After years as a Member Political Organizer with UFCW 1059 in Ohio, I joined the staff of the Ohio AFL-CIO in 2014 where I was responsible for supporting the programs of 2 central labor councils covering 8 counties. I learned the importance of mobilizing union workers and household members in support of various campaigns, but especially political campaigns as Ohio is always a swing state. I was responsible for staging and staffing the National AFL-CIO’s 2016 Labor Neighbor kick off, when President Richard Trumka announced our 2016 Presidential endorsement.

I came to Washington State to continue my work of building collective power for working people, serving as the WSLC’s Field Mobilization Director. In that role, I oversaw the mobilization, development, and execution of the WSLC’s 2018 Labor Neighbor grassroots political efforts and coordinated the WSLC affiliates’ response to the Janus Supreme Court decision attacking unions. Since then, I have helped to advance the WSLC’s Race and Labor work and led the WSLC’s Union Summer internship program. Union Summer helps educate and train the next generation of union activists and leaders. I continue to work relentlessly to recruit and train union members to run for public office through the Path to Power Candidate Training Program.

In August 2019, I was named Political and Strategic Campaigns Director, filling the position vacated when April Sims was elected. Since taking this position, I have been able to successfully assist the council in the development and implementation of its strategic plan. Running the WSLC’s Labor Neighbor grassroots political action program, promoting member education campaigns on election issues, and helping to recruit and elect pro-worker candidates at the direction of the WSLC officers and its affiliated unions via the Committee on Political Education (COPE).

I was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. In high school I had the opportunity to attend trade school, and completed a certification program to become a Pharmacy Technician. Shortly after the training program began, I signed my first union card at 16 years old, joining UFCW 1059. It was during my undergraduate years at the Ohio State University, while still working as a Pharmacy Technician, that I saw first hand the need for advocacy in the labor space, and subsequently became a Member Political Organizer of UFCW 1059. As an MPO I actively helped to organize our union to get co-workers involved through popular education and recruitment to our PAC during store visits. Additionally, I worked with our unions bargaining teams as a Spanish language translator for contract votes. I worked on several political campaigns during my time as an MPO, but the most memorable was in 2011, when I was able to be a part of a statewide team that overturned SB 5, Gov. John Kasiach’s “Right-to-Work is Wrong” bill. This experience lamented my desire to dedicate my life’s work to the betterment of workers everywhere.

After graduation, I went on to mobilize thousands of activists across the state to take action and win gains for working people as a Field Representative of the Ohio AFL-CIO. In that role I came to understand the importance of the relationships between our Central Labor Councils, State Federations and National AFL-CIO. My work in the Ohio AFL-CIO highlighted my commitment to fighting all forms of oppression, and advancing the freedoms of all working people, and I firmly believe that it takes collective effort to continue to progress the lives of working people in an equitable manner.

I am ready to listen to the issues impacting workers in our state, learn the ways the WSLC can work with you to build power for the working class, and help lead our movement into the future.

Accomplishments:

• As Political and Strategic Campaigns director, increased organizing ability and voter turnout even amid a pandemic by running the first statewide digital union member political education program
• Built a bench, with the support of affiliates, of union members and allies ready to run for office through the Path to Power candidate training and empowerment program, increasing the participation of diverse voices
• Supervises 2 organizers in the Strategic Campaigns Department working to move program to strengthen the CLC network and grow our naturalization and citizenship program
• Built leadership and capacity in the CLC network through Department Organizer
• Supervised the naturalization program, overseeing organizing, and fundraising efforts
• Convenes the Washington Works Together table to fight back on anti-public sector union worker attacks through membership education training opportunities and supporting mass coordinated actions
• Worked diligently to increase affiliate Engagement and investments into WSLC programs, including the political, legislative, and strategic campaigns
• Managed a successful first-time virtual COPE endorsement process with over 300 delegates
• Implemented a process for identifying staff roles and responsibilities at virtual two Conventions
• Works directly with stakeholders to develop and implement the WSLC strategic plan
• As Field Director, grew the Labor Neighbor Program and increased affiliate engagement
• Led the statewide coordinated response to the Janus decision
• Expanded the Union Summer internship program to introduce young people to to the power of organized labor, with many going on to start their first jobs in the labor movement
• Served as Chair of the OPEIU local 8 PAC for 3 years, responsible for candidate endorsements, fundraising, and political education opportunities for members
• Staffs the WSLC Women’s committee
• Helped rewrite nationally-recognized Race and Labor 8-hr training and expand capacity to train rank and file members
• Serves as President of the Puget Sound CBTU
• Campaign manager for Coalition for Change
• Works with national AFL-CIO to advance national programmatic goals
• Established and continues to convene west-coast Political directors for strategy planning sessions
• National recipient of the “Behind the Scenes” award, given by the Women Innovating Labor Leadership Initiative

• Serves on the following boards:
  • Blue Collar Fund
  • CBTU Under 40
  • Washington CAN
  • Win|Win