Pasadena Masonic Lodge #1155 presents Marcos Isaias Velez with the Community Builder Award.

On September 28, 2016 Pasadena Masonic Lodge #1155 had the honor of presenting Marcos Isaias Velez with the Grand Lodge of Texas Community Builder Award.

The Community Builder Award was established by the Grand Lodge of Texas to give local Masonic Lodges an opportunity to formally recognize outstanding non-Masons who have distinguished themselves through service to their community, government, places of worship, or humanity. It recognizes the kind of service that is often performed quietly, consistently, and without any expectation of recognition.

Marcos has built an extensive record of exactly that kind of service.

A longtime labor leader, Marcos has spent years advocating for working families, including efforts involving fair wages, safer workplaces, healthcare, retirement security, job training and apprenticeship opportunities.

His commitment to others has extended well beyond his professional work. He has mentored young people, coached youth sports, supported anti-bullying efforts in local schools, assisted families facing difficult economic and personal circumstances, and helped connect people with training and employment opportunities.

His work following natural disasters has been particularly notable. Marcos has helped organize and deliver relief to communities affected by hurricanes and other disasters, including Hurricane Harvey and relief efforts reaching Puerto Rico and other affected communities. During Harvey, while his own home was taking on water, Marcos was helping deliver drinking water, diapers, food and other necessities to people in need. United Steelworkers later credited him with helping ensure thousands of dollars in relief supplies reached affected families.

Marcos also helped develop an initiative creating job-training and employment opportunities for survivors of domestic violence. Through collective bargaining, language was established that provided participating survivors with a pathway toward employment in USW-represented workplaces and greater economic independence.

For these and other efforts, Marcos was selected as the United Steelworkers’ 2018 Staff Jefferson Award recipient, recognizing more than 200 hours of volunteer service and his impact on the communities he served.

Those accomplishments only tell part of the story shared during Monday night’s presentation. Those who know Marcos personally spoke about a man who answers when someone needs help—and whose answer has consistently been yes.

That is what being a Community Builder looks like.

Pasadena Masonic Lodge #1155 congratulates Marcos Isaias Velez and thanks him for his years of service to Pasadena, working families, and communities throughout Texas and beyond.

Congratulations, Marcos. Well deserved.