About Us

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to foster thriving communities by preparing HBCU talent
for careers in sustainability.

The HBCU Sustainable Communities Initiative focuses on preparing and training future business and community leaders in the field of sustainability, preparing them to create and maintain thriving communities through design, planning, investment, and policymaking.

The Southern Company Foundation awarded $10 million in grants to fund the HBCU Sustainable Communities Initiative which prioritizes sustainability as a core component of workforce development.

Initiative Impact

The HBCU Sustainable Communities Initiative will:

Support and equip HBCU students through scholarships, paid internships, and experiential learning opportunities in sustainability.
Provide HBCUs with Sustainability Professorship grants, funded by the Southern Company Foundation, to scale or start academic programs in sustainability.
Develop and foster a diverse pipeline of leaders at sustainability-focused employers.

A COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP

Together, three national nonprofits are creating a more sustainable world through delivering the HBCU Sustainable Communities Initiative.

About INROADS

Founded in 1970, INROADS delivers innovative programs and creative solutions that identify, accelerate and elevate the development of underrepresented talent throughout their careers. Through this development, students become equipped for corporate and community leadership that affects community renewal and social change and elevates economic status and quality of life. INROADS has more than 30,000 alumni, and over 900 interns, and serves 4,000+ students and 200 corporate clients. Learn more at INROADS.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn at INROADSInc.

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About TMCF

Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities.

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About UNCF

UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community, and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. While totaling only 3% of all colleges and universities, UNCF institutions and other historically Black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 13% of bachelor’s degrees, 5% of master’s degrees, 10% of doctoral degrees, and 24% of all STEM degrees earned by Black students in higher education. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF.

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Your Sustainability Questions, Answered

GENERAL

What is sustainability? What is the value of sustainability?

In short, sustainability means making decisions that meet our current needs while preserving our future – especially those decisions that relate to our environment, our health, our economic well-being, and the overall livelihood of our communities. Through the Sustainability & Social Justice Series, our Scholars, and Interns can take deeper dives into this kind of discussion.
What does the future hold for sustainability? Explain the impact effective sustainability methods/strategies will have on lower income communities.

The future of sustainability depends on the decisions we make today. The reason why we’re focused on sustainability is that there is a real concern for our future. Climate change, energy demands, and basic human needs such as food and housing are some examples of what is at risk if we are not focused on sustainability as a nation, and as part of a global supply chain. We need to diversify the professionals responsible for making decisions about policies, products, and services that have huge impacts on society. We need to be particularly mindful of how these decisions impact lower-income and other marginalized communities. Through the Sustainability & Social Justice Series, our Scholars and Interns can take deeper dives into this kind of discussion.
How will success be measured?

MENTORING

How do we as students keep up with older mentors who are already working in the real world?

The mentoring component of this initiative will pair you with a mentor, provide a schedule for structured meetings and also provide mentees with tips on how to maximize time with mentors.
Who is eligible to receive mentorship via the HBCU SCI Mentor Program?
Are mentor meetings mandatory?
How often are Mentor Groups expected to meet?
Can I choose my mentor/mentee?

Mentors and mentees are grouped based on intake forms that both parties will complete. The HBCU SCI Team will assign mentor groups based on the results of the intake process. We will work to ensure that there are comparable interests for each mentor/mentee matching. Mentor matching and announcements will take place via the Chronus platform.
What are the Modules for the Mentorship Program?
The Mentorship Program consists of 6 Modules over the next 24 months. Topics include the following:
- Module I: Excelling as a Scholar & Leader
- Module II: Setting Goals as a Young Professional
- Module III: Understanding Your Brand Footprint
- Module IV: Preparing for Life After College
- Module V: Conscious Leadership
- Module VI: Creating Life Balance

INTERNSHIPS

Are internships available to scholarship recipients?

Scholarship recipients who are interested in internships must apply for an internship by October 31, 2022
Are internship opportunities virtual or in-person?
How many hours are required to complete the internship assignment?
- Most internship opportunities will require a minimum of 320 hours of on-the-job training. Summer internship placements are typically eight weeks at 40 hours per week.
- Should Fall and/or Spring internship opportunities become available, the work schedule may vary to include 15-20 hours per week throughout the semester.
Are internship opportunities paid or unpaid?
Can I receive academic credit for my internship?
What majors are required to participate in the internship program?

Most employer partners do not require a specific major for internship selection. However, interns interested in a placement within the HBCU SCI should exhibit an interest or prior experience in a career in sustainability-related disciplines (e.g., environmental science, urban planning, economic development, civil engineering, information technology). Some internship placements may require experience and/or training in a related area (i.e., GIS, Cloud Computing, etc.).
How do I know if I am eligible to apply for an internship opportunity with an HBCU SCI partner?
- You must be currently enrolled in an HBCU located in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, Tennessee, or Virginia
- You must have a G.P.A of 2.8 or above
- You must be a Sophomore or Junior at the time of application.
- You must successfully complete the internship application and be committed to completing all training modules.
I'd like to know more information about getting into the program so I can share it. Can I take part in this program if I am already involved in Inroads/Are the programs compatible?

As long as you meet the eligibility requirements for this program and you have the availability to participate in an internship, you can apply to the program even if you have previously completed another internship. However, you will not be able to serve as an intern for two different companies at the same time. All students are eligible to apply for scholarships as long as they meet GPA and geographic requirements.
Are there opportunities for students who do not major in STEM-related courses?

Yes. All majors are welcome to apply for internships as long as there is an interest in sustainability. Some of our interns work in the Chief Diversity Officer’s office, in Corporate Social Responsibility, and in Human Resources. These positions are typically occupied by students majoring in business, communications, marketing, and human resources.
What are the aerospace and mechanical engineering roles and opportunities?
Am I guaranteed a job when my internship assignment is complete?

STUDENT DEVELOPMENT

As an upcoming college graduate, what should I be doing with these next months to properly prepare for adulthood?

Transitioning into adulthood requires that you develop your emotional intelligence. This will help you understand the importance of responsibility and accountability. Read articles and watch webinars that focus on emotional intelligence. We also encourage you to fully participate in programs such as HBCU SCI as well as other career development and leadership development programs offered by INROADS, TMCF, and UNCF.

PROFESSORSHIP GRANT

Will these initiatives focus on HBCUs that are located in food and health deserts for projects such as solar energy?

A number of eligible HBCUs may be located in food and health deserts, but the initiative is not exclusive to those HBCUs. All HBCUs located in the Southern Company’s geographic footprint is the targeted institutions for this initiative. The salary of a professor who is leading a solar energy project that involves students could be considered for a professorship grant, however, the grant would not support equipment or construction costs.
Is it the expectation that the matching funds will be from private source(s)?