The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1547 supports its members and their families and also helps to make our community a better place to live. As the director of the Anchorage School Business Partnership program and as the events and sponsorship director for the Anchorage Downtown Partnership, I was able to witness this firsthand.
IBEW has and continues to grant full scholarships to their electrical school, including an apprenticeship to one or two deserving Anchorage School District graduating seniors each year. They offer tours at their school to encourage students to consider a good paying career in the electrical field. They support multiple student leadership programs, teen empowerment conferences, youth programs, attendance initiatives and events to involve parents in the schools. They are official partners with many schools providing supplies, volunteers and mentorship. These are just a few examples of their support for education and our schools.
IBEW has a commitment to our community. They were the organization that stepped up to sponsor and help create the first New Year’s Eve Celebration “Fire and Ice” in Town Square; they sponsored Live after Five Concerts and this year’s Fur Rondy Family Ice Skate on Westchester Lagoon. To say they have had an impact on our community is an understatement. I am grateful to this union that has invested in our city to make it a place people want to live, work and play.
— Cheri Spink
Anchorage
Have something on your mind? Send to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Letters under 200 words have the best chance of being published. Writers should disclose any personal or professional connections with the subjects of their letters. Letters are edited for accuracy, clarity and length.