Serenity Soular, a 2016 PennPraxis Social Impact Project, is proud to announce that it has reached its campaign goal of $10,920, money which will go towards the Serenity House solar installation in early June.
Serenity Soular is an initiative to build the green economy in North Philadelphia and train residents for jobs in the solar industry. The team, which includes four PennDesign students (Laura Rigell MCP ’17, Cari Krol MCP ’17, Nikita Jathan MArch ’18, Margaret Gregg MArch ‘18), has partnered with RE-volv, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, to crowdfund the cost of 5.6 kilowatts of photovoltaic panels for the roof of Serenity House. Serenity House has been an active community center and voice in the North Philadelphia for five years, and offers support groups and other services for community members. Solar States, a Philadelphia-based solar installation company, will install the array, making the building almost entirely powered by the sun. Serenity Soular has dual commitments to sustainable energy and to “the least, the last, and the lost” members of society, as is reflected in the project’s name: Serenity “Soular.” In line with the group’s shared principles, Serenity Soular will be supporting two stipended neighborhood residents to shadow this pilot installation, an experience that could launch them into careers in the green economy.
Over the last few weeks, Serenity Soular has been engaging with members of Serenity House, Arch Street Methodist, and PennDesign at various crowdfunding and educational events:
Community Outreach Event: March 30
Serenity Soular hosted a community forum at Arch Street Methodist Church in Center City, Philadelphia. The goals of this event were to help present the project to members of the church community, as well as help us reach our fundraising goal by holding a silent auction. Homemade jewelry from North Philadelphia and solar phone chargers were auctioned off to help propel the crowdfunding campaign forward.
Educational Event: April 5
Serenity House hosted an educational event on the evening of April 5, focusing on sustainability in North Philadelphia and guided by the question of How can green energy create economic opportunity? The conversation was led by Jacek Ghosh, Director of Sustainability Education at Temple University. Ghosh’s background in sustainability, community organizing, and planning helped stimulate great discourse with and between local residents, and topics covered included climate change, the imminent solar installation, and how green projects can affect gentrification of select neighborhoods. The event was a success, and a great precursor to further educational events, such as a soon-approaching night with a climate justice organization.
Bake Sale: April 8th
The Serenity Soular team organized a bake sale during PennDesign’s Friday Happy Hour to crowdfund for the solar panels. All proceeds raised from the sales of cookies and popcorn were donated directly to the Re-Volv fund. Additionally, a project timeline was displayed to inform and facilitate discussion about the role of sustainable interventions in North Philadelphia. Team members explained Serenity Soular’s intentions to educate community members about the green economy. Serenity Soular pamphlets were also distributed to students who were interested in becoming involved with the team’s work at Serenity House.
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