Solar company makes donation to Rockford violence intervention group

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A Rockford group that offers support services to victims of gun violence received a donation to help them reach the community’s troubled youth.

Get Connected 815 works to interrupt gang violence and retaliation, support victims and their families, and help to reintegrate released convicts from prison back into society.

On Friday, the group received $10,000 of a promised $20,000 donation from Trajectory Energy Partners, a solar company that builds community solar fields, allowing 500 residents in the Rockford area to save on energy costs.

“Whenever we work on a community solar project, we reach out to the neighbors of the project, we reach out to the local organizations who are supporting the community, to involve them in the project,” said Trajectory’s managing partner, Jon Carson.

“It’s gonna help us reach more people. And I really believe that when you start with the children, that’s your base. They’re at an age where so many things are drawing them in different directions and if we have the funding, we can invest in what they are exposed to, because we are all products of our experiences, but they can have some positive experiences. It’s gonna make a difference in the long run,” said Carrie Willis, Get Connected 815’s executive director.

Trajectory Energy’s solar farm is located in the Horsman Quarry. Nexamp is the owner and operator of the system, which supplies solar credits to 500 low-income Rockford families.

Source: MyStateline