CWA Leaders Attend 2019 Minority Leadership Institute

Thirteen CWA leaders participated in the 2019 Minority Leadership Institute last week. The week-long residential program focused on leadership development in the labor movement, with participants learning how to use storytelling as a tool for effective organizing; developing essential skills needed in bargaining, handling grievances, and arbitration; and honing social justice and political advocacy skills. Participants also learned how they can use online communications and social media to organize.

The MLI program was established 30 years ago as CWA's internal training program designed to promote the involvement of members of color, women, LGBTQ, and other underrepresented members within CWA at every level of our union. One representative from each District and Sector attends each year. The program has been instrumental in developing phenomenal CWA leaders.

The MLI class also participated in a rally at the Philippines Embassy to free labor organizer Anne Krueger and to protest human rights abuses of union organizers in the Philippines.

CWA District 4 Vice President Linda Hinton, CWA District 6 Vice President Claude Cummings Jr., Public Sector Vice President Margaret Cook, Western Region At-Large CWA Executive Board Member Dante Harris, Telecommunications and Technologies Vice President Lisa Bolton, and CWA Assistant to the President Ameenah Salaam attended the graduation ceremony.

In the photo (below):
First row – Left to Right: Joaquin Chavez, Local 9119; Eric Chapman, Local 3808; Vernida McKoy, Local 2252; Mark Bautista, Local 9404.
Second Row – Left to Right: Marvin Wells, Local 7110; Kevonna Neely, Local 1133; Tarea Smith, Local 6143; Martin Monteblanco, Local 27019; Mariela Topete, Local 59051; Mericle Long Local 4501.
Third Row – Left to Right: Aaron Kelley, Local 32035; Tameka Rittenburg, Local 81455; Akeyia Johnson, Local 6507.