2021 Transformation Report: Moving to Equity - Flipbook - Page 12
Progress
Update
Alabama Power prepares next
generation to enter workforce
Developing a well-trained workforce prepared with job-ready skills is a challenge.
Alabama Power and local community
colleges are answering the need for a
well-trained workforce by providing
technical training programs that prepare
Alabamians to be skilled in the trades.
These nine-week programs prepare
students across Alabama communities
for rewarding careers as lineworkers.
Students learn the fundamentals of
electricity as well as the math and
science knowledge needed to work
on power lines and gain the necessary
hands-on training to be job-ready upon
graduation.
In 2021, lineworker training programs
continued at Bishop State, Jefferson
State and Lawson State, graduating 84
students, with 54% minority representation. In July, Alabama Power and local
utility partners signed a memorandum
of understanding launching a program
at Trenholm State, expanding lineworker
training to the Montgomery area, with
the first-class beginning January 2022.
“We are excited to partner with these
outstanding colleges and provide opportunities for Alabamians to train for great,
safe careers as lineworkers,” said Jeff
Peoples, Alabama Power executive vice
president of Customer and Employee
Services.
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Transformation Report
Atlanta Gas Light invests in
workforce training
The Atlanta Gas Light Foundation is
partnering with the Technical College
System of Georgia (TCSG) to help students throughout Georgia develop the
technical skills they need to succeed in
the workforce. The Atlanta Gas Light
Foundation presented a $150,000 gift
to TCSG in October. The funding will
provide equipment and facility upgrades
for TCSG’s HVAC and pipefitting programs, as well as address the need for
gap-funding for students.
In Fall of 2018, approximately 5,700
students were released from their TCSG
program due to an inability to pay
tuition or fees. Of those 5,700 students,
nearly 1,200 of them were released
owing less than $500. This harsh reality
leaves more Georgians without higher
education and potential gainful employment opportunities.
“We are proud to support and inspire
young men and women seeking to
develop new skills and begin their careers
by partnering with the Technical College
Systems of Georgia,” said Pedro Cherry,
president and CEO of Atlanta Gas Light.
“Ensuring everyone has the financial aid
they need to complete their education is
an important part of the foundation of a
fair and equitable society, which is why
we are making this donation – to help
give our youth a fair shot at success.”
Mississippi Power changes drugscreening process to remove
disparities
TrueScreen, which provides employee
applicant screening services, has updated
the Mississippi Power drug-screen panels
to remove the hair follicle test from initial pre-employment testing. Hair follicle
tests have been shown to have racial disparities in results as people with dark hair
are more likely to have false positives.
Southern Nuclear starts diversity,
equity and inclusion training
program
Southern Nuclear understands the
importance of education in developing
a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. To this end, the company recently
launched a DE&I Knowledge and Skill
Building Training Certificate designed to
support an inclusive work environment.
“The DE&I Knowledge and Skill Building
Training Certificate launched in
November, and we are thrilled with the
feedback we’ve received from employees
who have completed the program,”
said Kaitlin Giles, Southern Nuclear
DE&I Business Partner “This educational
opportunity – and its support from
SNC’s leadership – is further proof that
our company is committed to being
better together and understands the role
that DE&I plays in achieving this goal.”
