TRENTON, N.J., Feb. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
On Saturday, five African American carpenters from the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters (NRCC) will receive the “Spirit of Service” award for their service and volunteer efforts in the community. The union carpenters will accept the award from the NRCC during a ceremony held at the Trenton Masonic Temple in Trenton, New Jersey on February 24 at 11 a.m.
The event will recognize one carpenter from each state within NRCC’s jurisdiction – New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania – for their dedication to bettering the local communities they live and work in. At the conclusion of the Spirit of Service Awards event, event attendees will visit the special exhibit at the Old Barracks Museum, honoring the role of African Americans in times of war.
“I am pleased to honor these individuals with our first-ever Spirt of Service Award for their exemplary work as carpenters and human beings in honor of Black History Month,” said NRCC Executive Secretary-Treasurer John Ballantyne. “These carpenters care deeply about their communities and have showcased time and again their passion for giving back to serve the greater good.”
Among those who are being honored are:
- Cynthia Mills – a 35-year union carpenter and Washington resident who works for the NRCC’s Local 177 in Maryland. Cynthia has been a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA) since 1983.
- Niki Sims – an 18-year union carpenter who lives and works in New Jersey for the of NRCC’s Local 253. Niki has been a member of the UBCJA since 2000.
- Curtis Michael Banks – a 5-year union carpenter and Maryland resident who works for NRCC’s Local 173 in Delaware. Curtis has been a member of the UBCJA since 2013.
- Rodney Crowder – a 29-year union carpenter and Philadelphia-resident; Rodney works as a carpenter for the NRCC’s Local 164 in Philadelphia, PA. Rodney has been a member of the UBCJA since 1989.
- Benton Davis – a 33-year union carpenter and New York resident who works for NRCC’s Local 279. Benton has been a member of the UBCJA since 1985.
“I’m a Union Carpenter,” said Cynthia Mills, one of the carpenter honorees from Local 177 in Baltimore. “I received my skillset through years of experience and mentorship and that would not have been possible without the union. You have to do what you can to help those less fortunate.”
“I’m blessed to be a ‘blesser,’” said Rodney Crowder, another honoree from Local 164 in Pennsylvania who is being recognized for his volunteer efforts in the Philadelphia area.
About the NRCC
The Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters (NRCC) represents nearly 40,000 hardworking men and women in Delaware and New Jersey and portions of Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania. NRCC is one of the largest trade unions on the East Coast. The NRCC equips professional men and women carpenters with the skills, training and quality workmanship that are demanded in today's construction industry. For more information on NRCC, please visit our website: northeastcarpenters.org & like us on social Facebook: facebook.com/NortheastRegionalCouncilofCarpenters; Twitter: @nrccarpenters; Instagram: @northeastcarpenters; LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/northeastcarpenters; and Snapchat: @nrccarpenters
Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters
Contact: Tony Bianchini
Phone: 609-402-1730