity bills. She appreciates the companies mission to provide a second chance for people through a sustainable industry. Her grandson made some mistakes when he was young and was offered a second chance, so she’s grateful to support companies who are providing that for other young people trying to turn their lives around. Andrade is proof that these types of companies and organizations work and create a positive influence in their communities.
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Source: Deutsche Welle (DW) News
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