On Monday, March 4th, 2024, Jackson County Legislator Manny Abarca IV introduced a resolution recognizing Heartland Women in Trades and the contributions of all tradeswomen in the Kansas City metropolitan area during National Women in Construction Week, March 4 – 10, 2024.
National Women in Construction Week, underscores the importance of gender diversity in the workplace, ensuring that women have equal opportunities in non-traditional careers and encourages more women to join the trades. The resolution, which specifically recognizes that apprenticeship is a critical pathway for women and women of color to participate fully and equally in our community’s economic growth and that Heartland Women in Trades provides a critical pipeline that can aid in addressing some of our local and national workforce challenges, was adopted unanimously by the Jackson County legislature.
The resolution specifically mentions the following HWIT members: Pam Nolte-Treasurer – Plumbers #8; Emily Snyder- President – IBEW #124; Kelly McClellen-Secretary-IUOE #101; Paula Winkler-Sergeant at Arm – Laborers #264; Tina Read -Vice President – OPCMIA #518; Alise Martiny – OPCMIA #518; Bethann Evans – IUOE #101; Cindy Frank – Carpenters# 945; Crystal Spratley – UA; Dianna King – IBEW #124; Monica Confer – IUOE #101; Paige Underhill – OPCMIA #518; Tina Richard – IBEW #124; Tina Shonk-Little – IUOE #101; Whitney Chandler – OPCMIA #518; and Sarah Butynski – Carpenter.
Tristin Amezcua-Hogan is the Editor of The Labor Beacon and a member of LIUNA Local 264. Tristin also serves as the Director of Communications for the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO and the Chair of the Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance.
Tristin grew up as the son of a UA Local 669 member in Tecumseh, KS and the great-nephew of George C. Amis, longtime leader of the United Rubberworkers (now USW Local 307) in Kansas. Growing up in rural Kansas as the child of teen parents, Tristin quickly came to appreciate the life-changing benefit of a union job.
Tristin and his partner, Rebeca Amezcua-Hogan, are residents of the Westside, Kansas City, MO's historic Mexican neighborhood. They are proud members of Kansas City's New Reform Temple.
