We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cherie Brooks a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Cherie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?

In April 2015, Baltimore was engulfed in violent riots following the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody. In the aftermath I felt compelled to make a positive impact on the community where I had served through my family church my entire life. I had several conversations with friends and family expressing the urgency to contribute to Baltimore’s welfare. I just had to do something for Baltimore. My family was in the solar development business, so I asked them “How can we take our renewable energy knowledge and expose it to the underserved community?’” I wanted to address the systemic challenges by creating access and reaching those in need. The foundation’s genesis was fueled by a commitment to bring positive change and hope to the community in the face of adversity. Early on I recognized the strategic advantages of entering an industry at its infancy. Seizing the opportunity, I began planning a solar summit in collaboration with other development companies the following week. This endeavor marked the inception of a tangible business path.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a proud Baltimore native, the visionary Co-Founder, President, and CEO of the Power52 Foundation (Power52, Inc), a 501c3 non-profit organization. My role as CEO is centered around bringing clean energy access and economic empowerment to historically marginalized communities through initiatives like resiliency hubs, clean energy resources, education, training, and sustainable job creation. I find myself operating on the frontlines, navigating the intersection of environmental and economic justice, a cause I’m deeply passionate about.

One of my proudest accomplishments is the development and oversight of the Power52 Energy Institute, Maryland’s first Clean Energy-focused Private Career School. We’ve earned approval from the Maryland Higher Education Commission, making Power52 Foundation was one of only two non-profits approved to own and operate a private career school in the state’s history. Additionally, I played a crucial role in converting Living Classrooms’ community center, POWER House, into a groundbreaking Resiliency Hub, the first solar-powered, community-based hub of its kind in the nation. It serves a public housing community in East Baltimore that faces the highest risks during emergencies.

Before diving into the non-profit world, I had a rewarding career as a Site Acquisition Manager in the wireless industry. Leading a team through the intricacies of the build process, I managed over 200+ telecom sites for projects like AT&T’s LTE Project and Verizon’s New Site/Raw Land Builds.

My strengths lie in creativity, drive, and leadership, and I thrive on challenges that expand our organization’s reach. Philanthropy and ministry are at the core of my passions, and I envision Power52 Foundation becoming the primary avenue for careers in solar and renewable energy on a national scale. My goal is to address underemployment and climate justice, particularly for individuals in marginalized communities, showcasing my unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on a broader scale.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In response to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recommended distancing measures for community safety, Power52 was forced to pivot and was left with no choice but to move our in-person training program to hybrid service delivery model. The populations served by the foundation were disproportionately affected both economically and health-wise by the pandemic. The need for continued access to workforce training, making vulnerable individuals employable in living wage positions, became more critical than ever. The online platform facilitated the enrollment of more trainees per cohort, allowing a larger number of vulnerable, incumbent, and displaced individuals to train for living wage careers. Many of the positions targeted for training remained operational during the pandemic, providing graduates with the opportunity to secure positions with a living wage and support themselves and their families during those challenging times.

The transition to an online platform was not just an emergency response to the current pandemic; it represented a significant opportunity for Power52 Foundation. The flexibility of the online platform addressed various barriers to participation, such as conflicting work schedules, temporary lack of physical mobility, and limited access to childcare or transportation. Beyond the pandemic, this flexibility continued to make the program accessible to individuals with limited availability or computer access. The expanded accessibility also enhanced the program’s appeal to funders seeking greater impact, positioning Power52 Foundation as a strategic and prudent investment for social change and economic opportunity expansion in the State. This adaptive approach secured the viability and sustainability of the critical training program for years to come in a time of uncertainty.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

During the height of the pandemic, Power52 began resource distribution events “Pull Up & Pick Ups”. Pull-up & Pickup Resource Events are a combination of human services, community engagement, resource distribution, and outreach for recruitment. It was born of the pandemic in 2020 when we realized that some of our trainees, their families, and the local community were facing extreme financial hardship and shortages of fresh food. Partnering with other organizations in our community, we constructed support boxes with food, school supplies, energy saving electrical supplies, personal protection equipment, and any other items our partners were willing to donate. The actual date of the deliveries saw up to 70 volunteers made of our trainees, graduates, and community partners who arrived to assemble and distribute the boxes. Residents pulled up in their cars, open their trunks, and received a box placed in their trunk by our volunteers. We made these events festive with music, dancing, laughter, and cheer. To date, Power52 has hosted a total of five contactless Pull up and Pick Up giveaways serving nearly 20,000 families and collectively distributing over 300,000 lbs. of food, energy packs, and supplies to the community at large.
This activity has had an added bonus. As word spread about our food distribution, so did information about our training program. We saw a marked increase in the number of applications from potential trainees.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.power52.org
• Instagram: @power52official
• Facebook: @power52official
• Linkedin: Power52 Foundation
• Twitter: @power52official
• Youtube: @power52official

Image Credits
Power52 Foundation