Powering Hope: Pepco & IBEW Local 1900 Energizing Suicide Prevention in 2023 and Beyond!

Employee and customer safety is a top priority for Pepco, the electric utility providing power to Washington, D.C. and its surrounding areas in Maryland. The company’s recent work with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's National Capital Area Chapter (AFSP-NCAC) exemplifies Pepco's dedication to prioritizing mental health safety in the workplace and beyond.

In 2023, Pepco and IBEW Local 1900, the local union representing line workers and other field personnel at Pepco, became one of the leading sponsors of the 2023 Washington, D.C. Out of the Darkness Community Walk. However, their support went well beyond sponsorship. The interest in working together with AFSP-NCAC and participating in the Walk stems from the collaboration of two Pepco Employee Resource Groups (ERGs); Developing Young Professionals (DYP) and Exelon Military Actively Connected (EMAC). Together, each ERG solicited the endorsement of Pepco and union leadership and worked to promote the Walk as well as AFSP programs and resources to all Pepco employees. DYP Community Engagement Chair, Ken McCabe, joined IBEW Local 1900 President, Jerry Williford, for site visits to Pepco’s Forestville and Rockville service centers to talk about AFSP and encourage employee engagement.

In January and August, Pepco and the union together welcomed two presentations of AFSP’s signature educational program: Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention. These presentations were attended by more than 260 employees who learned about this leading cause of death, research findings, common risk factors and warning signs associated with suicide, and how to keep themselves and others safe. Employees who attended the presentations described them as “powerful,” “healing,” and “necessary.”

In October, the outpouring of support from Pepco and IBEW Local 1900 employees was overwhelming as they recruited 120 participants, making them the largest walk team for the 2023 D.C. Walk! On the day of the event, employees were joined by family, friends, and pets in celebration of community, memory of loved ones lost, and support of those who struggle or have survived a loss. Together, Pepco, IBEW Local 1900, and their employees raised more than $10,000 to benefit AFSP's mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide! 

And, in November, Pepco donated space in their centrally-located Pepco Edison Place Gallery to AFSP-NCAC, allowing us to host our annual Washington, D.C. International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day (Survivor Day) event in their beautiful venue. Survivor Day is held annually on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, as the holiday season can be especially difficult for those who have lost loved ones to suicide. Survivor Day events provide an opportunity for those who have lost loved ones to suicide to come together, gain greater perspective and understanding, and discover practical coping strategies that others have used before them to healthily process and contend with their loss. Each event also features a screening of an AFSP-produced documentary on suicide loss, sparking both conversation and hope for those attending.

Pepco’s lifesaving work with the AFSP-NCAC started in 2022, expanded exponentially in 2023, and continues to grow as there is still so much left to do in the fight to stop suicide. Collaborative relationships, like the unique one Pepco and IBEW Local 1900 have with AFSP-NCAC, help power hope and breathe energy into suicide prevention. We look forward to continuing to build upon this strong foundation together in 2024 and beyond!