Blog
Hello friends,
Saturday is our big annual meeting! This is the ~biggest~ meeting for our cooperative of the year - we will have some great conversation, updates on our cooperative, and most importantly, new elections for our cooperative's board!
There are two (2) open board seats this year and I'm excited to announce the three (3) nominees below! 🎉🎉🎉
Voting, as laid out in our bylaws, will be done via Ranked Choice Voting. This is a little bit different than the "normal" or first-past-the-post voting system you may be used to! Ranked Choice Voting allows people to pick their favorite candidate(s) without worrying about "throwing away your vote." This creates fairer elections that truly allow the will of the voters to come through. Since we have two open seats we will be using a modification called Proportional Ranked Choice Voting. Here is a video and written explanation and we'll go over it again on Saturday!
If you haven't already make sure to RSVP for Saturday's meeting here!
2025 CSC Board Nominations
Stephanie K. Thomas
Stephanie K. Thomas, B.Arch, CPRS - Executive Director, Shelter the People Cleveland - an Architect (Pratt Institute) of Druze descent with over a decade of professional experience working in New York City’s competitive architectural and construction industries. Not only is she a survivor of the opioid epidemic, she also has lived homeless experience. Her journey of overcoming these immense obstacles and finding love through community informs her core belief that housing is a fundamental human right that can be achieved by all. In her first year of leading the organization, Shelter the People Cleveland provided housing and shelter for 209 individuals in properties which the organization owns.
My interest in solar energy began in 2021 when I joined Tesla’s Learning and Development team for the Solar Roof product. The work gave me a front-row seat to the possibilities of clean technology. That experience sparked a deep and ongoing commitment to clean energy solutions. I didn't stay at this organization as they discontinued the community college apprenticeship program I was hired to launch. I moved on from that team to pursue other work, but have continued to look for ways to contribute to a clean energy future.
I’ve also worked in educational technology since 2013, leading initiatives at the intersection of learning, big data, and AI. As a learning and development professional, my projects have focused on work that serves the public good. As a small business owner, I have worked to strategically build community within the North East Ohio Small Business Owner community as well as advocated for the needs of small businesses at the state and federal level.
I have been actively involved with Ohio Climate Change for Justice for over three years. During this time, I have connected with like-minded individuals by joining the Ohio Climate and Energy Coalition (CCEC) and working with the Energy Foundation. This collaboration has provided me with valuable resources for solar panels and more.
My commitment as an advocate for underserved communities, particularly in East Cleveland, Ohio, is stronger than ever. I firmly believe in creating justice for all, regardless of zip code. This includes demanding clean energy solutions, promoting solar power to reduce utility bills, and generating clean energy jobs that can transform lives. Change is not just necessary; it is our obligation, and I am dedicated to making it happen.
June Co-op Circle and Energy Democracy
Make sure to mark your calendars for the June Co-op Circle, which is the first stop on the Ohio Co-op Solidarity Tour. We are having people from all over the state and country come into Cleveland that evening! Our Cooperative will be hosting an energy democracy breakout with Nora Elmarzouky of Emerald Cities Collaborative, who resides in Philadelphia and is a national leader in Energy Democracy.
Learn more and RSVP here!
Solidarity,– Craig, your Energy Democracy Organizer
Saturday is our big annual meeting! This is the ~biggest~ meeting for our cooperative of the year - we will have some great conversation, updates on our cooperative, and most importantly, new elections for our cooperative's board!
There are two (2) open board seats this year and I'm excited to announce the three (3) nominees below! 🎉🎉🎉
Voting, as laid out in our bylaws, will be done via Ranked Choice Voting. This is a little bit different than the "normal" or first-past-the-post voting system you may be used to! Ranked Choice Voting allows people to pick their favorite candidate(s) without worrying about "throwing away your vote." This creates fairer elections that truly allow the will of the voters to come through. Since we have two open seats we will be using a modification called Proportional Ranked Choice Voting. Here is a video and written explanation and we'll go over it again on Saturday!
If you haven't already make sure to RSVP for Saturday's meeting here!
2025 CSC Board Nominations
Stephanie K. Thomas
Stephanie K. Thomas, B.Arch, CPRS - Executive Director, Shelter the People Cleveland - an Architect (Pratt Institute) of Druze descent with over a decade of professional experience working in New York City’s competitive architectural and construction industries. Not only is she a survivor of the opioid epidemic, she also has lived homeless experience. Her journey of overcoming these immense obstacles and finding love through community informs her core belief that housing is a fundamental human right that can be achieved by all. In her first year of leading the organization, Shelter the People Cleveland provided housing and shelter for 209 individuals in properties which the organization owns.
Teresa Potter
My interest in solar energy began in 2021 when I joined Tesla’s Learning and Development team for the Solar Roof product. The work gave me a front-row seat to the possibilities of clean technology. That experience sparked a deep and ongoing commitment to clean energy solutions. I didn't stay at this organization as they discontinued the community college apprenticeship program I was hired to launch. I moved on from that team to pursue other work, but have continued to look for ways to contribute to a clean energy future.
I’ve also worked in educational technology since 2013, leading initiatives at the intersection of learning, big data, and AI. As a learning and development professional, my projects have focused on work that serves the public good. As a small business owner, I have worked to strategically build community within the North East Ohio Small Business Owner community as well as advocated for the needs of small businesses at the state and federal level.
Juanita Stevens
I have been actively involved with Ohio Climate Change for Justice for over three years. During this time, I have connected with like-minded individuals by joining the Ohio Climate and Energy Coalition (CCEC) and working with the Energy Foundation. This collaboration has provided me with valuable resources for solar panels and more.
My commitment as an advocate for underserved communities, particularly in East Cleveland, Ohio, is stronger than ever. I firmly believe in creating justice for all, regardless of zip code. This includes demanding clean energy solutions, promoting solar power to reduce utility bills, and generating clean energy jobs that can transform lives. Change is not just necessary; it is our obligation, and I am dedicated to making it happen.
Make sure to mark your calendars for the June Co-op Circle, which is the first stop on the Ohio Co-op Solidarity Tour. We are having people from all over the state and country come into Cleveland that evening! Our Cooperative will be hosting an energy democracy breakout with Nora Elmarzouky of Emerald Cities Collaborative, who resides in Philadelphia and is a national leader in Energy Democracy.
Learn more and RSVP here!
Solidarity,– Craig, your Energy Democracy Organizer
Cleveland Solar Cooperative
info@clevelandsolar.org
