FORT WAYNE, Ind., November 22, 2021 – United Front, a local organization that helps our community have meaningful conversations about race, equity and inclusion, is pleased to announce receiving a $100,000 grant from the AEP Foundation on behalf of Indiana Michigan Power (I&M).
The grant will provide scholarships to individuals and reduced program fees for organizations to participate in United Front, which is helping the Fort Wayne area community have meaningful conversations about race, equity and inclusion.
“United Front is thrilled to partner with Indiana Michigan Power and the AEP Foundation. This investment will allow United Front to build on our Shared Humanity foundation and continue to create a common language about race, equity and inclusion,” the United Front team said. The team is comprised of Brenda Gerber Vincent of Greater Fort Wayne Inc.; Iric Headley of the City of Fort Wayne; Joe Jordan of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne; Eric Lahey, Fort Wayne fire chief; David Nicole, Headwinds Consulting; and Dr. D. Faye William-Robins of Fort Wayne Community Schools.
The grant announcement was made recently during a United Front monthly keynote event by Dr. Pascal Losambe, a diversity consultant for The Columbus (Ohio) Academy, at Purdue Fort Wayne. Representatives of participating organizations were in attendance, both in person and virtually.
Steve Baker, president and chief operating officer of I&M, announced the grant.
“We at I&M and the AEP Foundation are gratified to see our community focusing on having meaningful dialogs about race, equity, inclusion and diversity as a result of the work being done by the United Front program ” Baker said. “Indiana Michigan Power and our parent company, American Electric Power, are committed to a culture where differences are valued and recognized as a significant positive influence.” The AEP Foundation and I&M believe very strongly in supporting organizations like United Front that advance diversity, equity and inclusion.”
Topic areas of United Front discussions include sessions regarding leadership, K-12 education, criminal justice, diversity and inclusion, and others. To learn how to participate in United Front, please go to UnitedFrontInititative.com
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ABOUT UNITED FRONT: United Front is an initiative designed to bring the community together to attain racial healing, equity, education, and organizational transformation. Through the development of a Shared Humanity around race, equity, and inclusion, United Front empowers organizations and individuals with the ability to value diversity, assess their environments, and implement interventions that will enhance inclusive cultures, motivating people to work together toward community shared goals.
ABOUT THE AEP FOUNDATION: The American Electric Power Foundation is funded by American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) and its operating subsidiaries. The Foundation provides a permanent, ongoing resource for charitable initiatives in the communities served by AEP and initiatives outside of AEP’s 11-state service area. The Foundation focuses on improving lives through education from early childhood through higher education in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math; and by meeting basic needs for emergency shelter, affordable housing and the elimination of hunger; and championing social and racial justice. Other Foundation support may be offered to protect the environment, support healthcare and safety, and enrich life through art, music and cultural heritage.
ABOUT INDIANA MICHIGAN POWER: Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, and its approximately 2,100 employees serve more than 599,000 customers. More than two-thirds of its energy delivered in 2019 was emission-free. I&M has at its availability various sources of generation including 2,278 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan, 450 MW of purchased wind generation from Indiana, more than 22 MW of hydro generation in both states and approximately 15 MW of large-scale solar generation in both states. The company’s generation portfolio also includes 2,620 MW of coal-fueled generation in Indiana.
News releases and other information about I&M are available at IndianaMichiganPower.com