2021 Transformation Report: Moving to Equity - Flipbook - Page 18
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT & SOCIAL JUSTICE
Our Commitment to
HBCUs
Two years ago, Southern Company and its subsidiaries
announced a $50 million multi-year initiative to
provide students attending HBCUs with scholarships,
internships, leadership development and access to
technology and innovation to support career readiness.
Of that original commitment, $40 million has been pledged to date. Since
the announcement, we have partnered on various initiatives with several
HBCUs, including Clark Atlanta, Spelman College, Jackson State, Alabama
A&M and Hampton University among others across Alabama, Mississippi,
Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
HBCUs have been educating students since the 1800s. There are 106 HBCUs
in the United States, including public and private institutions, community
and four-year institutions, medical and law schools. They are responsible for
approximately 25% of Black STEM graduates.
Famous graduates of HBCUs include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rep.
John Lewis, Marian Wright Edelman, Langston Hughes, Toni Morrison,
Oprah Winfrey, Chadwick Boseman and Vice President of United States
Kamala Harris.
“I chose to attend Howard University – 736 miles away from home –
because it is known as the Black Mecca and capstone of Black education.
I was impressed by the school’s rich history, strong academic programs,
track record as a prolific producer of Black professionals and its diverse
population of students and faculty from literally every corner of the
world,” said Georgia Power Area Manager Odessa Archibald.
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Transformation Report
