Dream.Org Business Council Fellowship
Our program awarded 10 fellowships of $20,000 to professionals who are looking to develop their careers in the clean energy sector
Fellows will received on-the-job training and have access to mentorship opportunities from one of the seven talented Black and Brown entrepreneurs in the Dream Entrepreneurs Network. Building on the 2022 Green For All Clean Energy Scholarship Program, the Dream.Org Business Council Fellowship Program takes investing in diverse talent a step further by providing a full year of experience in a green job.
Fellows are immersed in a minority-owned green business and learn first-hand how to overcome barriers and find solutions that build a more equitable, sustainable future. As a result, the program is helping to develop a more diverse workforce while providing growth opportunities for diverse talent to build on the successes of Green For All Business Council members.
Shared lived experiences combined with a common purpose strengthens community, and the Business Council Fellowship is no exception. When we join together to pursue our dreams, we multiply our impact.
The Green For All Business Council Fellowship creates pathways and opportunities to aid Black and Brown job seekers within systems impacted communities and communities impacted by environmental racism to transition into the clean energy sector; to uplift themselves, their communities and contribute to a clean energy future.
The program was inspired by our Clean Energy Scholarship, awarding 50 scholarships of $3,500 to Black and Brown people across the country looking to pursue their green dreams in the burgeoning green energy sector.
Lauren Strickland manages Volt Energy Utility corporate social responsibility efforts. She also serves as a liaison with Volt’s business partners on issues of supplier diversity, minority student internships, environmental justice and opportunities of interest with the Sharing the Power Foundation. The Volt-founded foundation is an independently-operated national philanthropic non-profit that advances environmental justice and an inclusive clean energy future through grant making and seeding the next generation of environmental leaders.
Adrian is an administrative professional with over a decade of experience who has made the switch to cleantech. In his current role, he is advocating for climate change and helping his employing organization move closer to its sustainability goals. Adrian is a practical and successful risk-taker. He uses unique ways to determine what clients need, has the capability of handling any task sent his way, and works with stakeholders. As rigorous and personable leader, he can grasp ideas in a holistic manner while maintaining focus on minor details. He is currently serving as Administrative Assistant to the CEO at Gemini Energy Solutions.
Christian Sheja was born and raised in Kigali, Rwanda. He moved to the United States to pursue higher education in sustainability. He holds a Master's degree in Environmental and Energy Policy with a specialization in Geospatial Analytics from Michigan Technological University and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Currently, Christian is working to defend communities in the US against the negative consequences of climate change as an ArcGIS Specialist at Sync Energy AI. He is also working to transition the US transportation sector to clean energy vehicles as Sr. Project Coordinator responsible for the New Jersey, Vermont, and New York clean vehicle incentive programs.
Growing up in Miami, Florida, Casimir has bore witness to the effects of the climate crisis firsthand. This molded his passion from one focused on automobile repair and construction to the design of systems meant to combat the growing crisis through renewable energy. During his education at MIT, Casimir learned more about the crisis through his mentors and through independent research. He then decided to pursue his passion for the mitigation of the climate crisis through his work as a Lead Design Mechanical Engineer for Optimal Technology Corporation.
Dr. Shardul Tiwari is a Research Scholar at Michigan Technological University. His research focuses on energy justice, energy policy, and the integration of renewable energy technologies in the U.S. electricity market. Dr. Tiwari has over seven years of experience in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency, and policy formulation in the least developing countries. In his novel career, he has worked both at the district level and with the Ministry in energy policy formulation and conducted research on Pumped Underground Storage Hydro in abandoned underground mines.
