YEAH Philly celebrates new solar installation with RE-volv, Good Energy Collaborative, and GreenBrilliance to advance youth-led climate and social justice.
Philadelphia, PA – Saturday, October 25 — Yesterday, YEAH Philly, a youth empowerment organization, in partnership with RE-volv, Good Energy Collaborative (GEC), and GreenBrilliance, hosted a community celebration for their new 12 kW solar array. With 27 solar panels, the system will meet 100% of YEAH Philly’s electricity needs and save the organization an estimated $85,000 over time. Thanks to Billie Eilish and her fans, through Eilish’s Changemaker Program, a grant was made to RE-volv via REVERB, helping YEAH Philly go solar and achieve these savings.
“Solar energy is the future for nonprofits,” said Kendra Van De Water, Co-Executive Director of YEAH Philly. “Not just because of the cost savings, but because this is a way for us to invest in our communities.”
Since its founding in 2018, Black-led, community-based organization YEAH Philly (Youth Empowerment for Advancement Hangout) has provided 227 sustainable job opportunities or paid internships, court advocacy for 175 young people, and free groceries to over 17,000 community members.
The celebration featured food, live music, a local nonprofit resource fair, remarks, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Billie Eilish was recognized at the event as a project supporter through her Changemaker Program.
RE-volv, a national nonprofit that develops and finances solar projects for community-serving nonprofits, received the Changemaker grant that helped enable the solar installation for YEAH Philly. Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation Solar Moonshot Program also contributed grant support for the project. The YEAH Philly solar project was spearheaded by RE-volv Solar Ambassador fellows and GEC students from Swarthmore College. RE-volv’s Solar Ambassador Program is a clean energy leadership training program for college students looking for careers in clean energy.
“We have all the solutions we need to solve the climate crisis and provide affordable, reliable, clean energy in our communities, but not everyone knows this,” said Andreas Karelas, Executive Director of RE-volv. “When cultural icons like Billie Eilish use their platform to support projects like solar for YEAH Philly, and raise awareness about solutions, it’s one of the most important things anyone can do.”
YEAH Philly’s solar project is a part of an ongoing partnership with Good Energy Collaborative (GEC), focused on cultivating youth and community leadership. Together, they offer hands-on workshops in solar energy, green jobs, and urban agriculture, empowering young people in West Philly to see themselves in the clean energy movement.
“These are exactly the kinds of collaborations we need to create sustainable solutions for communities most affected by climate change,” said Giovanna Di Chiro, Director of the Good Energy Collaborative and Professor of Environmental Studies at Swarthmore College. “Engaging young people in hands-on climate justice projects is vital to building a better future, and having young superstars like Billie Eilish champion the cause only amplifies the potential for positive change.”
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About RE-volv
RE-volv is a clean energy access nonprofit with a mission to advance sustainable economic development in underinvested communities by facilitating, financing, and raising awareness of equitable clean energy and climate resilience solutions. To date, RE-volv has developed and financed over 125 nonprofit solar projects in 18 states, collectively saving them $35+ million on their electricity bills, allowing them to better serve their 200,000 beneficiaries, and avoiding over 100,000 tons of CO₂ emissions. Learn more at re-volv.org.
About YEAH Philly
Youth Empowerment for Advancement Hangout (YEAH Philly) is a Black-led, community-based nonprofit organization located in West and Southwest Philadelphia. They serve teens and young adults ages 15 to 24 who have been impacted by violence, with a special focus on young people in the juvenile system charged with a violent crime. YEAH’s mission is to acknowledge youth as experts of their own lives, help them get the lives they want and deserve through holistic support, and to push back against oppressive systems that often lead to violence. Learn more at yeahphilly.org.
About Good Energy Collaborative
This collaborative connects Swarthmore College students and faculty with community partners in Philadelphia and Chester, Pa., to advance community-engaged environmental justice and sustainability. The group works on climate resilience collaborations that focus on solar energy, regenerative agriculture, and green jobs and workforce development. It is supported in part by a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Thriving Communities Grantmaking program.
www.swarthmore.edu/lang-center/good-energy-collaborative
About GreenBrilliance
GreenBrilliance is a pioneer in the solar energy industry, with over two decades of experience providing top-notch solar solutions to customers across seven states, including Pennsylvania. The company is dedicated to empowering churches and nonprofit organizations to achieve energy independence, ensuring a sustainable and serene environment for worship and community service without the burden of rising energy costs. With a steadfast commitment to quality and innovation, GreenBrilliance combines advanced solar technology with personalized service to deliver long-term energy savings and environmental benefits. For more information, visit GreenBrilliance.com.
About Billie Eilish’s Changemaker Program
Through the Changemaker Program, Billie Eilish and her fans have raised funds from Eilish’s HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR to help support important organizations, projects, and voices dedicated to food equity, climate justice, reducing carbon pollution, and supporting crucial environmental work in combating the climate crisis.
About REVERB
REVERB is a nonprofit dedicated to uniting artists, fans, and organizations to create positive environmental and social change. Through programs like the REVERB Climate Impact Fund and Climate Project Portfolio, REVERB helps direct music’s cultural power toward tangible solutions that cut emissions, support communities, and build a healthier future. Learn more at reverb.org
