POWERGRAMS

14 ANITA ALLCORN-WALKER Vice president and comptroller Allcorn-Walker, raised on a farm in rural north Alabama, is a first-generation college graduate. As a child, she was taught that "every person has infinite worth, and … that life itself has immeasurable value. I was taught to love people and place others before myself." She said those values are important during the dialog about racism. "Today I'm challenging myself to grow, and to learn more about racism and prejudices because I want to make Alabama Power a great place to work for all, but specifically make improvements for those employees impacted by racism." An important step toward that goal is hearing people's stories, their perspectives and their life experiences, she said. Allcorn-Walker said she has "often heard Alabama Power described as a family. When you care about people in your family, you will make every effort not to hurt them and you will not let others hurt them, either." Allcorn-Walker urged employees to watch the CCI series "Breaking the Silence" and "learn with me how we can make a positive impact on our fellow employees through awareness and continue to strengthen the Alabama Power culture." JONATHAN PORTER Senior vice president of Customer Operations Porter shared his tragic family history as a result of racism and offered a sobering history lesson of our country beyond the recent deaths of Floyd, Taylor and Arbery. "Unfortunately, for many in the African American community this is nothing new. African Americans have been experiencing racism, profiling, unfair and disparaging treatment for over 400 years, with many remaining silent," he said. "Through it all, African Americans still have a deep love for this country, although the country hasn't shown the same love to them. We love this country enough to want to make a change in it," Porter said. Each of us in our country has a shared responsibility to do better, to not let divisive politics continue to separate us, to have candid conversations and to seek better understanding, he said. And Alabama Power, developed for the service of the state, should lead the way in Alabama. "Let's continue to serve our state by leading in anti-racism discussions. We can change individually, which will lead to change in our communities, our state and our country," he said. "And maybe one day, my two daughters and my five nephews, as Dr. King stated, will live in a country where they won't be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." LESLIE SANDERS Southern Division vice president Sanders shared two events that made a lasting impression on her: She intervened while attending an elementary school function when a white teacher called a Black first grader "stupid," earning Sanders a reprimand from the school principal and having the superintendent complain to the company. "I received total support from my management and my company," Sanders said. "I learned that there is no wrong time to do and say the right thing. … The company made it clear that how we treat people, even little first graders, clearly matters." Sanders chaired the 45th anniversary of the Montgomery bus boycott and spent time with icons of the civil rights movement. At one meeting views on racism and social injustice Allcorn-Walker Porter Sanders

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