• Posted: December 21, 2021
• Apprentice, apprentice week challenge, better careers, better communities, better construction, City of Chicago Christmas Tree, powering chicago's holidays, senator dick durbin, socks for soldiers, veteran's day

This past year brought familiar challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as new opportunities for Powering Chicago to build upon its better construction, better careers, better communities principles. None of the successes over the last 12 months would be made possible without the tireless work of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 134 and the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Chicago and Cook County (ECA), the membership which makes up Powering Chicago.

The final three months of the year began with the IBEW Renewable Energy Fund partnering with Commonwealth Edison for a five-day solar cohort training program for Chicago-area high school students. With solar and renewable energy on the minds of so many, it was a timely and relevant training session at the IBEW/NECA Technical Institute (IN-Tech) that introduced students to an emerging technology that’s sure to shape the industry moving forward.

In fact, with the recent passage of the $1.75 trillion infrastructure plan, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin recently visited the IBEW Local 134 Union Hall in the Bronzeville community to showcase the industry’s commitment to electric vehicle charging. Sen. Durbin stressed the need for electric chargers to power a new wave of cars that will soon hit the road and applauded the industry’s efforts to establish itself as the go-to resource for charging infrastructure.

“As more and more cars will be electric vehicles, we are going to need charging stations,” Sen. Durbin said. “Who’s going to build the charging stations? Here is where you’ll find the women and men that are prepared to do it.”

That training for electric vehicle charging stations begins at IN-Tech, where Powering Chicago members are trained through a rigorous five-year apprenticeship program. The women and men who make up the industry’s apprentices work tirelessly to learn the skills needed to become an integral part of the Powering Chicago workforce. That’s why, during National Apprenticeship Week which ran from November 15-19, Powering Chicago joined forces with the industry’s IN-Tech team to honor IBEW Local 134 apprentices through an Apprentice Week Challenge.

“During the week, all the competitors had done some circuit jobs, they had done some code tests we made for them, and various other tasks that mimic on-the-job skills they have learned during their apprenticeship,” described Gene Kent, Director of IN-TECH.

Over the week, the competition was narrowed down to 10 finalists who competed in a final set of challenges to be crowned the winner of the inaugural competition. Please join in congratulating the winners, Jake Rappelt, Christopher Brieschke, and Gregory Grant, who took home $500, $300, and $100, respectively.

Many of Powering Chicago’s apprentices, journeyperson electricians, and ECA members have served in the military prior to joining the electrical industry, which is why the industry makes a special point to highlight veterans during Veterans Day. Whether it’s highlighting Executive Vice President of ECA Mark Thomas’ time spent in the Navy or hosting a Veterans Day luncheon for IBEW Local 134 members, Powering Chicago’s commitment to veterans was on full display in November.

Earlier this month, for the seventh year in a row, IBEW Local 134 members joined together to donate socks, underwear, and t-shirts to veterans of the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center on the city’s west side during the annual Socks for Soldiers event. The event provides homeless veterans necessities like socks and t-shirts that they so desperately need. Volunteers of the VA Medical Center said this year’s donations should help nearly 2,000 veterans.

Finally, Powering Chicago capped off its ongoing commitment to better communities by lighting the City of Chicago’s 108^th annual Christmas Tree. This year’s tree was illuminated by Powering Chicago member, M.T. Kelley Electric, who needed nearly 10.5 miles of Christmas lights that spread across the main tree and 58 smaller trees that dot Michigan Ave. To make this year’s event even more special, Powering Chicago again partnered with a local charity to spread holiday cheer and joy to families in need.

This year, Powering Chicago partnered with Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC), an organization that focuses on keeping families together and safe. Powering Chicago committed a $5,000 donation to help CAWC continue the important work that they do.

As 2021 comes to a close and the industry looks ahead to 2022, Powering Chicago will remain grounded by its three principles: better construction, better careers, better communities. It is these three principles that will guide the industry into the new year, tackle new challenges, and expand the unionized electrical industry’s footprint across Chicago and Cook County. We thank our members for their tireless work during another trying year and wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.