By Sheri Davis-Faulkner, PhD
Co-director, WILL Empower
WILL Empower is at the cutting edge of national efforts to identify, nurture, train, and foster lasting relationships among a new generation of women labor leaders. At the Center for Innovation in Worker Organization (CIWO) we often say that women with a crew are more likely to be bold and courageous. Working to build such a crew from a new generation of women leaders in the labor and economic justice movements is the mission of the WILL Empower program, a joint project of CIWO and the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University.
June 25th marked the first convening of the inaugural WILL Empower Executive Leadership Cohort. Fifteen women leaders gathered at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ for the first of three retreats. They represent large public and private sector unions, immigrant and Black worker centers, and community-based organizations where worker well-being is central to the mission. This predominantly women of color cohort is setting the foundation for a powerful network of diverse women reaching across sectors and different forms of worker justice organizations to broaden and deepen our vision for the future of our movements.
View the bios of our Will Empower Executive Cohort Members
WILL Empower Executive Cohort Members:
-
April Sims, Secretary Treasurer of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO; Seattle, Washington
-
Maritza Silva-Farrell, Executive Director of ALIGN NY; New York City
-
Merrie Najimy, President of the Massachusetts Teachers Association; Quincy, MA
-
Stacy Davis Gates, Vice President of the Chicago Teachers Union; Chicago, IL
-
Ursula Price, Executive Director of the New Orleans Workers Center for Racial Justice; New Orleans, LA
-
Angelina Cruz, President of Racine Educators; Racine, WI
-
Andrea Acevedo, President of SEIU Healthcare MI; Norton Shores, MI
-
Flor Rodriguez, Executive Director of CLEAN Carwash; Los Angeles, CA
-
Rhonda Rogers, Director of Women's, Human Rights, Young Workers, & Community Service Departments at the Machinists Union; Hollywood, MA
-
Janel Bailey, Co-Executive Director of Organizing & Programs at the Los Angeles Black Workers Center based; Los Angeles, CA
-
Reyna Lopez, Executive Director of PCUN (Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste); Woodburn, OR
-
Anna Harvey, Coordinator of UNI Global Union's Finance; Nyon, Switzerland
-
Natashia Pickens, President of CWA (Communication Workers of America) & Missouri State Workers Union Local 6355; Louis, MO
-
Darlene Lombos, Executive Director/Vice President of Community Labor United/Greater Boston Labor Council; Boston, MA
-
Angela Lang, Executive Director of BLOC (Black Leaders Organizing Communities); Milwaukee, Wisconsin
-
Hilary Glasglow, Executive Director of Colorado WINS; Pueblo, CO
This retreat provided a unique opportunity for participants to share their perspectives and expertise with each other and to rejuvenate themselves. In addition to focusing on their individual leadership needs, we explored common and distinct challenges they have with shifting and advancing their organizations as new leaders. Together we surfaced, examined, and began thinking of ways to disrupt habits of white supremacy culture and patriarchal styles of leadership that too often are the default leadership style or simply considered markers of “professionalism.”
