Volunteer

Tomorrow we will be celebrating our annual VAC Banquet at Ruby Hill Winery from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This is always an incredible event featuring great food, great prizes, and a chance to spend quality time with friends, family, and fellow union members.

The Volunteer Activist Committee (VAC) is a program of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) through IUPAT District Council 16, designed to engage union members and their families in community service and political advocacy.

Members qualify for the VAC Banquet by participating in three VAC events within a calendar year, and all events are family-friendly. It’s a great opportunity to give back to our communities by donating our time, services, and skills to help revitalize the neighborhoods where we live, work, and where our children play and go to school.

We encourage everyone to get involved and be part of this impactful program. Be sure to check the calendar on our website for all upcoming VAC events and start planning for next year. We hope to see you there and look forward to celebrating with even more members next year! 🎉🤝

The 9th Annual Black Joy Parade took place on February 22, 2026, in Oakland, celebrating this year’s theme, “Black Is the Blueprint,” which honored the creativity, culture, and resilience of the Black community. IUPAT District Council 16 was present in full force, proudly representing the finishing trades and skilled labor alongside an estimated 120,000 spectators who came out to celebrate.

In partnership with Cypress Mandela Training Center and the National Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (NCC-CBTU), we demonstrated how these powerful organizations work together to create real opportunities within our community. Through world-class pre-apprenticeship training at Cypress Mandela, strong advocacy and support from the CBTU, and the advanced skills training provided by District Council 16, we are proving that when we build together, we rise together.

We’re already looking forward to next year—coming back bigger, better, and bolder! ✊🏾

Join IUPAT District Council 16 East Bay at the Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Parade for this year’s annual VAC event on March 14, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

We will be meeting near PetSmart in the Target Shopping Center at 7200 Amador Plaza Rd, Dublin. Come out and show your support while celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with your DC16 brothers and sisters. Feel free to bring your friends, family, and anyone who wants to enjoy a great time with the union family.

We hope to see you there! 🍀🎉