Green Light Spot Light: Oeyvind Solaas
Meet Oeyvind Solaas, who introduces himself as “Vin”, probably for my own sake. Originally from Norway, Vin hopped from Israel and skipped to the United States, to finally land here in New Orleans. He seems comfortably acclimated into life as a New Orleanian, our cloying humidity, our pot hole riddled streets, our vibrant traditions and festivities, he welcomes it all.
When he moved within the city, he confided to me that he “shifted a mere six blocks”, reluctant to leave the mid city niche he had nestled in. Vin began volunteering with Green Light by canvasing in this neighborhood; dropping off fliers about the CFL program to his neighbors while on his ritual runs. He told me he “loved seeing how his small act of leaving a flier to anonymous neighbors actually had an impact”. Later Vin learned a few of those anonymous neighbors had indeed called Green Light, interested in signing up for the CFL program. What struck Vin about Green Light was how “fun it was making a difference and working with a hands-on project”. Impressed with the ease of working with Green Light, Vin noted how the organization really captured the essence of New Orleans in how effortless it is to work with them and how local and familiar they are.
He celebrated with Green Light when they threw the “CFL-ebration” to commemorate the installation of half a million light bulbs. Now he works as a GOAL intern, working regularly with Green Light. As cemented as Vin is in living and loving New Orleans, he says his dream is to first finish his degree in international development, and hopefully be able to travel back to Uganda, where he wants to work in rural electrification, promoting use of renewable energy and sustainable development. There, Vin hopes his wife, who studies biology, can continue to work on wildlife conservation. In our admittedly brief conversation, one thing unmistakably impresses upon me about Vin; that no matter where he travels, his hands will surely be bustling to benefit and help others.