Georgia Power to invest $75 million in racial equity, social justice efforts

By Maria Saporta

Georgia Power and its foundation will invest $15 million a year for the next five years to help advance racial equity and social justice efforts in Georgia – an effort that will total of $75 million.

The funding will support initiatives focused on education equity, criminal justice and economic empowerment. The investment is part of Georgia Power’s parent company – the Southern Co.’s commitment to invest a combined $200 million over five years in community investments to support these efforts.

Chris Womack, president of the Georgia Power Co.

“At Georgia Power, we’re standing with our communities as, together, we tackle systemic equity issues across our state,” said Chris Womack, president of Georgia Power. “This financial investment and our commitment to mentoring, while just a part of our overall equity efforts, are so incredibly critical because they’re one way we can make a real impact in distressed and disadvantaged communities. Through them we can support and partner with organizations that assist with education equity, criminal justice and economic empowerment, as well as build personal relationships with kids now that can help shape Georgia’s future leaders.”

Georgia Power’s $75 million commitment will be distributed through strategic, focused investments in:

• Education equality – direct community investments, scholarships for underrepresented groups and investment in Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
• Criminal justice organizations – working to lower criminalization rates, support transition and re-entry into society, create prearrest diversion options and reduce racial profiling.
• Economic empowerment – through grants and impact investments, invest in communities to build social and economic opportunity for Black-owned businesses and individuals and to create a just transition as the company seeks a net-zero carbon future.
• Mentoring initiative – Georgia Power is working to build a team of 250 employees statewide that are engaged in mentoring annually. This effort is a part of Southern Company’s larger commitment of 5,000 mentors. The company believes that by sustaining a relationship between a youth and an adult through continued involvement, support and guidance, academics, career and life journey, youth are more likely to overcome more of life’s hardships.