The IAM Union Local 2198 Young Workers Committee has collaborated with the Communities in Schools program at Elsik High School in Houston to provide over 50 backpacks filled with school supplies to students facing need.
This initiative was made possible through the backing of IAM Union Local 2198 members, officers, and IAM General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes. The project aimed to ensure that students had access to essential materials as they begin the new school year.
“I’m proud of the Young Workers Committee for stepping up and showing what it means to serve the community,” said General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes. “They are showing what it means to lead with heart. Even small efforts like this one are changing lives and building stronger futures for students.”
The donation drive was organized by Young Workers Committee members Quintarius Oliver, Cora Walker, and Eva Brooks, along with support from IAM Local 2198 President Enrique Bojorquez and Vice President Tamisha Hodges. Faculty and staff at Elsik High School were also involved in coordinating the effort.
“IAM Air Transport members’ dedication to service and community embodies the very best of what it means to be part of the IAM Union,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen. “The Young Workers Committee’s work has shown that our union is about more than representing workers – we stand behind our communities by supporting and empowering each other.”
“Together, we are helping build a stronger community—one backpack at a time,” said IAM Local 2198 Recording Secretary Jon Martin. “This initiative exemplifies the power of solidarity and collective action, and we are deeply grateful to our generous members whose contributions made this effort possible.”
Communities in Schools is a national nonprofit that operates within schools across the country, connecting students with supportive adults and resources needed for academic success.
IAM Union representatives say projects like this reflect their ongoing commitment to youth development, public education support, and investment in local communities.
