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Season 5, Episode 257

Best of 2024: Robert Ford Jr., a Steelworker helping his community

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Guest Name:


Robert Ford Jr.

Guest Website:


USW 

Forever R Children 

Guest Social Media:


USW

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Twitter

YouTube

Forever R Children

Twitter

YouTube

LinkedIn

Supportive Documents:


Next in our Best of 2024 series, we rewind to our June 28 interview with Robert Ford Jr., a member of United Steelworkers Local 2L, who joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to share his journey from personal hardship to community leadership, and how his nonprofit organization is helping the Akron, Ohio community.

Ford's early life was marked by significant challenges. Despite excelling in sports and earning a Division 1 football scholarship, a severe medical condition and family responsibilities led him to homelessness. However, Ford said his determination and the support of the Steelworkers eventually helped him rebuild his life. 

During a local high school football game in 2018, Ford noticed children without adequate clothing and footwear. This prompted him to take action and found the nonprofit Forever R Children. With the support of his union, he has been able to provide essentials like coats, shoes and food to those in need.

Ford's commitment to addressing community needs led the organization to create a mobile fleet of vehicles to provide services to the area’s homeless population. These services include showers, mental health checkups, dental cleanings and career services. By partnering with his USW Local Union and community organizations, Ford has ensured that those in need receive comprehensive support.

Ford's journey from personal adversity to community advocacy is inspirational. It showcases the potential for individuals to make a significant impact with the backing of a strong union. Hear more from Ford by listening to the show above.


America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.

America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers.

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