Photo: Elena Popova / Moment / Getty Images
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Southern California Gas Company Wednesday unveiled its revamped facility at JA Finance Park, an interactive educational space of business storefronts that provide students with lessons on financial literacy.
The facility draws inspiration from the utility's H2 Innovation Experience in Downey, a clean microgrid demonstration project that draws from solar panels during the day and converts excess energy into clean hydrogen to power the home at night.
The new storefronts provide practical experiences in personal finance, sustainability and career exploration in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. The utility has collaborated with Junior Achievement of Southern California for 23 years and contributed more than $300,000 to help foster leadership skills in the next generation.
"This educational space is more than just an exhibit; it's a foundation for empowering young minds with practical life skills and a deeper understanding of energy efficiency," said Paul Goldstein, vice president of gas transmission and storage at SoCalGas and a JASoCal board member.
Goldstein added that the utility's employee volunteers help bring "real-world financial and energy-efficient scenarios" to life for students.
Located just outside Griffith Park on Forest Lawn Drive, JA Finance Park hosts more than 15,000 visitors including students and volunteers each year.
SoCalGas' space features mock scenarios that build students' abilities to budget, manage expenses and make informed financial decisions. The space also emphasizes the importance of energy use in financial planning, teaching students about the benefits of energy-efficient practices and SoCalGas' customer assistance programs.
"We're honored to continue our partnership with SoCalGas and thrilled to unveil their updated storefront at JA Finance Park," JASoCal President and CEO Les McCabe said.