Soulardarity formed in 2012 after the repossession of over 1000 street lights in Highland Park. Initially it formed with the idea of using solar power to address the lighting need. Before it became an organization, it started with a crowd-funding campaign to finance Highland Park’s first solar streetlight at 150 Victor St. In the following years it evolved into an organization with the broader mission of community ownership and community planning of the lights and developing a clean, democratic energy system in Highland Park.