Electricians Pay It Forward

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Thirty electricians and apprentices kept things humming Saturday as they wired up a Covenant House facility in southeast Washington. The volunteers included members of IBEW Local 26’s Minority Coalition, who recruited fellow local members of all races to help wire the housing and training facility for Covenant House, which provides services to area homeless and runaway youth. For apprentice Dartazse Jones, the work was personal: he’d been one of those youth before being accepted into the IBEW 26 apprenticeship program, where he’s in his third year of learning a trade. “Dartazse’ story is a perfect example of the success of Covenant House, the Community Services Agency and the Minority Coalition,” said Metro Council President Jos Williams. “This young man brought tears to all our eyes as he shared how much it meant for him to be able to return to Covenant House and give back to those who sustained him until he was able to get his feet on the ground.” Several times a year, Local 26, the Community Services Agency, the Minority Coalition and union contractor Dynalectric – which donates the necessary materials -- partner “to help a non-profit in the District with the electrical repairs they couldn’t otherwise afford,” said CSA Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy. - photo: electrician Brian Humphrey installs a ceiling fan; photo by Violet Carter