IBEW 11 Keeps Reaching Back to Offer Next Generation a New Path Forward

Hollenbeck Youth Center Awards IBEW 11’s Robert Corona, Mario Barragan With Prestigious Director’s Award 

By Jeremy Kehoe

IBEW 11’s roots with the legendary Hollenbeck Youth Center (HYC) run deep for Business Manager Robert Corona and deeper still for Mario Barragan, who grew up just blocks from the Boyle Heights institution and whose programs and mentors he credits for helping put him on a purpose-driven path….

So, it’s little surprise that when Corona and Barragan learned that the HYC – which has dedicated the last 50 years to empowering inner-city children with the resources to become positively contributing community members – was honoring them with their prestigious Director’s Award, their individual responses were identical: “humbled” and “honored.”

The Hollenbeck Youth Center’s Director’s Award recognizes and honors individuals who have made significant contributions to empowering the youth of East Los Angeles.

“Throughout the years, IBEW has not only been a major contributor and supporter of the Center, but they have actively encouraged their membership to come here to volunteer which allows us to use our valuable dollars to keep kids off the street,” said Hollenbeck Youth Center President & CEO Daniel “Danny” Hernandez. ”The Director’s Award is about recognizing individuals and institutions who have helped us throughout the year, and without a doubt IBEW 11 is numero uno in our book.”

For Corona and Barragan, their decision to give back to the HYC is simply about opening doors for kids and empowering them to step through – a commitment they have shared since they began their IBEW 11 apprenticeships together 25 years ago.

“This award is really a recognition of the commitment made by every IBEW 11 member who gives their time and volunteers to work with the Youth Center to educate kids on how they can put themselves on a path to a union career in the trades as a means to a middle-class job and even better,” said Corona. “I accept this recognition on their behalf, because the greatest purpose is serving others before you serve yourself. That’s a big part of
what being an IBEW 11 member
is about.”

For Barragan, this most-recent Director’s Award (he was first honored with the Award in 2016) further cemented his nearly five-decade bond with the Center, which began when he was named HYC’s first-ever “Kid of the Year” as a 15-year-old.

“The Center taught me at a very young age the importance of volunteering and giving back and helping whenever possible, which I’ve carried through into my career at IBEW 11,” Barragan said. “Our membership comes from every community in and around Los Angeles, and I think a lot of them had similar experiences I did – where they had an organization help get them to the place where they are now. The fact that IBEW 11 recognizes that and is going into communities to help organizations like Hollenbeck who are committed to doing good is amazing. I wish every labor organization is doing what IBEW 11 is doing.” 

IBEW 11’s partnership with HYC to reach out and give back spans decades – from organizing toy drives and turkey giveaways to hosting barbecues and sponsoring HYC’s first-ever golf tournament (which included a $50,000 donation to the Center).

But more impactful than any single event or fundraiser has been IBEW 11’s continued commitment to work side by side with HYC to educate teenagers in traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities on how to pursue a union career in the trades.

“I love the feeling of just helping and knowing that I can make a little bit of difference,” Barragan said. “What this Director’s Award says to me is, ‘Hey, you’re doing a good job, but you need to continue.’  The work is appreciated, but it’s definitely needed, especially at the Hollenbeck Youth Center. I’ve been fortunate to be part of all of it, and hopefully it continues for the next 50 years and beyond.”

Corona agreed that for many teenagers the idea of pursuing a trade career is a thought few even entertain because it’s rarely presented as an option, but IBEW and HYC are committed to closing that information gap.

“For me, the most important part of our partnership with the Youth Center has been our ability to create change and help members in the community in some way, because many of these kids don’t know anything about IBEW or how to get a career in the trades,” Corona said. “I call IBEW the best-kept secret, so it’s important to provide them with information so when someone asks, ‘What’s IBEW?’ we can be there to give them relevant and purposeful information.”

Hernadez says Corona and Barragan have created a culture within IBEW 11 focused on reaching back and pulling the next generation forward that goes hand-in-hand with the bedrock union values of building with purpose.

“Robert and Mario are the superheroes of what our nation needs now – those who roll up their sleeves, identify the need, and make something good happen,” Hernandez said. “Even though they’re working full time running their own organizations, they still have found the time and energy to do this, and that’s why we thought it was extremely important for us to highlight them. They believe in their hearts that people can help people, and nothing happens unless everyone wants to
work together.”