Those are the cornerstones, with empathy probably being the crown jewel. “There are many components to DEI, including humanity, respect, integrity, and empathy. Equity is about whether we’re all being paid fairly for our roles on the team,” whether we’re being paid in recognition or we’re being paid in money, that we’re all being properly compensated for our roles on the team. Inclusion is about who gets to be on the team and play on the team. “Here’s my go-to statement: Diversity is about who gets to be on the team.

The fundamentals of Freedom, Equality and Civil Rights are the underpinnings of this class and it is an honor to teach it every year since being invited as faculty at the California State University schools.Īs she settles into her new job, we spoke with Tandalea about DEI and her initial focus at Nextracker. That’s a wrap on the Spring Semester! Teaching African American Politics, an upper level class, gives me the opportunity to connect with students on Critical Race Theory, History and understanding why Black people in this country have politicized and contributed to the world at large.

Now living in Los Angeles, she still teaches as an adjunct professor at Cal State Northridge and Cal State LA. She grew up “around all kinds of people from all over the world in the most beautiful melting pot in the world.” Her 20-year-plus career of “pushing the needle forward” spans the public and private sectors, consulting, nonprofit and higher education. These efforts are a passion project of mine, so that’s why I’m thrilled to introduce the woman who will be leading Nextracker’s DEI efforts: our first Director of Culture, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Tandalea Mercer, PHR.Ī “born and raised Brooklyn girl,” Tandalea comes from a multicultural Black family. Our DEI work also includes engagement with organizations like Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, WRISE, Borrego’s recruiting women in solar efforts, SEI (with our Half the Sun scholarships), GRID Alternatives, Navajo Nation and other nonprofits, as well as educational initiatives to encourage minorities and girls to explore clean energy careers. The effort has provided women more opportunities to discuss shared experiences in the workplace, from the challenges of working motherhood to gender imbalances at meetings. Since Dorothy Serdar, our VP of human resources, wrote a blog about the group and co-authored its “HR DEI Playbook” last year, Renewables Forward recently published the second part of the playbook, covering such topics as certification, strategic value, employee resource groups, community and employee engagement, management training, and mentorship.ĭorothy also plays a key role in Nextracker’s Women’s Network, which is a wide-ranging initiative to support and encourage our women employees around the world, to unite, promote, and inspire them in our workplace through career development, social development, and networking. Nextracker is a co-founder and active member of Renewables Forward, an industrywide DEI initiative launched in 2020. Admittedly, we recognize the continuing lack of diversity and issues around gender and racial equality in the industry, but we are working diligently to improve our own hiring practices and workplace culture to create the necessary change we want and need to make. In partnership with the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) and RE+ Events, the Community Solar Power Summit will bring together leading community solar businesses, utilities, nonprofits, and policymakers for an exclusive two-day event.Īttendees can enjoy in-depth conversations with national community solar thought leaders from CCSA, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), sessions on current trends and policies, networking opportunities, and solution providers.Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) play an important role in Nextracker’s growth strategy as well as our leadership efforts in the clean energy sector. GRID is committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in the California solar industry through the growth of community solar.

Share your experiences, skills, and company profile Meet with developers to learn how you can expand or increase your existing clean energy business GRID will host a “Developer & Contractor Diversity Networking Fair,” on Thursday, January 19, from 10am-12pm PST to provide a dedicated space for a diverse network of contractors to connect with national and regional community solar developers. Community Solar Developer and Contractor Networking Fair!Īs the nation’s largest nonprofit solar installer, GRID Alternatives is pleased to participate in the Community Solar Power Summit in San Diego, CA on January 18-19, 2023.

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