On Sundays, the Rev. Frank Jackson, Jr. can be found in fellowship with the congregation at New Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church in Inglewood. He is not only spreading the gospel but also bringing the message of clean energy to his community.

Jackson and his wife, Anita, co-founded Village Solutions Foundation, which in 2019 launched a program to help faith-band community-based organizations achieve carbon neutrality and environmental justice by 2045. The nonprofit has helped more than 7,000 low-income and senior residents save energy and money by replacing aging appliances and weatherizing their homes for free.

“For communities of color, particularly the Black community, we have done the research to show the church is probably one of the most vital and important information deliverers,” Jackson said. “Each time Southern California Edison comes in and does something to our facility, we announce that information to our congregation. It triggers their energy to have the same things done to their home as well.”

As a result, community members have taken advantage of SCE’s Energy Assistance Fund, Time-Of-Use rate plans and other energy-efficiency programs. Jackson was recognized as a Clean Energy Champion at SCE’s Energy Education Center in Irwindale as part of the company’s first in-person Black History Month celebration since 2020.

“SCE’s Black History Month event gives us an opportunity to celebrate diverse partners across the service area and recognize the strong contributions of African American businesses and community-based organizations,” said Funmi Williamson, SCE’s chief customer officer and senior vice president of Customer Service. “The event also enables us to embrace the community, let them know we support and celebrate diverse voices and show we value their contributions.”

“This relationship that we have with Edison has been key, vital and important to not only our church, but also to the congregations and the communities that we work, worship and serve in,” Jackson said.

The celebration also honored Black Equity Initiative with its Community Partnership Award for its impact in the Inland Empire and presented the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce with the Gwen Moore Diversity Award, to recognize its work to further SCE’s core business strategy of working with diverse suppliers.

For more information on SCE’s commitment to clean energy, visit edison.com/cleanenergy.