Stephen Levin will join Solar One as CEO as of January 10, 2022, after serving as New York City Councilmember for District 33 since 2010. He takes the helm of the organization following the retirement of Christopher J. Collins, who led Solar One for 17 years.
New York City, NY January 5, 2022 – Solar One is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen Levin as Chief Executive Officer. Stephen joins Solar One after 12 years as a member of the New York City Council for District 33, serving neighborhoods of Brooklyn including Greenpoint, parts of Williamsburg, Vinegar Hill, Dumbo, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Boerum Hill, and parts of Bedford-Stuyvesant.
As an award-winning New York City nonprofit, Solar One is dedicated to sustainability and resiliency in urban neighborhoods and delivers a wide array of programming providing environmental education services to diverse program participants. Solar One welcomes Stephen to lead the organization in its next phase of growth, building on a strong financial foundation, highly regarded programs, strong partnerships with government agencies and community partners.
During his tenure as a Councilmember, and as Chair of the New York City Council’s General Welfare Committee, Stephen focused on ensuring homeless families and individuals have access for permanent housing and guaranteeing long term support for those in the foster care system. During his tenure, Councilmember Levin served on multiple committees including the Environmental Protection, Land Use, Cultural Affairs, Education, and Transportation committees, as well as the Land Use Subcommittee on Landmarks and Public Siting.
Among other accomplishments, Stephen negotiated multiple land use projects, expanded affordable housing, and increased access to open spaces. He was instrumental in the development of the 27-acre Bushwick Inlet Park in Williamsburg. He sponsored legislation to remove PCBs from NYC schools and cosponsored the Climate Mobilization Act, the largest climate solution put forth by any city in the world, consisting of a slate of climate laws designed to dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions in New York City.
A graduate of Brown University, Stephen started his career in New York City as a community organizer in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, managing programs for lead safe houses and anti-predatory lending. Stephen later worked with the New York State Assembly for three years, with a focus on affordable housing.
Sara Queen, Chair of the Board of Solar One and Managing Director and Head of Real Estate Equity at MetLife Investment Management welcomes Stephen Levin as the new CEO. “Stephen’s passion for the environment, leadership experience, and deep commitment working to improve communities makes him an excellent choice to lead Solar One. His time with the New York City Council uniquely qualifies him with great understanding of the imperatives of building more resilient communities and will guide him to utilize the many initiatives and programs of our organization to do so. Stephen, along with our talented and professional staff, will be opening our new Workforce Training Center and offices in 2022.”
Keith Powers, New York City Councilmember for District 4 and one of Solar One’s City Council representatives, shares his support, saying “Congratulations to my friend and colleague Steve Levin! In the City Council, Steve has been a formidable partner for years and a proven champion on behalf of our city’s environment. I look forward to continuing to work with him as he begins this new chapter.”
“I am thrilled to be joining the amazingly talented Solar One team,” Stephen says. “In order to confront the existential challenges of climate change, we must do our part in New York City to move to a sustainable future right here, and Solar One has been at the forefront of this movement for years. The Green Design Lab is bringing experiential learning around green technology to thousands of New York City K-12 students. The Green Workforce program has delivered green construction, operation and maintenance skills and certifications to hundreds of New Yorkers per year, which will be essential in the years to come. Here Comes Solar is performing the integral job of establishing affordable solar power in buildings and communities across New York City and continues to grow. Through the NYC Retrofit Accelerator and NYSERDA Clean Energy Programs, Solar One is partnering with New York City and New York State to bring new renewable energy strategies to our city, and through the stewardship of Stuyvesant Cove Park, Solar One is putting sustainable practices in action. Across all these program areas, Solar One is a leader in building a sustainable New York City for future generations, and I salute Chris Collins for his years of service in building and leading this wonderful organization. The future at Solar One is bright and I am so excited to join this effort.”
Stephen will provide critical leadership as the organization supports a transition to clean energy and creates a more sustainable urban environment through skills and technology. Stephen will lead in the dynamic partnership Solar One has with the Economic Development Corporation, facilitating the stewardship of Stuyvesant Cove Park on the East River below 23rd Street, and a new Solar One Environmental Education Center to be built at the park in the near future, establishing an accessible solar-powered facility providing programming for all New Yorkers.
About Solar One
Solar One is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization whose mission is to design and deliver innovative education, training, and technical assistance that fosters sustainability and resiliency in diverse urban environments. We empower learning that changes the way people think about energy, sustainability, and resilience by engaging and educating a diverse set of stakeholders and beneficiaries. Our programs help individuals and communities explore new ways of living and working that are more adaptive to a changing world. Visit our website at www.solar1.org
Contact: Michael Barry, Communications Manager, Solar One
barry@solar1.org (646) 741-5225
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