The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Community Development Action Coalition and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) have agreed to start a new initiative to increase recruitment of African-Americans to the solar energy industry. This new effort will include hosting national job fairs, hosting individual job fairs at HBCU schools, and bringing solar companies to campuses for recruitment events.
The two organizations will create a database of HBCU students who are focusing on solar and clean energy studies. This database that will be accessible to SEIA companies. Additionally, the organizations will work with campus representatives to foster resume exchanges and set up interviews between students and companies.
“Diversity and inclusion is one of our highest priorities and, while we’ve made progress, we still have a long way to go to make the solar industry more accurately reflect the diversity of the communities we serve,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, SEIA’s president and CEO. “Those of us in solar joined this industry because we want to make the world better for all, which is why we’re excited to partner with the Community Development Action Coalition, tap into the talent at HBCUs, and bring more of these students into our growing industry.”
