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United Way of Southwest Alabama / Uncategorized  / Local Labor Unions Unite for Skate Park

Local Labor Unions Unite for Skate Park

Good health is the foundation for being a productive citizen with a better quality of life. As such, UWSWA endorses healthy behaviors, including participating in physical activities to help increase fitness and reduce obesity. Realizing the importance of outdoor spaces for community health and championing the spirit of volunteerism advocated by United Way, UWSWA supporters and members of the local Labor Union collaborated to provide the public with a skateboard park.

On Friday, May 13, 2016, a skateboard ramp was opened at Langan Municipal Park with a ribbon cutting ceremony. In attendance were City Council President Gina Gregory, City Councilman John Williams, Sheet Metal Workers 441 members Swan Cleveland and Robert Payne, President of Sheet Metal Workers Local 441 Pat Kenny, among others, including local members of the skateboarding community

5.13.16 Ramp City Presentation (18)

In spring of 2014, the City Council and Mayor’s office announced they would not be able to fund the planned skateboard park. After meeting with Jewel Collen of Wooden Heart Skate Shop, Cleveland and Payne volunteered to build a half pipe for the skateboard park.

Local 441’s apprentices began designing and fabricating the project once they secured materials from Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding. With the help of Goram Air Conditioning Inc. and Pascagoula Sheet Metal, construction was completed in May. Members of the Painters and Allied Trades Local 779 (IUPAT) finished the project by blasting and painting the structure with paint donated by Sherwin Williams.

5 7 16 Install (16)

“It was great that our apprentices were able to work on perfecting their craft while building something for our community,” said Payne, Business Manager of Sheet Metal Workers Local441 and United Way Labor Division Chair. “I hope everyone enjoys it and has a good time skateboarding.”

On May 7, Sheet Metal Local 441 and International Union of Operating Engineers Local 653 transported and installed the half pipe in Langan Park, where the City Parks and Recreation Department has provided space for it to be used by the skateboarding community. The project was provided completely free to the City of Mobile.

“We greatly appreciate the partnership with these organizations and all the hard work of the apprentices and the union’s leadership,” said Council President Gregory. “This is a great addition to Langan Park and I know it will get a lot of use by the community.”

5.13.16 Ramp City Presentation (7)

Organized Labor and United Way have enjoyed a cooperative relationship since 1946 and our local partnership began in 1964. Throughout this time, members of the Alabama Labor Council and AFL-CIO have given generously to United Way and many have volunteered their time as well.

Each year, UWSWA recognizes members of organized labor for their dedicated support of United Way and service to the community with the Red Leachman Community Service Award and the W.O. Mozingo Award.

The Red Leachman Community Service Award was presented to Sheet Metal Workers Local 441 in 2014 and IUPAT in 2003 for their consistent spirit of service to our community.

Last year, UWSWA presented the W.O. Mozingo Community Service Award to Cleveland for his tireless dedication of time and his willingness to lead his students by example as the Apprenticeship Coordinator for Sheet Metal Workers Local 441. In 2002, this award was presented to UWSWA Board of Trustees member and IUPAT Business Manager Rick Lambert.

Through this relationship, the United Way-Labor partnership reaches out to the community to build awareness of United Way services, to provide working families with information that is important, and to promote a spirit of volunteerism that directly impacts the community.