I volunteered with Energy Smart Eastside for nearly a year before taking the Electric Coach course, primarily supporting staff with tabling at community events. I hadn’t had the opportunity to give a presentation on my own, so when I was invited to speak to a group of Chinese seniors at a community center, I immediately said yes. It turned out to be the perfect capstone project for me!
Since Mandarin is my native language, I felt comfortable connecting with the audience. Energy Smart Eastside provided both English and Chinese versions of the slides, but I found the Chinese translation didn’t flow naturally — likely because the translator lacked familiarity with the subject matter. I took the initiative to rewrite the translation and reorganize the slides, tailoring the content to better resonate with seniors.
The presentation took place right after the seniors’ monthly luncheon, with 25 people attending in person and another five joining via Zoom. I intentionally kept the technical content brief and focused on real-life relevance, leaving plenty of time for questions. The room quickly came alive with thoughtful, practical questions drawn from the audience’s rich life experience.
“It was an energizing and deeply rewarding experience, one that showed me the power of culturally relevant communication to spark understanding and engagement.”
I was especially grateful for how well the course had prepared me. For example, when someone asked about heat pump water heaters, a topic I hadn’t known at all before the training, I was able to explain it clearly and confidently. It also helped to have Energy Smart Eastside staff members and certified contractors present, so I could refer more detailed or policy-specific questions to them.
By the end, it was clear the information had truly landed. What stood out most to me was not just sharing knowledge, but making it accessible and meaningful across language and cultural boundaries. It was an energizing and deeply rewarding experience, one that showed me the power of culturally relevant communication to spark understanding and engagement. I am very glad to hear the feedback from Energy Smart Eastside staff which says “The seniors at Kin On found the workshop extremely valuable and informative, and it served as a great resource to connect ESE with a new community, and to create future partnership opportunities.”
Our Electric Coach Certification (ECC) program teaches participants of all ages and backgrounds about the basics of whole home electrification. As of Spring 2026, we have accepted 2,000 students into the program. Interested in applying? Check out our coaches hub.