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 was used to provide the following items to outstanding recruits who successfully completed 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 was used to support organizational capacity building and the development of curriculum for pilot programming with the core audience to ensure its relevance and relatability.

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 was used to expand partnerships with community-based organizations to help reach individuals in their own neighborhoods and networks. It also provided supportive services for black women, such as assistance with transportation, tools, and rent to reduce barriers and improve retention for those who might otherwise need to leave the apprenticeship program due to logistical or economic challenges.

Testimonials from apprentices supported by the Banks Empowerment Fund are located here on our CBF website.