Empoderando futuros: trayectorias profesionales en energía solar en Project Success

Bridging the Gap with Green Energy

Project Success has always been at the forefront of creating innovative programs that connect students to their purpose, leading to career and life success. This commitment to innovation recently earned us support from the Catalyze Challenge, a national initiative aimed at accelerating career-connected learning. With funding from the Catalyze Award, Project Success is working to diversify the Green Energy industry with individualized support, training, inspiration and mentorship for English Learner students. This spring and summer, Project Success piloted a Solar Energy Career Pathways course for thirteen of these students; a prime example of our efforts to bridge economic gaps and offer sustainable career options.

Why Solar Energy?

Solar energy in the United States is booming – in the last decade alone, solar has experienced an average annual growth rate of 25%, employing more than 260,000 workers in all 50 states in 2022. But in the Twin Cities, persistent racial disparities in employment stem from challenges including limited English skills. With a growing immigrant population, Career and Technical Education (CTE) is a crucial component to accessing sustaining careers. Solar Energy training within the Project Success DIG methodology will provide students with a broader idea of what is possible for their futures, and access to well-paying jobs that can help them meet their economic goals.

Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) multilingual students have expressed a keen interest in solar energy, but the MPS CTE program did not offer it. This led a MPS district representative for multilingual learning to collaborate with Project Success to bring it to fruition. Dr. Elia Dimayuga-Bruggeman, Senior Educator Advisor at Project Success and an expert on multilingual learners, brought this opportunity to Wellstone High School, an MPS school for English Learners and a Project Success partner since 2017.

Dr. Bruggerman worked with industry and education partners to design a Solar Energy Career Pathways course that was comprehensive and engaging. It consisted of 40 hours of in-person curriculum, including two days of hands-on lab work. Students followed a schedule set by an instructor who owns a solar company and is certified to teach in Minneapolis. The course also partnered with the Minneapolis Climate Action Organization and Renewable Energy Partners, which hosted the classes. The students in the course were all English Learners, so Project Success provided translators in the languages students requested, including Spanish and French, and further broke down access barriers by supporting students with gas cards, bus cards, and meals. This holistic support system ensured that students could fully participate without facing unnecessary logistical challenges.

Thirteen dedicated students completed the course, culminating in a three-hour certification test that can provide them immediate entry into the green energy job market. The group included students who came to the United States from Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Somalia, and Togo. Some are recent high school graduates and others are rising Wellstone seniors with opportunities for further education through programs like Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO).

Throughout the course, students were inspired by guest speakers, including Dr. Abdi, a Somali doctorate holder from the University of Minnesota, and Dr. Bruggeman, who both shared their immigrant journeys and successes, motivating students to overcome challenges and pursue their own educational and career goals.

One student expressed, “I got some knowledge about solar energy, and I will continue because I want to get a lot of knowledge.”

Following the course, several students have already shown interest in pursuing internships and careers in the solar industry. Five out of the thirteen attendees expressed a strong desire to continue in this field, and the instructor has reached out to the students for potential paid internship opportunities.

“Seeing the students explore, gain confidence, and apply the skills during lab day from the solar energy course was truly inspiring!  Career-connected learning provides young people with access to in-class lectures and hands-on training, paving the way to meaningful career pathways and in-demand jobs!”

– Dr. Elia Dimayuga-Bruggeman, Senior Education Advisor at Project Success

Looking ahead, Project Success is excited to expand career pathway learning opportunities for more students through the Project Success Institute curriculum, including certificates, the Best Buy Teen Tech Center, and more. By using data on workforce demands and tapping into career-connected learning, we aim to close opportunity gaps by addressing barriers and empowering students to expand their ideas of success. Our efforts are not limited to solar energy. The Catalyze Award also funded our bike tech program partnering with Quality Bike Products to help six English Leaner students earn certifications in bike repair this spring.

Through strategic industry and educational partnerships, comprehensive support, and a focus on high-demand industries, we are breaking down barriers and opening doors to sustainable, well-paying careers. As we continue to expand our programs, we remain dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders in green energy and beyond.