• Posted: March 2, 2026
• Adopt-a-School Service Day, Chicago Hope Academy, construction career pathways, Electrical contractors giving back, IBEW Local 134, NECA Chicago contractors, Renewable Energy, Skilled Trades Careers in Chicago, West Side Chicago school, Workforce Development Chicago

 

Investing in Better Communities on Chicago’s West Side

Episode 20 of The Power of Better takes viewers to Chicago’s West Side, where electrical contractors demonstrate what it means to invest in better communities through action.

In September 2025, the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)  hosted its Adopt-a-School Service Day and selected Chicago Hope Academy as the beneficiary. Nearly 50 NECA Chicago contractors donated their time and expertise to improve the school’s facilities.

For more than 20 years, Chicago Hope Academy has served as a Christian life-preparatory school for 290 students and has maintained a 98 percent graduation rate.

 When contractors offered complementary labor and advanced technical expertise, school leadership decided to fully coordinate the effort.

“We canceled school for the day so that we could have all of our staff ready to help coordinate things with the volunteers,” said Ike Muzakowski, President & Principal at Chicago Hope Academy. “We know that the skill sets of a lot of these volunteers are of an elevated capacity than we are… actually making our spaces more efficient.”

This was not limited to cosmetic upgrades. Volunteers installed new electrical outlets, renovated classrooms, and improved overall operational efficiency. The improvements will benefit students and faculty in the long term.

This level of commitment reflects the standard that Powering Chicago member electrical contractors bring to every project. Precision, accountability, and skilled execution define both community service initiatives and commercial electrical construction.

Strengthening Workforce Pathways Through Partnership

“I think it’s extremely important to have partnerships like this. As we are constantly talking about we’re facing this labor shortage, what better way to expose people than coming to one of the top schools in the neighborhood and exposing them to different careers in construction, especially the electrical industry,” said Dinkins.

Kendra Dinkins, CEO and President of Taylor Electric Company, who also serves as president of the Electrical Contractors Association of Chicago and Cook County, emphasized the importance of partnerships in addressing the labor shortage.

Powering Chicago member contractors rely on structured apprenticeship programs and continuing education to deliver high-performance electrical systems safely, efficiently, and at scale. Workforce development is foundational to project delivery.

“I’m honored to be here. I’m very happy that we are able to do this,” said Rebeca Rocha, business manager at Rocha Electric. “I’m glad that NECA is doing these service projects and that they are advertising them to the contractors. I think it’s great.”

Mallory Gurtz, Chief Operating Officer of Gurtz Electric Company, spent the day renovating a classroom while representing the Electrical Contractors Association of Chicago and Cook County’s Young Professionals Committee. For emerging leaders in the industry, service initiatives like this reinforce the responsibility contractors carry not only to deliver projects but also to strengthen the communities they serve.

“IBEW has a strong partnership with Chicago Hope Academy, so getting visibility into what Chicago Hope is and showing everyone who’s attending the NECA convention what they can do in order to give back is really important and shows how critical the relationship between schools like Chicago Hope and NECA are,” said Gurtz.

Expanding Career Awareness Beyond the Classroom

The service day was complemented by 3M’s Safety Roadshow, which visited the campus the day before. Students were introduced to robotics, welding, including Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding, and advanced manufacturing safety practices.

“Our goal is always to spark an interest in skilled trades or in STEM, foster that interest,” said Michelle Diggs, Director of Public Affairs at 3M. “And enable them to engage with folks who have different jobs that they may not have imagined.”

This exposure reinforces Powering Chicago’s mission to invest in better construction and better careers. Through structured apprenticeship programs and industry training, electrical contractors in Chicago develop the next generation of skilled professionals.

“No bees, no honey, no work, no money. You can’t just be a good person. You must be good for something. You have to complete the task. You have work. So seeing all these professionals sacrificing their Fridays to be here for us. We want to show this video to all our students,” said Muzakowski.

Watch the Episode Today 

The NECA Adopt-a-School Service Day at Chicago Hope Academy reflects the same discipline, coordination, and technical expertise that Powering Chicago member contractors bring to complex commercial and infrastructure projects every day. Nearly 50 contractors volunteered their time to strengthen a learning environment while reinforcing long-term workforce pathways for the next generation.

Powering Chicago member contractors apply this same level of precision, accountability, and skilled execution to mission-critical facilities, renewable energy systems, healthcare institutions, educational campuses, and large-scale commercial developments throughout Chicago and Cook County.

Organizations seeking qualified electrical contractors can connect directly with Powering Chicago member contractors through the Find a Contractor Tool.

Watch Episode 20 of The Power of Better, subscribe to the Powering Chicago YouTube channel, and learn more about apprenticeship programs and career pathways shaping the future of Chicago’s electrical industry by exploring Powering Chicago’s Industry Programs webpage.