The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) recently announced a partnership with the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Community Development Action Coalition (HBCU-CDAC) to increase the recruitment of African American students in the solar industry.
According to Solar Power World Online, “SEIA and the HBCU-CDAC, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to begin a comprehensive effort to help the solar industry recruit and employ more students from the nation’s 101 Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This will include hosting a national jobs fair, individual jobs fairs at the HBCU schools and bringing solar companies to campuses for recruitment.”
In addition to the memorandum, the two organizations will work together to create a database focusing on HBCU students pursing or interested in the field of clean energy and solar power. This is not the only effort SEIA is making to increase diversity in the industry. It’s president and CEO, Abigail Ross Hopper “recently joined a group of 450 chief executives committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace, signing the pledge for CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion.” SEIA has also connected with other organizations including the “Women’s Empowerment Initiative, which provides networking, training and other development opportunities.”
The newest initiative hopes to further connect an already expanding industry to the population of America.
