Verde Launches a New Solar Energy After School Program in Cully

In response to The Living Cully Community Energy plan, Verde and Hacienda CDC’s after school program Expresiones have teamed up to launch a pilot Solar energy curriculum here in the Cully Neighborhood.

The Living Cully Community Energy Plan is a neighborhood-scale energy plan that identifies energy conservation and energy generation pilots for the Cully neighborhood. The Energy Plan creates a blueprint for how we can prevent displacement through increased investments in the energy sector. By investing in public education and community services we can lift up a community-led, anti-displacement vision of climate action.

The solar after school program provides interactive and accessible STEM learning within the context of their own community. Students learn about community-based energy projects in their neighborhood while also working on their own solar energy project with their peers. The program was inspired by the Living Cully Energy Plan’s solar installation at St. Charles Church and serves to encourage Cully youth and build excitement around future solar investments in the neighborhood.

The first pilot program is currently being implemented at the Mariposas and Jardines Expresiones sites, with plans for a second pilot program in the spring at Miraflores. In Summer 2019, a final curriculum will be published based on feedback from the student participants. Verde hopes to then implement the final curriculum in Fall 2019.