Soulardarity is a 501(c)(3) in Highland Park, MI
A locally and nationally recognized leader in energy democracy with 200 members and 10 powerful staff and 5 board members. Soulardarity is a member-led, community organization formed in response to the repossession of over 1000 residential streetlights. Since 2012, Soulardarity has achieved tremendous impact with minimal resources building community power, promoting community-owned clean energy, and creating self-determination in Highland Park through the collective planning and cooperative ownership models. The organization has created a citywide solar street lighting plan, partnering with Southeast Michigan Regional Energy Office, established solar bulk purchase programs for HP and Detroit residents through partnerships with Ryter Cooperative Industries L3C, Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) and Solutions for Energy Efficient Logistics (SEEL) LLC. The accomplishments highlighted in the film, How to Power a City and past and recent successes best demonstrate the collective leadership of the members and collaboration with movement partners. Soulardarity's programs and campaigns advance those community-led needs and goals through organizing, media, and movement building.

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Parker Village is a smart neighborhood development, anchored by a community resource center in Highland Park, Michigan

The Main focus of the community center is Media, Technology, Aquaculture and renewable energy. Parker Village is also home to a resiliency hub as part of the Highland Park Community Crisis Coalition currently building capacity to service the community in the event of various emergencies due to climate change, power outages, food shortages and more. The HPC3 coalition consists of Soulardarity, Parker Village and Avalon Village through the Communities LEAP, a partnership between National Renewable Energy Lab, the Department of Energy and The City of Highland Park. This partnership and program works to advance energy justice within Highland Park by providing technical assistance for climate and energy related actions. Our purpose is to use technical assistance from the Department of Energy to turn the plans, visions, and research of Highland Parkers into real, resourced projects creating resilience, affordability, reliability, and economic opportunity for our community. The aim is to become a long term source of community resilience for Highland Parkers that moves from #Crisis2Justice.
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Highland Park Today

A small 2.9 sq. mile city inside of Detroit. Highland Park is nestled in the middle of Detroit, a major metropolis, yet it does not always benefit from the transportation and mobility opportunities that exist within Detroit. It is the site of the world's first automobile assembly line and urban freeway. Highland Park has a prominent history of facing environmental injustices, along with job & population loss after deindustrialization, when the automotive and fossil fuel industry that built the city, relocated since then the city has experienced a meteoric drop in population, employment, and tax base that has left much of its infrastructure in disrepair.

Highland Park is a city that now faces disproportionate impacts from climate change, including heat wave intensity and frequency, cold freezes, energy insecurity, degraded air quality, reduced water quality, and increased public health risks. Currently over two thirds of Highland Park residents live without streetlights, a reality after 1,000 street lights were removed by DTE. because of municipal city debt The significantly smaller population from the peak has decreased tax revenue, consequently leading to failed municipal services.

The energy burden, insecurity, and poverty within Highland Park significantly impacts the economic and public health of residents. Residents have experienced consistent increases in residential electricity rates from the local, private utility. According to resident reports, poor energy reliance has left some households with multiple days of outages this past year during heat waves, winter storms, and pandemic conditions. Highland Park residents are prone to low wage earning employment that impacts their overall quality of life, even as it relates to energy security. The median annual household income is $18,474. This significantly impacts a family’s ability to be an active participant in the local economy. Therefore, there is much work to be done to stand up a robust workforce development strategy that is in alignment with the city’s overall economic development plans.

Even while being impacted by historical challenges, Highland Park is abundant with bold people-power, frontline action, and innovation. Dedicated community leaders, organizers, and entrepreneurs have been working tirelessly to lay the foundation for sustainable, equitable, and resilient solutions for Highland Park. As the nation once again faces the need for massive, unprecedented transformation of our power systems and infrastructure in response to climate change, your donations will advance resilient root solutions and advance energy justice, so that all Highland Park residents benefit. Highland Park is overflowing with clean energy work and leadership that will pilot the transformative solutions that we need scaled across our state and country.

How to Power a City Exclusive ScreeningProject photos

How to Power a City Exclusive Screening
Project photos