Recognizing and congratulating Erin O' Brien-Hofmann for receiving a 2021 Tradeswomen Heroes Award from the National Association of Building Trades Unions.

WHEREAS, Erin O’ Brien-Hofmann is a leader, journeyperson, and mentor within the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) DC21; and

WHEREAS, Erin began her career as an apprentice in 2007. Her strong work ethic was recognized when she was named President of her apprenticeship class and Apprentice of the Year in 2011; and

WHEREAS, Earning her Associates Degree with high honors from Mount West Community College in 2012, Erin’s career continued with Schnoll Painting for 9 years, rising through the ranks and becoming a Foreman on the job site, demonstrating how women excel in the trades; and

WHEREAS, Erin is a union advocate and a strong union activist within Local 2011 as a Delegate of DC21, President of the DC21 Young Lions, and Delegate to the AFL-CIO’s Young People’s Group. Her advocacy and involvement within DC21 led to the honor of being the Political Action Campaign Director for DC21’s efforts on the Obama Campaign in 2012; and

WHEREAS, Erin’s activism also extends to the International Union as a member of the IUPAT Women’s Committee and Helping Hand Committee; and

WHEREAS, In 2016, Erin’s passion for helping women in the trades was noticed. She directed her attention toward future tradeswomen, taking the post of Education Specialist for G.I.F.T. (Girls In the Finishing Trades), a new initiative at the Finishing Trades Institute of the Mid-Atlantic Region (FTI-MAR); and

WHEREAS, Erin is also a mentor and instructor, both for apprentices in the FTI-MAR program, and in her new role as the Program Coordinator and Lead Instructor with the Women in Nontraditional Careers (WINC) Tradeswomen Readiness Program; and

WHEREAS, Erin devotes her free time to giving back and supporting women following in her footsteps. She volunteers at the Mentoring Young Women in Construction (MyWIC) camp, a summer trades awareness program for middle and high school girls, sponsored by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Philadelphia Chapter. She also serves as a member of NAWIC’s Philadelphia Chapter Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS,

Erin has proven herself an invaluable union advocate, women’s advocate, and leader in Philadelphia

; and

WHEREAS, In her personal life, Erin is the proud mother of four sons: Billy, Leo, Mickey, and Rudy; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby recognize and congratulate Erin O’ Brien-Hofmann for receiving a 2021 Tradeswomen Heroes Award from the National Association of Building Trades Unions.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Erin O’ Brien-Hofmann, further evidencing the sincere respect of this legislative body.

End