POWER52 FOUNDATION (PRC Oral Storytelling Project)

In this episode, listeners will hear from the President and CEO of Power52 Foundation, Cherie Brooks, and the Director of Workforce Development, DeAndre Wiggins.

Power52 Foundation (Power52) is an organization in Maryland that provides workforce development training and skills to historically disinvested communities for careers in Maryland’s clean energy sector. There are over 5,000 people employed in Maryland’s solar energy industry - more than their well-known crabbing industry. Recently, Maryland passed the Clean Energy Job Act to become 50% clean energy reliant by 2030 and forecasts 20,000 new jobs for residents. Power52 has ramped up its workforce development efforts so that residents in historically under-resourced communities are eligible for careers in the clean energy sector. Power52 launched Power52 Energy Institute Baltimore City (PEIBC), the first clean energy private career school in Maryland, approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). PEIBC delivers the Energy Professional Training Program to residents of historically disinvested communities. Power52 has also opened a Power52 Energy Institute in Howard County to expand its service footprint. Since its founding, the Power52 Energy Institute has graduated 122 people with an 83% employment rate in Maryland’s clean energy industry. Many graduates are also ambassadors of equitable employment opportunities in the clean energy sector and role models in their communities. Power52 also works with communities to build out resilience hubs - community centers that residents can use during climate emergencies - in the communities they serve in partnership with Living Classrooms. The resilience hubs will offer disaster relief support to their communities. Power52 joined the Howard County Chamber of Commerce and the Long Reach Community Association to broaden its impact in Maryland.