Judaline Cassidy is a feminist plumber, Tradeswomen activist, + public speaker. She was among the first three women selected to learn plumbing at the University of Trinidad + Tobago. With over twenty years of experience, Judaline has earned prestigious recognition as a trailblazer. She is one of the first women to be accepted into Plumbers Local 371 Staten Island, NY, + the first woman elected to the Examining Board of Plumbers Local No. 1. Furthermore, she helped usher in the first Women's Committee within her Union, later becoming its first President. Judaline founded a non-profit organization, “Tools & Tiaras Inc.” to expose, inspire, + mentor young girls about trades that are “non-traditional” for women. She works to help women overcome such fears, transforming them into epitomes of vitality for tradeswomen all over the world.
Location: Brooklyn, New York
1. Beverage of choice?
Coffee – Starbuck’s Pike Place, hot, with cream no sugar
Tea- Bigelow Earl Grey or Green tea + ginger
2. What are you best known for?
For being “the singing plumber”. I love music.
3. How did we meet?
You sent me a message + asked: how can I help? As women, it’s hard to ask for help sometimes, but you broke the ice. I have to come up with mechanisms to ask for help. How do I leverage my immigrant sensibilities of being ‘self-made’ + not asking for help?
4. How did you get here?
I got here because of my determination + wanting to succeed. It drives me; even with simple things like washing the dishes, I always want to do it the best I can.
5. What are you compensated to do (job)?
Plumber + speaker.
I currently work for New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) in their Emergency Response division. Salaries can be lower in city agencies, butthere’s instant gratification with the work you do. Often, we are gutting one floor of an aging building at time to upgrade the infrastructure. Most of the time, the buildings + residents have been waiting a long time for these improvement. You get to be a hero + show up for them! There are not many procedures +policies in place for construction workers during the current pandemic. There are not usually vacation + sickday policies, No work often equates to no pay for many construction workers. I found balance between my passions with Tools + Tiaras.
6. What do you like to do?
I love teaching the girls in Tools + Tiaras + being a plumber. Plumbing, I would do for free because it’s a puzzle—a science of understanding where things go. Plumbing saves live while upholding civilization. Plumbing started with the Egyptians + goes so far beyond what we can see. It is responsible for our well-being + our cities. I enjoy doing my work understanding its overall impact.
Dr. Maya Angelou said, “when you learn, you teach. When you get, you give”
7. Can you suggest a book?
Right now I’m particularly busy, but I used to belong to lots of books clubs. I like the tactile experience of reading an actual book, but now audiobooks are more convenient.
Bridge to Brilliance by Nadia Lopez is a great book. It shows the determination + vulnerability of women.
Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss artfully covers the power of negotiation.
How To Be a Badass At Making Money by Janine Cicero is super helpful.
Malcolm Gladwell’s Talking to Strangers discusses judgement + how we can be way off from a first impression .
8. What is the best lesson you have taught someone?
What I’m learning from my speaking engagements. I give women the permission to be as bad as they want to be + show them that you don’t have to wait on anyone. What you need is already within you, so just do it! You may fail. But do it anyway, as your struggle will push you forward.
9. Where do you go to find inspiration?
Inspiration comes to me through music. If I’m feeling off, it uplifts me. I also surround myself with a tribe of inspiring women, like you.
10. Favorite city + why?
Cayman Islands is my favourite place. It has the island flavour with the American amenities. Food, beaches + the mix. Trinidad + Tobago is my island; I came here at 19.
11. What is your fondest memory?
The beaches of T+ T, particularly Maracas Beach + Las Quavas. My ritual was to wake up early + go the beach. I grew up with my cousins + with great grandmother. The beach was my happy, spiritual place, with the waves taking my troubles away. I finally learned to swim a few years ago at the Y, + it remains one of my greatest achievements. I’m still learning to submit to the water.
12. What advice would you give to future generations?
Let go of fear. When we are younger we don’t have fear, it’s a learned behaviour.
13. What would you tell your younger self?
I wish I had owned my physical beauty + worn all the two pieces!
14. Who mentored you and what did they teach you?
In plumbing, Neal Messina + Brian Totorra taught me to be a dedicated, excellent plumber through precision + humour. They made me perfect my work. For instance, I’d forget to put the T in the kitchen sink + Neal would say: “I guess the residents will eat takeout every night”
[The tap T is under every kitchen sink + connects the kitchen sink to the water supply. Without it, there’s no water line or drain for cooking nor cleaning.]
Brian would also say, “don’t be the guy who says it looks good from Philly!”
I teach that way with my apprentices. If I have an idea + someone has a better one, I’m open to hearing it. Not married to having things my way. I realize flexibility is an asset. I started in the US as a care giver + house keeper + I loved it! I have never had a job I didn’t like. I like to keep things clean + organized. If you don’t respect things, you cannot accept new things. You must give to get.
15. Message in a show or film that resonated with you. What was the film, what was the message?
I love action movies. In John Wick, as bad as he is, the love he had for his wife + dog was still paramount to him, although he’s a skilled assassin. Moonlight showed how baggage can play out in your life + affect a person reaching their full potential.
16. If you could have dinner with anyone (alive or deceased), who would be?
Vin Diesel for personal reasons. (laughs)
Really, it would be Henrietta Williams— my great grandmother. I’d love the opportunity to tell her the place I’m in now. I wish I could tell her all that I accomplished + get her valued blessing + input. She was the daughter of a slave + gave us all African names. Mine is Afia – which mean ‘the wise one’.
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