Electrical Workers Minority Caucus, Chapter 11 in Los Angeles, CA (EWMC LA), is an affinity group comprised of more than 40 active IBEW members with a commitment to recruiting and mentoring community members who express interest in joining the electrical trade. Grant funding will be used to provide the following items to outstanding recruits who successfully complete the application and boot camp process within Local 11: tools, field work clothes (part of the PPE requirement) and laptops to complete required online coursework — all to support apprenticeship retention of black women.

Kora Collective is a mental-health-focused nonprofit based in Seattle, WA. Their work focuses on culturally responsive, trauma-informed socioemotional learning curriculum intentionally developed by and for people with lived experience in the trades and in marginalized communities. The organization works closely with its local Electrical Workers Minority Caucus (EWMC) chapter and other community partners to deliver a socioemotional learning model for high-school aged youth interested in the trades. Funding will support capacity building and pilot programming of curriculum to ensure content remains relevant, impactful, and scalable.

NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center (NIETC) in Columbia, OR uses targeted recruitment, foundational training, and sustained support to remove barriers and create meaningful opportunities—especially for black women and others historically excluded from electrical trades. Funding will be used to expand partnerships with community-based organizations to help reach individuals in their own neighborhoods and networks. It will also provide in-house supportive services for black women, such as assistance with transportation, tools, and childcare to reduce barriers and improve retention for those who might otherwise need to leave the apprenticeship program due to logistical or economic challenges.

Tradeswomen Sisterhood is a nonprofit in the Inland Empire region of Southern California focused on guiding new entrants into the electrical trade as well as uplifting those already working in the field by providing access to continuing education, leadership development, and networking opportunities. Funding will be used to recruit black women into the second cohort of the Women’s Initiative for Readiness in Electrical (W.I.R.E.) apprenticeship readiness program through targeted recruitment efforts including community events and marketing initiatives. The grant will also fund mentorship program development and operational support.