A Few Words with Dravon Henson of RENEW

By Oren Peleg

In 2020, two years into his IBEW apprenticeship, Dravon Henson joined a Zoom meeting for RENEW (Reach out and Engage Next-gen Electrical Workers). “No one recruited me,” he explained, but “I heard about it, thought it was interesting, so I started going to the meetings.”

Four years later, Henson not only turned out from the apprenticeship program — he’s currently a journeyman working on Metro’s LAX connector project — but he also sits on RENEW’s executive committee for IBEW Local 11.

We sat down with Henson to learn what volunteering with RENEW means to him, how the union has changed his life and more.

How did you originally get involved with RENEW?

I started going to all the affinity groups at the same time — in 2019. That’s when I think I did my first EWMC meeting. I heard about RENEW, from EWMC. I ended up going to RENEW more because it was online, so it was way easier for me. I was working a lot of Saturday overtime back then.

And how did you become a member of RENEW’s Executive Committee?

Every time there was a volunteer opportunity, whether it was a food drive or anything, I would just do it. I was getting involved in any way I could. So, they asked me to be on the executive committee one day. I said ok. I’m down. I asked what do you do? They said pretty much what you’re already been doing: volunteer, show up to the meetings, be a part of it.

It seems like volunteering and being a part of the community is very much a part of who you are.

Yeah, time is our most valuable asset. So, one day I decided I was going to give back any way I could. Giving my time to something, volunteering for a good cause, that’s what I choose to do.

What is about RENEW that makes it special for you?

They accepted me for who I am. We’re all diverse: from our early 20s to mid-30s. And we’re all cool. Also, we are responsible for doing everything. It’s not like we have to go to staff or somebody and be like, hey, can you help us figure this out? We figure it out and we get it done.

So, any young members reading this, what is your pitch to them to join RENEW?

RENEW puts you around young workers who are trained leaders. We definitely give people the opportunity to be around other IBEW members — when I first joined, I didn’t know anyone. I was a loner. And now I know everybody. So, you get a sense of belonging, you expand your circles, and it’s just cool people who have your best interests in mind and push you forward.

Can you tell me a little about that leadership development?

Right now, we’re working on getting effective communication workshops together. That’s one of the top things—active listening and communication—that really is important in our field. We also press the idea of expressing yourself in ways that are maybe not disagreeable. When you speak to people, try not to do it in a way, in a manner or tone, where you sound like you’re attacking, or condescending.

I understand that you went to RENEW’s 9th District Congress in Hawaii recently?

It was a lot about the work that is coming up for us in IBEW. The people we should support in the election. All the policies we should support. As far as work, we talked about renewable energy, battery storage, and even having a separate apprenticeship for battery storage. And then we talked about their goal of getting one million members.

It sounds like IBEW and RENEW change lives.

Yeah, absolutely. I can’t pretend like they haven’t changed mine. I make six-figures, and I came from sleeping in my car to now I’m living in my own spot and can take care of my own. I can afford my lifestyle now. So, yeah, it’s definitely been life-changing.

The union is there to lift each other up. People have to know that. People have to realize that the union works for us. We don’t work for them.