Teamsters women helped update a San Juan playground, make repairs, and beautify a local school.

A powerful Teamsters sisterhood converged on the tropical island of Puerto Rico this week for our International Union's annual Women's Conference. 

A small but mighty contingent of Local 117 women members joined hundreds of Teamsters across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico for the event. They've been busy attending educational workshops, immersing themselves in the local culture, and soaking up the sights.

Our Local 117 group is small but mighty!

"It's been wonderful to have discussions and learn from my sisters across the country and Canada. It's been an empowering experience," said Nanci Lambert, a Local 117 member at King County.

Natalie Keister, a Teamster who works in the gaming industry at Maverick, agreed.

"It is a moment in time that has empowered me with compassion, understanding, and love," Natalie said.

Yesterday, the group participated in a community action project at a bilingual school in San Juan, where they updated playground equipment, made repairs, and beautified the surroundings.

"My favorite part was helping to revitalize Escuela Bilinguue Padro Rufo," said Michelle Maganis, another King County Teamster. "I was excited to be able to give back to the community and bring the union spirit to the younger generation." 

Shop Steward, Rachael Schultz, raved about the experience and the rich tapestry of Puerto Rican culture the group has experienced during their stay. "From the revolutionary Bomba music, to resilience and cordiality of its people, our sisterhood is stronger when we are connected to our rich and diverse culture," she said. 

Local 117 Secretary-Treasurer Paul Dascher (r) put on his gloves and got to work helping with the revitalization project.

In a few weeks, Teamsters 117 will be hosting our own Women's Conference at the Union Hall in Tukwila. The conference will feature presentations, open discussion, and group participatory workshops for members of Teamsters 117 and their friends and family. We'll have a fundraiser art auction, music, activities for kids, and much more. Act now to get registered!

Check out all the photos from the IBT conference below:

Photos from the Conference