| In the beginning, all was darkness in the hallways at the Greenleaf Apartments in Southwest DC. But after a little wire work, there was light. Last Saturday’s IBEW 26 Community Service Day was the fifth such event since the partnership began between Local 26 and the DC Housing Agency. DCHA supplies the materials and Local 26 members perform the work, volunteering their time and skills. “The work our members do on a daily basis is not just a job,” said IBEW 26 member Robert Smith, “it's a career. It's about more than turning wires, it's about opportunity and improving lives.” As he helped install modern and energy efficient lights at Greenleaf, Smith cited the union’s apprenticeship process and the importance of the union to its member’s lives as reasons why he gives back at events like the Community Service Day. “It was amazing to watch the team work and I was really impressed by the efficiency of their operation,” said Metro Washington Council Executive Director Carlos Jimenez. photos by David Dzidzienyo and Carlos Jimenez | |