WWW To Become Standalone 501(c)(3)
After spending a year as a nonprofit organization affiliated with Inland Rivers, Ports & Terminals Inc. (IRPT), We Work the Waterways (WWW) will begin operating independently as a standalone 501(c)(3) starting on June 1.
The two organizations announced the move in a joint press release April 16.
IRPT is a national trade association representing inland ports, terminals and waterway professionals. We Work the Waterways focuses on helping companies within the maritime industry develop meaningful connections in their communities, particularly with students and educators. The organization raises awareness of opportunities within the maritime industry among educators, parents, civic leaders and school administrators. WWW aims to build awareness early and often and to make maritime industry careers accessible to the next generation.
“IRPT gave us a clear path forward,” said Errin Howard, executive director of We Work the Waterways. “Their leadership and generosity allowed us to grow faster, reach farther and build something that is truly sustainable. While we are excited for what lies ahead, we are deeply grateful of how we got here. We especially thank the incredible staff and board of IRPT for their trust, encouragement and commitment to innovation throughout this process.”
Aimee Andres, executive director of IRPT, and Robert Maxwell, president of the IRPT board of directors, said they take pride in how IRPT helped grow We Work the Waterways, through staffing support, organizational infrastructure and a network of industry contacts, from a promising initiative to a self-sustaining organization.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment,” Andres and Maxwell said in a statement. “We believed in the mission from day one—to build awareness of the maritime shipping and logistics industries and to connect young people with real career opportunities. We are incredibly proud of what has been built.”
Howard will continue as executive director of We Work the Waterways, as will Pam Maxwell as assistant program director and Nikki Fondren, marketing and project coordinator.
“Our goal is to become the nation’s leading voice for maritime education and career awareness,” Howard said. “We want educators, schools, communities and industry leaders to look to We Work the Waterways as the go-to resource for building strong maritime workforce pathways.”
According to the announcement from the two organizations, IRPT and WWW will continue to collaborate when their missions intersect, like at industry gatherings, educational events and workforce development initiatives. IRPT will continue focusing on policy, advocacy and infrastructure development, while We Work the Waterways will focus on the next generation of maritime leaders through classroom visits, field experiences and immersive learning opportunities.
We Work the Waterways’ next industry interaction day is set for April 22 in Pittsburgh. IRPT’s annual conference will be in Milwaukee, Wis., from September 30 to October 2.
