Solar One’s career training and workforce programs for youth address critical needs of under-resourced New Yorkers, while building equitable career pathways in the rapidly growing clean energy sector. Our career readiness programs equip participants with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to thrive and be leaders in the sustainability movement in New York City.
CareerCLUE
In 2016, Solar One was the founding partner with the NYC DOE’s Office of Community Schools and the Summer Youth Employment Program to launch CareerCLUE. Solar One’s CareerCLUE provides youth with a unique summer experience that blends for-credit academics, leadership development, and engagement in environmental sustainability through career exploration and service learning.
The goal of Solar One’s CareerCLUE summer program is to expose high school youth to environmental and health issues in NYC, including climate change, and then explore local sustainability initiatives that are actively addressing them. Woven throughout the program is the opportunity for youth to increase their awareness of sustainability careers, which are rapidly growing in their communities.
CareerSTEP
During 2021, Solar One launched CareerSTEP which extends CareerCLUE from summer into the school year and leads to placement in industry internships during the summer. This paid, afterschool work-based learning program takes an in-depth dive into sustainability careers that are in demand, featuring sectors such as solar, energy efficiency, environmental policy, climate communication, environmental education, public health, and urban agriculture. CareerSTEP consists of 1:1 career mentoring, guest speakers, sector- aligned projects, and community needs assessments.
SYEP for Older Youth
Solar One partners with NYC’s Summer Youth Employment Program to offer paid training, industry certifications, and internships that prepare high school youth to enter the clean energy industry. Topics include solar, energy efficiency, and GPRO Fundamentals of Building Green.