In the process of running for the Missouri House of Representatives I have had the great privilege to learn a lot more about the Unions in our nation and the state of Missouri. Tonight, I attended a rally where I met Lucas Kunce for a second time. I got to shake the hand of the man who’s going to help Missouri show Josh Hawley the door, in the same Union Hall where my grandfather gathered with his union brothers decades ago. It felt right, being there, and talking about collective strength, shared interests, and common values. Unions helped build the architecture and infrastructure of this nation and state while working to further social, political, and economic justice. I am honored to joining my own efforts to these historic accomplishments.
Connecting with members of the IBEW local 124 has been a very personally meaningful experience for me. My grandfather grew up during the great depression, his father left his family when he was a child, and the experience of poverty and insecurity was difficult for him and his sisters. After serving in World War II, grandpa returned to the states to make a life for himself. When he joined IBEW 124 he received training and a career that he used to build his life and give his family, my grandmother, mother and aunt, a life far beyond the poverty of his own childhood.
Grandpa was a hard-working man who, rather than sell a home that didn't meet my grandmother's desired ranch-style home, rebuilt the home they lived in, room-by-room. He rewired an entire house himself, bit-by-bit installing modern fixtures and oh so many outlets. My grandfather was a member of the IBEW Local 124 for decades, even serving as a rep. Grandpa’s good Union job left him with a comfortable pension that allowed my grandparents to retire in comfort. A combination of a good Union job and frugality allowed my grandfather to leave a generous inheritance that I used to pay off my student loans and escape decades of compounding interest.
