• Posted: January 16, 2023
• Andres Aguilar, chicago women in trades, CWIT, Electrical Works Minority Caucus, EWMC, Frank Rodriguez, Frieda Holley, Frieda's Place, IBEW Local 134, John Culp, Renee Jones

 

The Chicago chapter of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus (EWMC) took part in its National Day of Service by volunteering to install updates at two local community-based organizations, Chicago Women In Trades (CWIT) and Frieda’s Place.

“The main function of the EWMC is to increase the number of minorities that are represented in the IBEW. We have an entire mission that is based around service and working with minorities in our community,” said Frank Rodriguez, a volunteer electrician with IBEW Local 134.

Promoting and supporting Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT)

CWIT aims to assist women who are interested in working in the trades with equal access to information, training and job opportunities. The CWIT training facility has struggled with limited electrical capacity for its welding machines, making it difficult to utilize them for learning purposes.

“Our power is always being shut off when the welding machines are operating,” said Reneé Jones, the program director at Chicago Women in Trades.

So, in November, six EWMC electricians installed panel upgrades to allow the building’s infrastructure to support power for those welding machines.

“It benefits us to have more outlets and another panel in, so we don’t always have to go check the circuit and turn it back on. It benefits us in a big, major way,” said Jones.

Installing lighting to improve safety at community soup kitchen

The EWMC didn’t stop there. Other member electricians volunteered to perform upgrades for a second community-based organization called, Frieda’s Place.

“Sometimes we get blackouts, especially if it’s a heavy thunderstorm or a real bad snowstorm,” said Frieda Holley, manager at Frieda’s Place.

Located on the southwest side of Chicago, Frieda’s Place is a community soup kitchen where those in need can come for a free, hot meal.

“If you come in at night, you cannot see. They’re putting up lights outside. Can you believe that? That’s going to be so awesome. All of these years, we’ve never had light out there,” said Holley.

Giving back to local organizations that need it most

The Chicago chapter of the EWMC, made up of IBEW local 134 electricians, selects which organizations to help each year through a committee.

“The committee sends a ​​research team out to find out what it is that local organizations need, and then the EWMC supplies the materials and workforce to help during the National Day of Service,” said John Culp, president of the EWMC – Chicago.

The EWMC’s mission is to empower minorities and underrepresented workers to become active participants and leaders in the IBEW and to encourage them to give back to their communities. 

“Helping out the community is something that I’ve always cared about and honestly, through word of mouth, it’s just something that’s pretty big. And Powering Chicago has a lot to do with that as well,” said Andres Aguilar, local IBEW 134 electrician

To learn more about the EWMC and how it supports Powering Chicago’s members, go to their website.