McKenna Dunbar is a climate innovator and educator dedicated to bridging the skilled labor gap in renewable energy. As co-founder of Electrivive, they develop training programs that empower marginalized communities in Virginia—including incarcerated individuals and students—with hands-on expertise in building electrification.

Working alongside co-founder Jake Barnet and Flipp Inc., an accredited NABCEP nonprofit, Dunbar has helped design a curriculum that covers energy-efficient building design, grid-interactive solutions, and IRA funding priorities. Electrivive is now working to partner with the Virginia Department of Corrections to expand its programming into high-need prisons and jails, ensuring access to technical training that can open pathways to meaningful employment.

By equipping participants with marketable skills, Dunbar’s work reduces recidivism, fosters local economic growth, and advances sustainability.

They were part of the Young Climate Prize Cycle 02 Cohort and mentored by Arancha Martinez, a social entrepreneur recognized by Forbes and Ashoka for her pioneering work on impact-driven business models and women’s empowerment.