Mayor Andre Dickens Keynotes Graduation of Inaugural Westside Resilience Corridor CPET Workforce Cohort

20 graduates move towards full-time employment on a path to high-paying, sustainable careers

ATLANTA-The Westside Resilience Corridor announced the graduation of the inaugural cohort of its Career Pre-Employment Training (CPET) workforce development program, held on May 11 at Community Church Atlanta. Mayor Andre Dickens served as keynote speaker for the ceremony, underscoring the City of Atlanta's commitment to investing in the strength and resilience of Atlanta's neighborhoods.

"The city doesn't move forward because one office or one company or one church decides to do something. It moves forward when the right people get in a room together and commit to a shared outcome. Georgia Power brought a proven curriculum and direct pipelines to real careers-power delivery, plant operations and customer service. Groundswell brought the vision and the partnership infrastructure-connecting this program to a broader Westside strategy centered on resilience, affordability and opportunity. The Westside Resilience Corridor anchored this in the neighborhood. That matters," said Mayor Dickens. "The energy grid that powers Atlanta-that keeps hospitals running, that keeps homes warm in Winter, that keeps the lights on in neighborhoods like this one-is maintained by people. Real people from real communities doing skilled, essential work. The people building and maintaining that infrastructure did not always look like this community. They did not always come from the Westside or the Southside. This is changing-and you are part of that change."

"Our vision for this resilience hub and the Westside Resilience Corridor has always been about loving our neighbors by opening pathways to real, tangible opportunity for people in this community," said Pastor Kevin Earley, Community Church Atlanta. "Seeing our first CPET cohort walk across this stage- job-ready, confident, and already

on a trajectory toward high-quality careers- is a powerful sign of what's possible when churches, community partners, and employers work together for the benefit of our neighbors."

The Westside Resilience Corridor Career Pre-Employment Training (CPET) Program is a no-cost, 10-session skills-prep series that equips participants with the tools, support, and confidence needed to pursue careers in power delivery (energy line workers), plant operations, and customer service, with all technical training provided by Georgia Power. This neighborhood-based workforce development program is hosted and administered by Community Church Atlanta at the VICARS Community Center, the site of the first community-owned resilience hub in the City of Atlanta. The CPET program is delivered in partnership with The Westside Resilience Corridor churches, Georgia Power and Groundswell, with support from the City of Atlanta and the Reilly Family Fund.

"With community leaders at the helm driving the vision, and partners like all of us working alongside them, we're opening real pathways to economic opportunity for Westside residents and their families," said Matthew Wesley Williams, SVP of Community Development at Groundswell. "This is what community-powered resilience looks like," added Michelle Moore, CEO of Groundswell.

"Georgia Power is honored to partner with the Westside Resilience Corridor and Vicars Community Center to open doors into family-supporting careers in the energy industry," said Deon Tucker, Vice President of the Metro Atlanta Region for Georgia Power. "These graduates are stepping into roles that are essential to keeping our grid strong, our customers served, and our communities resilient in the face of change."

The CPET program is opening new pathways to high-paying energy careers for Atlanta-area residents by combining pre-employment testing support, job-readiness training, and industry-specific skills development to prepare participants for in-demand roles across Georgia's energy sector. Twenty (20) trainees are completing the program, with each graduate moving into a full-time role or onto a defined path to high-paying, sustainable careers in or related to the energy industry, including power delivery, plant operations, and customer service.

Kelli Williams, a participant in the inaugural CPET cohort, reflected on her experience, "The best part of the program for me was the camaraderie. From orientation, the staff provided an 'I believe in you' energy and constant motivation. They were always available for assistance, and I consistently left sessions feeling like I could accomplish anything. This program introduced me to opportunities I never thought possible and is truly built to uplift the community."

The inaugural CPET cohort of 22 trainees was selected from a pool of nearly 100 applicants, reflecting strong community demand for clear pathways into meaningful, high-paying careers. The program's "train and place" model ensures that participants are not only prepared but also connected to real job opportunities, with graduates entering positions across linework, customer service, plant operations, and warehouse roles that support the region's energy infrastructure. Here are a few key indicators of this inaugural cohort's success:

"Being part of the Westside Resilience Corridor has been a powerful experience that rebuilt my confidence and sense of purpose," added CPET participant, Isaiah Jasmin. "The program showed me that we are capable of more than just finding a job-we can build real careers and be part of something bigger. I'm grateful for the opportunity and for everyone who poured into us along the way."

About the Career Pre-Employment Training (CPET) Program

The CPET program is a no-cost, 10-session, pre-employment skills and workforce readiness series that prepares Atlanta-area residents to enter the energy industry and related fields. Participants receive targeted wrap-around support with pre-employment testing, industry awareness, and job-readiness competencies, alongside exposure to technical training pathways delivered by Georgia Power and industry partners.

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