Duke Energy Grants $35,000 To 'The Institute' For HBCU Leadership Exchange

DURHAM, NC – In February 2016, The Institute received a grant for $35,000 from Duke Energy to support its HBCU Leadership Workforce Development Exchange program. Housed within The Institute’s Policy Center, the HBCU Leadership Exchange focuses on building stronger partnerships between Historically Black Colleges and Universities and key executives of major corporations and minority businesses.

“We want to thank our partners at Duke Energy for their foresight and vision to embrace the HBCU Leadership Exchange,” says Farad Ali, president and CEO of The Institute. “The program model has a proven track record of success in other regions and will be a win-win for everyone involved.”

Andrea Harris, the Institute’s Policy Center director says, “Partnering HBCUs and their students with corporations seeking to build a talented workforce simply makes good business sense. Corporations and institutions of higher learning have a mutual interest in graduating and developing highly skilled workers.”

The primary goal of the HBCU Leadership Exchange is to strengthen workforce opportunities for students enrolled full-time or part-time at HBCUs, and to foster relationship building and internship or employment opportunities with corporations that are expanding their hiring activities. The initiative will launch in the spring of 2016, with support from faculty members at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School in Chapel Hill.

“Developing a talented workforce must be a collaborative effort, which is why Duke Energy is proud to partner with The Institute,” says Indira Everett, Duke Energy government and community relations manager. “The HBCU Leadership Workforce Development Exchange program will help cultivate and retain talented workers in North Carolina.”

The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to address the needs vital to the health of its communities. Annually, the Foundation funds more than $25 million in charitable grants, with a focus on education, environment, economic and workforce development, and community impact. Duke Energy has long been committed to supporting the communities where its customers and employees live and work, and will continue to build on this legacy. For more information, visit www.duke-energy.com/foundation.

The Institute is a nonprofit management consulting firm focused on business diversity, providing customized one-on-one assistance, training and business solutions to create globally competitive companies. For more than 30 years, the Institute has been the voice and advocate for economic development within the minority business community across the state of North Carolina. For more information, visit www.TheInstituteNC.org.

Featured

  • Zurn Releases New Ductile Iron Frame Trench Drain System

    Zurn Elkay Water Solutions recently released the newest addition to its Train Drench portfolio, the Ductile Iron Frame Trench Drain System, according to a news release. The product is designed for heavy-duty applications like airports, military, universities, and more.

  • Howard Community College President Joins National Research Council

    Howard Community College President Daria J. Willis was recently appointed to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Commission on Research and Community College Trends and Issues, according to a news release.

  • Malibu High School Campus Completes $102M Phase 1 of Construction

    Malibu High School in Malibu, Calif., recently announced that it has completed phase 1 of construction for its new campus, a news release reports. The first phase consisted of developing and modernizing the site of a former elementary school into a new, 70,000-square-foot, two-story facility.

  • Fayetteville State University Opens New Residence Hall

    Fayetteville State University (FSU) in Fayetteville, N.C., recently completed construction on a new $50-million residence hall, according to a news release. The university partnered with KWK/Jenkins • Peer Architects on the design of Bronco Pride Hall.

Digital Edition