Building a Resilience Hub Centered in Community
In Brief:
- Yale's Clean and Equitable Energy Development (CEED) Certificate Program, through CBEY, gives participants the opportunity to develop and assess clean energy projects that are intended to provide local communities with financial, social, and environmental benefits.
- One such participant is Jameson Davis, he and his team worked on reimagining the African American Society (AAS) headquarters in Hamden, CT, as a community resilience hub.
- Their microgrid design combines rooftop solar and battery storage with an 83-acre urban farm, training facilities, and cultural programming—all linked to state green bank funding and community ownership models.
- In an interview with the Yale Clean Energy Forum, Davis explained more about the team's resiliency hub, including its design, intention, and future vision.
What inspired the team to select the African American Society headquarters as the anchor for this resilience hub?
The African American Society (AAS), located in South Hamden just minutes from Newhallville, New Haven, sits at the heart of a region where many residents face disproportionate energy burdens. The decision to center this project at AAS was both intentional and deeply personal. In far too many sacrificed communities like ours, the idea of a “just transition” remains a buzzword, rarely embodied in ways that directly benefit those who have historically borne the brunt of environmental and energy injustices.
By developing a microgrid on a Black-owned building that serves as the home of AAS, a trusted grassroots community based organization, rather than relying on a large institution or corporation, we are sending a powerful message: clean, resilient energy solutions are not just for the privileged. They belong in our neighborhoods, led by us, and built for our futures. We want diverse families to see renewable energy not as something abstract or out of reach, but as something tangible, operating in their backyard, and owned by the very people it’s meant to serve.
How does the microgrid design address the specific energy resilience needs of the Hamden community?
The microgrid design directly addresses the urgent need for energy resilience in Hamden and across the state of Connecticut by centering community education, expanding access to renewable energy, and advancing equity through inclusive, place-based solutions. First, with robust community education, ensuring residents understand the solar, battery storage, and microgrid technologies powering the project. Second, it also serves as a launchpad for workforce development, building inclusive entry points into clean energy careers, an industry still struggling with racial equity and representation. Lastly, through an innovative dual-system design and a potential partnership with Avangrid, we aim to maximize both community benefit and grid integration. The microgrid project has the potential to generate and distribute clean energy at a more affordable rate, helping to reduce energy burden and combat energy poverty in one of Connecticut’s most underserved communities. This model not only builds resilience, it reaffirms that frontline communities deserve to lead and benefit from the transition to a just and equitable energy future.
What role did community members play in shaping the design and priorities of the project?
While we have not yet reached the formal stage for gathering direct community input, AAS is deeply committed to ensuring that community voices will guide the design and priorities of the project moving forward. Our microgrid is being developed not just for the community, but with the community, grounded in a vision of accessibility, education, and economic opportunity. From shaping how technology is introduced to informing the structure of job training and workforce pathways, community members will be central to every step, ensuring the project reflects their needs, aspirations, and hopes for a more resilient and equitable energy future.
Can you walk us through how the rooftop solar and battery storage will work in tandem with the urban farm?
The overall goal of the African American Society is to create a truly transformative closed resilience system designed to uplift and protect our community in times of need. At the heart of this system is the microgrid, powered by rooftop solar panels and supported by battery storage, which ensures that the building remains a reliable source of electricity during emergencies. This means community members will always have a safe haven where they can charge their phones to reach loved ones, stay cool when the heat is unbearable, or find warmth during cold spells.
But resilience is more than just power, it’s about sustainability and wellbeing. That’s why our partnership with other local community-based organizations transforms this hub into a beacon of essential services during crises, offering support where it’s most needed. Crucially, food security is the backbone of true resilience. With access to 83 acres of leased farmland, AAS can grow fresh, nutritious produce, reducing dependence on external food supplies that can become scarce or inaccessible in emergencies.
Providing food during emergencies isn’t just about nourishment, it’s about restoring hope, dignity, and strength to our community when it’s needed most. Together, the microgrid and farm form a powerful, interconnected linear system: the solar-powered energy keeps our community space alive and welcoming, while the farm nourishes our bodies and spirits. This synergy creates a resilient foundation where energy and food security work hand in hand to empower and sustain the community through any challenge.
What were some of the biggest challenges—technical, financial, or social—you're facing?
One of the biggest challenges we’ve faced so far has been financial. We were initially in strong contention for over $600,000 in federal grants, but those opportunities were abruptly removed due to the recent change in administration. This setback forced us to pivot quickly toward philanthropic and corporate donors and sponsorships, a path that has proven difficult. Historically, philanthropic and corporate funding has been the most inaccessible form of support for Black-led organizations and communities of color, creating barriers that are deeply rooted and systemic.
Despite these hurdles, we remain steadfast in our mission. Securing this crucial funding is not just about money, it’s about unlocking the full potential of the project and coalition building. Once we can secure the necessary resources, we will move forward with detailed feasibility plans and gain a clearer understanding of the scale and scope of the systems needed to make this vision a reality. This challenge only strengthens our resolve to create a resilient, empowering space for our community.
How does the team plan to ensure long-term community ownership and stewardship of the hub?
The building is family-owned, and we will formalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that guarantees the African American Society (AAS) remains a long-term tenant. This agreement is more than just a lease, it’s a promise that AAS will continue to have the space, support, and freedom needed to develop programs and projects that truly center, empower, and uplift our community.
This intentional partnership with the building’s owners (my father, retired Captain of the Connecticut State Police, Joe Davis) reflects our shared vision of sustainability and resilience. By anchoring AAS’s presence in this space for the long haul, we create a living legacy, one where community leadership, care, and ownership flourish, ensuring the hub remains a vibrant, welcoming place that grows and evolves with the people it serves for generations to come.
You mentioned replicability—what would it take to bring this model to another neighborhood?
Replicating this model requires a thoughtful, step-by-step approach grounded in community engagement. One must first begin by partnering closely with local residents, leaders, and organizations to understand the unique needs, assets, and challenges of the neighborhood. This community-driven process ensures that the design of the microgrid, farm, and associated programs truly reflect and serve that specific community.
Next, securing diverse and flexible funding is critical. This includes a mix of philanthropic grants, corporate sponsorships, and local investments to cover costs for feasibility studies, infrastructure installation, and ongoing operations. Because each neighborhood differs, one must conduct site-specific assessments to determine the appropriate size and technology for energy systems and the scale of the farming needed.
Building local capacity is also essential and establishing strong partnerships with community-based organizations and municipal stakeholders helps embed the project within existing networks, creating a resilience hub for emergency services, education, and social support.