Good Energy
Advances Equity and Justice
Southern Company has used its voice, influence and resources to advance a more inclusive, equitable and just society in the communities it is privileged to serve. Promoting education equity has been a key focus of that effort.
Alana Burrell, senior at Spelman College and PROPEL Student Impact Scholarship recipient
Good Energy
Advances Equity
and Justice
Southern Company has used its voice, influence and resources to advance a more inclusive, equitable and just society in the communities it is privileged to serve. Promoting education equity has been a key focus of that effort.
Alana Burrell, senior at Spelman College and PROPEL Student Impact Scholarship recipient
Southern Company and its foundations have committed $225 million through 2025 to advance equity and justice in our communities. We have been vocal and clear about our equity beliefs and focused our volunteer efforts, giving and community investment strategies to four key pillars to maximize impact: education equity, criminal justice equity, economic empowerment and energy empowerment.
In alignment with our commitment to education equity, and in partnership with INROADS, Inc., the United Negro College Fund and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the Southern Company Foundation in 2022 announced $10 million in grants to support historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). These grants will foster student talent, provide job training in the communities that surround HBCU campuses and fund four sustainability professorships.
Ms. Burrell at historic Sisters Chapel on the Spelman campus
Alumnae Arch on the campus Oval
Spelman’s office of admissions
Together with Apple, Southern Company is also a founding partner in PROPEL, a first-of-its-kind technology and innovation hub for HBCUs. PROPEL will support the entire HBCU community, which includes more than 100 colleges and universities nationwide, through a robust virtual platform accessible to all HBCU students and faculty.
“We are proud to help open greater doors of opportunity for HBCU students,” says Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power, and president- and CEO-elect of Southern Company. “We must equip students with the support and resources they need today so they can be the change agents of tomorrow.”
Alana Burrell is a recent recipient of a PROPEL Student Impact Scholarship, with support from Southern Company and Apple. A native of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Ms. Burrell is currently a senior majoring in computer science at Spelman College. “I am grateful for the opportunity to attend Spelman on the PROPEL Student Impact Scholarship,” says Ms. Burrell. “It has made it possible for me to complete my education without any additional financial burden or debt.”