On March 26th, SAFE hosted the Community Owned Energy Workshop event led by Denisse Manzo Gonzalez, a Tufts University grad student and published researcher.
By Janiela quiñones
Community-owned energy (COE) assists in addressing issues of energy affordability within communities. The core principle of COE is that power is in the hands of the people.
On March 26th, SAFE hosted the Community Owned Energy Workshop event led by Denisse Manzo Gonzalez, a Tufts University grad student and published researcher.
This workshop dove into what and how our current energy system works, and who it benefits. Residents from all over Salem brought their voice and engagement. Because of the interactive nature of this workshop, attendees connected with one another–discussing their current energy situations, sharing their opinions on the current system, and discussing what they think the system should look like instead. The floor was completely opened to residents, and they did not hold back on their thoughts, opinions, and ideas.
Denisse piloted her popular education model with Neighbor to Neighbor and Youth Build’s Civic Education class prior to hosting a larger Salem event. Additionally, we held a brief program on deciphering energy bills at the Point Neighborhood Association meeting.
Our event and the Point Neighborhood meeting were provided in Spanish with simultaneous English translation via headsets.
Thank you Denisse for leading this interactive gathering and planting the seeds for a just future!
Janiela Quiñones is SAFE’s Communications Intern.