Chester Community Solar Project Hosts Green Career Discovery Activities 

Chester Community Solar Project is a coalition of students and community members focused on the installation of solar panels and the creation of green-energy jobs through solar-installation training and workshops in Chester, PA. The group is currently in discussions with several community organizations in Chester who are interested in installing solar panels on their buildings.

In partnership with Youth Development United, they recently hosted a youth activity fair to help educate participants on important concepts relating to solar science and environmental justice.

YDU participant Brianna Tanner brought her family and reported back, “We had a blast! I loved the way they informed us about waste, gun violence, and the solar lanterns we made. The lanterns are actually hanging up in our house. It was overall a 10 out of 10 event!”

The group is seeking students and adults to learn more and to do apprenticeships. Nolan Fontaine said, “Apprenticeships lead to employment lead to entrepreneurship lead to wealth-building.”

Ariza Nanji explained that the project is supported by https://re-volv.org/ , “a climate justice nonprofit that helps nonprofits in underserved communities across the country go solar, while raising awareness about equitable climate solutions, and training the next generation of clean energy leaders.”

She shared that in Philadelphia, solar panels were installed to support an outdoor charging station that now serves as a community gathering place and facilitates the use of an outdoor classroom.

Youth Development United has also helped Chester Community Solar Project coordinate with Chester Education Foundation to host a speaker on Thursday, December 15, 2022. From 3:30-5:00pm at the Chester STEM Academy, 1100 W. 10th Street in Chester, high schoolers and adults can learn more about green jobs while enjoying an abundance of snacks, playing with solar toys and participating in challenges that allow them to win gift cards and other prizes,.

The speaker, Robert Burgess, will be talking about his work as a solar installer for Solar States and discuss the diversity and growth of the solar industry.

To learn more, please email ananji1@swarthmore.edu.