Equity Initiatives at Namaste Solar
We work to build justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion by uncovering and dismantling oppressive systems in ourselves, in our company, and in our community.
2024: Launched new continuing education requirements for all team leads, and added a JEDI-focused question to all employee performance reviews.
2024: Added Equity Time On (ETO) hours to give every employee at Namaste Solar 10 paid hours to watch, read, or listen to JEDI educational materials.
2023: Launched our JEDI Resource Library to support internal continuing education programs and individual growth.
2023: Achieved a bronze level certification from the Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
2023: Began hosting monthly JEDI Learning Sessions to learn and discuss different areas of JEDI together.
2022: Read our company statement on Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI).
2021: A JEDI Circle and Advisory Council were formalized to take the lead on initiating, guiding, and implementing programs, policies, and practices that advance our equity work.
2021: Worked with The Equity Project (TEP) to complete an organizational assessment and develop an equity lens and blueprint. This work provided us with a baseline understanding of where we are as an organization as well as a strategic plan with actionable next steps.
2020: Co-owners voted to update Namaste Solar’s core values to be more equitable as well as adding the new core values of “Equity” and “Come As You Are.”
2020: A group of individuals formed the new Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Task Force at Namaste Solar to help build this work into the cooperative in a sustainable way.
2020: Statement in support of Black Lives Matter from our CEO
2020: Small group book discussions on So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
2019: Small group book discussions on White Fragility by Robin Diangelo
2019: A series of Unconscious Bias Seminars increased our understanding of unconscious bias and encouraged conversation. Seminar discussions were sparked by shared content, including:
- How to let go of being a “good” person – and become a better person (TED Talk, 12 mins)
- The Universe Inside Our Minds (4 min video)
- Can You Change Implicit Bias? (3.5 min video)
- Introduction & First Impressions (16 min video)
Color Blind or Color Brave? (TED Talk, 14 min video)
- How to overcome our biases? Walk bold through them, (TED Talk, 18 mins)
- Coming Out Of Your Closet
, (TEDxBoulder, 11 min) - Inclusion, Exclusion, Illusion and Collusion
, (TED Talk, 13 min)
2018-2019: Full-day workshops are offered multiple times a year for employees to learn about identity, privilege, and power dynamics.
2018: Small group book discussions on That’s What She Said by Joanne Lipman
