Meet Jasmine Roashan | Outreach & Project Coordinator for a non-profit

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jasmine Roashan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jasmine, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Traditionally, the solar industry has only been accessible for those who can afford to make the change. Across Los Angeles County and neighboring counties, GRID Alternatives aims to make solar accessible through its no-cost solar program for qualifying homeowners and offers free job training for those looking to enter the solar workforce!

Like one of my homeowners, Terry: she lives in Watts, and we installed a no-cost solar energy system for her back in 2019. She got solar with us after her friend & neighbor recommended her to the program. The two homes have seen their bills drop over 75% without having to make any other changes! Terry brought her energy bill down from over $200 to only $50 every two months! That savings could mean the difference between being able to pay off your other bills for the month or not.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Before I even understood the Environmental Justice movement, I was interested in applying the principles of environmental sciences and public health that I had studied in school to the communities most greatly affected by environmental pollution. I started my career working on conservation programs for government utilities and I loved being able to support the local community in making better conservation investments in their own homes. We were able to help hundreds of households a year with education, rebates, and other support. When I came to GRID Alternatives, I was so happy to see that their program made accessibility a priority and they removed all financial barriers for their energy initiatives AND they focused their work in areas burdened with the highest pollution levels across California. GRID Alternatives’ no-cost solar program focuses on low to moderate income households–it’s designed to help those that need the most support. Equity has been built into all aspects of our work. This program was exactly what I had been looking for.
My role with GRID Alternatives allows me to play a crucial role in this amazing program while developing personal relationships with the families I work with. I love that I really get to know my families and understand their situations and make a huge financial impact on their lives (typically, our families might save about $1,000/year on their energy bills without making any lifestyle changes).
I get the opportunity to work with families that don’t have the resources to make a large, renewable investment in their home and I get to bring them those renewables at no cost to them.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If it’s a typical, beautiful Los Angeles day, I would like to take advantage of at least one outdoor activity like either the Butterfly Pavilion or First Fridays both hosted by the Natural History Museum of LA County or I’d like to pack a picnic for one of our scenic public parks like the Barnsdall Art Park. The food tour would also need to highlight a few uniquely LA options with outdoor seating like: Just What I Kneaded–a 100% vegan cafe and bakery that is women of color owned, Sky’s Gourmet Tacos–a Black woman-owned taco shop with an amazing offering, or Lodge Bread for all your quality sourdough needs including sandwiches, pizza, and pastries!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My former colleague and current friend, Andrea Antony-Morr, has been so encouraging for me as a fellow woman working in sustainability. I don’t know where I would be without her ongoing support and mentorship. The Association of Women in Water, Energy, and the Environment (AWWEE) was the first professional community where I really felt supported and made to feel like I really belonged in my field so I have to give them a shoutout too.

Website: https://gridalternatives.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gridalternatives/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grid-alternatives/

Facebook: facebook.com/gridalternatives

Other: https://www.facebook.com/gridalternatives