When schools closed their doors in 2020, millions of students logged on from home. But for many Indigenous students across the Southwest, logging on wasn’t an option.
The pandemic showcased longstanding inequities in resources for students, including access to electricity on indigenous lands, particularly in Navajo and Hopi Nations. These barriers threaten student success. When we learned about the challenges these communities faced, we joined forces with corporate and community partners to launch a multi-phase effort to expand access, close opportunity gaps, and invest in the future of Indigenous learners.
We’re proud to mark a major milestone: Solar power has been installed in our 500th student home! This reflects what’s possible when nonprofits, universities, industry partners, and communities unite around a shared purpose.
It’s a moment of gratitude that pushes us to keep going: With nearly 1 in 3 homes across the Navajo Nation still lacking reliable electricity, the need remains urgent.
For many families, daily life without power means relying on unsafe, unhealthy, and inconsistent sources like kerosene, gas generators, or even car batteries. When the sun sets, so does children’s ability to study. Learning is limited by daylight.
Skip the Grid, our solar education initiative that brings power to student homes, changes that.
These systems do more than provide light: They power essential devices, preserve food, keep medications cool, and create places where entire families can thrive. We’re especially committed to reaching student families who have been excluded from other programs. Many existing initiatives require homes to meet strict building codes, requirements that unfairly disqualify those who need support most. By keeping barriers low, we ensure more families can benefit.
Skip the Grid is also an investment in future leaders — leaders from outside of the Nation and within. For example, students from Cal Poly, ranging from first-year undergraduates to graduate students, gain hands-on experience applying their knowledge in real-world settings while making a tangible difference. Also, we are working to build a local indigenous project team and leads to ensure proper maintenance and continuity of systems.
Our work is deeply rooted in community partnership. We collaborate with local Navajo community members in outreach, installation, maintenance, and education. By working together, we build trust, adapt to evolving needs, and create solutions guided by the community itself.
But we’re far from finished. Thousands of homes still need reliable power, and students continue to need access to the resources that support their education.
You can help power what comes next.
Your donation supports student solar installations, educational resources, and hands-on learning opportunities for students and families. Together, we can bring light to more homes, expand access to education, and help build a brighter, more equitable future.
Donate now and be part of the next 500 homes.