With school, work and family pressures to contend with, for many Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students, pursuing a position in industries like construction or electrical work can seem difficult, if not impossible. “When I first started, it was really eye-opening, because the students weren’t very receptive to the construction industry,” Chicago Builds instructor and IBEW […]
Powering Chicago is launching a new YouTube series called The Power of Better on Monday, October 17. Hosted by Powering Chicago’s Executive Director, Elbert Walters III, this series will act as a resource for those interested in the technology, processes and innovations currently being developed and implemented in the electrical construction industry. The first episode […]
When asked how she’d describe her association with the Sisters of IBEW Local 134, union electrician and executive committee member Latisa Kindred put it simply: “We have genuinely grown into a sisterhood.” It’s a sentiment echoed by nearly 200 other active members, whose association with the committee over the past seven years has led to […]
Every year, Cook County’s unionized electrical industry looks to recognize the legacy and contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by hosting a community breakfast. While COVID-19 has made in-person gatherings difficult in the recent past, Powering Chicago electricians have continued to find creative ways to keep giving back — from conducting home inspections to […]
Powering Chicago celebrates our amazing apprentices during the 7th annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), November 15 – 21, 2021. With over 1,500 apprentices trained at our IBEW-NECA Technical Institute, we are proud of the hard work of all our students. NAW is a nationwide celebration where industry, labor, equity, workforce, education, and government leaders host […]
Powering Chicago’s commitment to better careers was on display when we partnered with Commonwealth Edison and Illinois IBEW’s Renewable Energy Fund to present a five-day solar cohort training program for Chicago-area high school students. The program included five days of training at the IBEW/NECA Technical Institute, followed by work on the job with a local […]
Chicago’s “official” Christmas tree, the 108th Annual City of Chicago Christmas Tree in Millennium Park, will shine brightly near the intersection of Michigan Ave. and Washington St. from November 19 through January 9. All-virtual in 2020, this year’s Tree Lighting Ceremony presented by Powering Chicago with leadership support from the Millennium Park Foundation will be in-person on Friday, November 19 starting […]
At the heart of Cook County’s unionized electrical industry are three key principles that drive the day-to-day operations of Powering Chicago and its members: Better Construction. Better Careers. Better Communities. These values allow the industry unique opportunities to give back to those in need within the community, to connect with Chicagoland residents to help them […]
We are celebrating our cultural appreciation at Powering Chicago during Hispanic Heritage Month by talking with Arthur Zayas Miller, President & CEO of MZI Group. A lifelong Southsider, Arthur founded his company 23 years ago. He found his way to the trades, specifically union electrical contracting, after graduating from De La Salle High School in […]
The need for electricians and skilled labor is expected to soar with the alternative and renewable energies jobs projected to be created by the proposed federal infrastructure bill. Over the last 120 years, thousands of apprentices have graduated from the IBEW-NECA Technical Institute (IN-Tech) in Alsip, Illinois into highly skilled union journeypersons, trained with union […]
