At Rock Island Academy on August 8, 2025, there was more to celebrate than excitement for the weekend. Local labor union workers came together to donate their resources, skills, and labor by building and installing three brand new benches on the playground of Rock Island Academy. It’s something that seems so simple but means so much to the community and school.
Rock Island Academy is a K–6 school serving more than 400 students, but it’s more than just a place for academics. As a partner school in United Way’s United for Schools and Read United programs, Rock Island Academy works closely with United Way to help improve students’ attendance, academic performance, and social-emotional development, all crucial tenets to helping students excel. These partnerships provide resources to help students overcome barriers to learning and support United Way’s goal of increasing third-grade reading proficiency.
But what do three new benches have to do with United Way’s reading programs? While many may just see a new place to sit, Rock Island Academy principal Dr. Thomas Ryan sees these benches as a symbol of community mobilization, accessibility, and investment in its students.
“All the schools are working very hard to get community involvement and work hand in hand with the community. It takes a village, but you have to get the village involved. Things like this [benches] promote the community. It adds another layer of flexibility to the school, its supporters, and the community.”
Rock Island Academy’s reading programs, buddy systems, and outdoor learning sessions encourage students to take their books beyond the classroom walls. Reading and learning outside offers a change of scenery, sparks creativity, and offers a new outlet for students to build relationships. But without benches on the playground, students and teachers often found themselves sitting on the ground, making reading sessions less comfortable, or potentially cutting them short. The lack of seating also made for a less accessible environment and limited the flexibility of where and how learning takes place. The new benches will create a more inviting space for students to read, collaborate, and build connections.
Dr. Ryan noted that the benches benefit more than just students and staff. After school hours, you’ll find families, neighbors and even high school students at the playground who come to study or relax. Until now, the only seating option was the ground.
That’s where our community stepped in. Facilitated by United Way and the Quad City Federation of Labor, members of Iron Workers 111, Laborers Local 309, United Steelworkers Local 105, and Pleasant Valley Redi-Mix united forces to make the installation happen. Their collaboration was a reflection of unity.
As Mike Olvera, Business Manager and Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Ironworkers Local 111 put it, “We come from all different areas: North, South, East, and West. We all have different backgrounds, but we come together for one common goal: to get the job done. And this project shows exactly that—working together with each and every trade, for a common goal.” That spirit was evident throughout the project, as trades worked side by side to create something lasting for the community.
Pat Stock, President of United Steelworkers Local 105 said, “Somebody brings us a need, we’re more than happy to give back to the community, that’s what we do. I’m glad we did it, and I’d really like to see more participation. And now kids and parents have somewhere to sit.”
This gift aligns with United Way’s 10-year goal to boost third-grade reading proficiency—a milestone for future academic success. Creating welcoming and accessible spaces for reading and relationship-building fosters a love of learning while strengthening community ties.
For Jeff Deppe, Secretary-Treasurer and field organizer of Laborers’ Local Union no. 309, the impact goes far beyond the playground. “It’s an honor for laborers to give back to the community and the kids because the kids are our future,” Deppe said.
His words reflect the heart of this project: an act of service and generosity – donating time, skill, and resources that carry lasting meaning. These benches are more than just places to sit; they tell a story of what happens when a community comes together to support its children, schools, and future.
With plaques adorning each new bench, every person who sits will be reminded of the generosity of the labor unions and organizations that made them possible.
