Grievance Handling for Building Resistance workshop

What does the super shop steward look like?

She knowledgeable, she's iconic, she's strong and wears many hats.
She fights for all and has big eyes because she is always watching out for you.
She has a big mouth because she has a strong voice and will be heard and will call out injustices.
She has big ears because she hears your story.
She isn't afraid to roll up her sleeves to get the job done.
She is proud of her union and stands strong with all workers.
(I had fun doing this artwork with my amazing union sisters!)

You can never learn enough

Learning is an experience that gives us the skills to succeed and take in more knowledge than you think and know.

We thank sister Angela Ferrito, Organizer, AFSCME Council 13 in Pennsylvania, and sister Amari Verastegui, Finance and Operations Director at the Center for Innovation in Worker Organizing in New Jersey for helping us build power in union and community organizations.

Food: A highlight of my Summer School experience!

Foods! Yay!!! This is how excited I was when I got to dinner on Saturday evening at UMass Amherst at the 42nd Northeast Summer School for Women in Unions and Worker Organizations.  

As I took the bus from Port-Authority to Massachusetts I did not get to take lunch, so I was looking forward to eat. Burritos, tacos, black beans and corn salad, pinto beans, rice were on the menu. People went for second and third plate, after my second plate I was satisfied not because I was full but the food was very palatable.

Sunday morning we headed to the Franklin Dining Commons, I was amazed at the variety of foods that was there. I took a look at the screen to see some information on permaculture which is a system of cultivation intended to maintain permanent agriculture by relying on renewable resources. So, the foods used to prepare our meals are locally grown on a self-sustaining ecosystem. Even the utensils are certified compostable. That resonates with my values for a cleaner planet.

Monday and Tuesday lunch was at the Campus Center Blue Wall. Again, this cafeteria reflects the diversity that exists in the US; it was very difficult to make a choice. Yum! Bakery, Wasabi, Green Fields, Famous Famiglia are among the different choices that we have. Even if I were a student here, I would not be bored eating here; and the food is delicious, savory, and healthy.

I came to Summer School to learn about leadership in unions, now I am writing a blog about foods. That fact became the highlight of my stay, since I love foods, and I enjoy eating a good meal. Oh, by the way the desserts were flavorful and enticing!

Beautiful

This was my first time at the North East Women's Summer School - and this is my first blog ever. I was so proud to see and meet with so many sisters who are focused, active, motivated, and dedicated for an important and common cause.

Even when an "ouch" moment could have cast a shadow over all of the good that has been achieved during our time here, the positive energy that helped to mold us unto the activists that we've become, won out.

We all came together, learned, and grew from the experiences during our time together, even the "ouch" moment. After all is said and done, our solidarity is a very BEAUTIFUL AND PRECIOUS thing (no matter what)! It's almost as beautiful as we ALL are!!!

The Empowered Women

"The empowered women, she moves with a sense of confidence and grace."

- The Empowered Woman by poet Sonny Carroll

As we are still facing struggles everyday, empowering women from over 25 different unions as well as worker organizations have come together as one for the 42nd Northeast Summer School to develop our leadership as women.

Sisters Through Service

Sometimes we can find out that we are connected in the most unexpected ways.  On Sunday, two of our sisters found out that they were connected through service; one as the volunteer and one as the recipient. 

Cynthia Mills, who is a carpenter with the North East Regional Council of Carpenters, participates each year in a Program called Christmas In April. Christmas in April is a volunteer organization that rehabilitates the homes of low-income home-owners, particularly the elderly. With the rehabilitation provided, seniors can continue to live in their homes. Last year, Cynthia installed trim, painted, re-floored and redid the landscaping at senior homes.

One of the recipients of this program was Sabra Mayo's mother. Sabra’s mother worked for 35 years to be able to buy a home for herself and her family.  The home was then in need of repairs that her mother couldn’t afford. The Christmas in April Program came to her home and repaired the deck and driveway and weatherized her home. “Christmas in April was a phenomenal help for my mom,” said Sabra.

This is an excellent example that when we all do better, we all do better.

Summer School 2017 Begins

NE Women's Summer School 2017 is off to an enthusiastic start. As a first time participant, I am greatly inspired by those I have met in the past 24 hours. We are  over 120 women from all over the Northeast representing a wide variety of unions and worker's organizations in both the private and public sector.
I have to admit, the first full day was exhausting yet at the same time exhilarating. It was incredibly rewarding to share ideas, thoughts, questions and insights with not only fellow unionists, but women. I could feel an immediate connection with so many of the women that I met as we have all shared many similar experiences. I look forward to the next three days. There are challenging times ahead for the labor movement in this country and there will be tough battles to fight. Being here with so many strong union sisters gives me hope and resolve to keep going.