Benita R. Boston Anderson, IAM 845

Over the last 10 years, Benita Anderson has gone from union member to union activist.  She laments that the average teacher in Nevada knows little to nothing about the labor movement and writes that, “at 38, I figured out I wanted to be a labor educator.”  In 2004 she started taking classes at IAM’s William W. Winpisinger Educational and Technology Center.  She says she has leadership skills and the ability to teach but she needs a mentor.  Anderson has been the Local Lodge Trustee and Recording Secretary.  She’s currently the local’s communicator and web steward, and is a member of the Human Rights, Women’s and Community Services Committees, as well as member of CLUW.

Kelley A. Burns, OPEIU 251

Kelley Burns is a single mother whose desire is to be a union activist. She has had training from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, as well as the National Labor College Southwest Organizing School. She wants to inform the young people on the importance of unions. She has served as a steward, trustee and recording secretary. "My career goal, as a union organizer, is to reach the working class of this country-one worker at a time."

Melissa D. Campbell, IAM 2559

Melissa Campbell is the President of Arizona State Council of Machinists and the first woman Machinists president in the U.S. She has served as trustee, recording secretary, and vice president of IAM Local 2559. She has received awards for layout and design as communicator for her local. She is active in political campaigns and speaking to her children's classes about the importance of unions. She wants to share the knowledge gained by teaching.

Edgar Chen, UAW 2322

Edgar Chen, an Asian-American labor activist, has won seven leadership awards from University of California-Davis. He has chaired three different subcommittees in the Asian Pacific Islander Leadership Conference. His passion is diversity awareness.  He has worked as a union organizer in New Orleans, taught labor issue classes in China, and is Vice President of the National Teen Leadership Program. Chen has strived to find ways to build stronger ties between Chinese and US workers. He chairs committees and writes legislation. Chen also campaigns for affirmative action, bi-lingual education, anti-sweatshops, and environmental sustainability.

Anita R. Dawson, UAW 602

Anita Dawson, and A. Philip Randolph Institute member, is dedicated to having more opportunities for women of color.  Her passion with UAW started when her company filed for bankruptcy and she started helping co-workers understand the process.  She writes, “Being able to tour the Sit-Downers memorial is comparable to a Muslim visiting Mecca in my eyes.”  Dawson was a delegate to the 34th Constitutional Convention, and is a member of CLUW and the Black Trade Unionists.  She co-chairs her local women’s caucus and civil/human rights committee.  She plans to travel to Brazil to study conflict and social justice issues for the rights of the workers.  The vice president of her local wrote, “Mrs. Dawson has the character that you wish everyone had.  She puts so much talent and dedication to the task that she is challenged with."

Randy A. Dodds, AFT 7453

Randy Dobbs holds a leadership position in the Pinellas Educational Support Professionals Association.  Dodds was presented with the Pride of the Union Award for member services to AFT Local 7453.  Dodds will represent the AFL-CIO as Board of Director on the Pinellas Opportunity Council which oversees grants to needy families.  He is a member of the Civil Liberties Union and State Vice-Chair for the Florida Educational Support Professionals Committee.

Renee A. Harris, CWA 2100

"Renee has been one that tears down ethnic and gender walls and builds unity within our organization," is how CWA Local 2100 President Steve Holland describes Harris.  A graduate of the Northeast Regional Summer School for Union Women, she was nominated for a CWA at-large diversity board position, elected to attend CWA Minority Leadership Conference, and currently is chief steward for her local. She loves her union and has a passion to help others. In 2008, Harris will be running for Executive Vice President of her Local 2100.

Maxine J. Holmes, AFT 800 and OPEIU 2

Maxine Holmes is a single parent who works as a staff representative for the City Union of Baltimore (CUB-AFT).  She is involved in the grievance and arbitration process, labor/management meetings and is the member of several committees.  Holmes writes that she helped sign up over 100 new union members so far this year.  She has received numerous awards including one for conducting a "self-help" workshop and for her work as a voter registration volunteer.  Holmes writes that in order to expect equal treatment you must practice it. 

Robert P. Howard, UWUA 246

Robert Howard, a certified diversity facilitator and mediator, is a former southeast section director of California NAACP and branch president for 7 years. He was named the NAACP Director of the Year and Man of the Year. He has chaired his local human rights committee and has been recording secretary. He served as a labor representative on the California Public Utilities Commission.  Howard writes that, "the labor movement has a bright future if we stay true to our mission -- train, develop and mentor new leaders and embrace all our sisters and brothers."

Diana L. MacQuarrie, AFSCME 2719

Diana MacQuarrie is an active union member, local steward, executive board member, training instructor, and new member of CLUW. She received AFSCME Council 13’s 2007 Political Action award which is given to one member each year at the Pennsylvania State convention. MacQuarrie is taking advantage of regional and state leadership training to continue her growth and to share information with her workers.

Harream S. Purdie, UAW 2322

Harream S. Purdie is an active member of the Graduate Employees Organization (UAW Local 2322).  He volunteers with Student Bridges (a student-initiated outreach program connecting college students with local community-based organizations and schools), doing outreach for students of color.  He has served on organizing and political action committees and interned for AFSCME.  Purdie is a first generation college student and writes that this scholarship will assist him in becoming a better labor organizer.  His recommendation describes his serious commitment to social and economic justice.

Amanda L. Rasmussen, AFSCME 405

Amanda Rasmussen is employed as a Sergeant for the Department of Corrections in Oregon’s prisons and has received all three academic achievement awards.  She participated in an AFSCME International Leadership Conference and is currently Secretary of AFSCME Local 405.  Rasmussen wants to educate the young generation on the importance and the need of unions.  “Our local needs to remember the lessons from the old days of Chicago and New York when men were passionate about fighting for a union…but this time they will learn it from a woman.”

Porfirio Raya, IBEW 124

Porfirio Raya, a journeyman wireman and business representative for IBEW Local 124, has a wife and two sons who are also union members. Both his father and grandfather are retired sheet metal workers. He has previously served as a foreman, steward, and executive board member. He is a member of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, and the Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Traders Council.  Raya was a delegate to the IBEW International Convention and to the 11th District Progress Meeting. Spanish classes are now offered at the local union because of Raya' s efforts.  "As a Latino member of a construction trade union in the midwest, I have learned to overcome negativity by seeking knowledge and understanding of the policies and procedures in place in my local and international union."

Eric B. Richardson, UWUA 544

The UWUA National Representative describes him this way:  “Eric Richardson is the type of person the labor movement cast its cornerstones and built itself upon and the type of individual labor needs today to refurbish and gain our integrity, respect and strength.”  Eric, an associate pastor, has been a shop steward, national youth advisor, and is currently the treasurer of his local and human rights advisor for Region III for UWUA.  He also handles the Grievance and Arbitration committee.

Brenda J. Tillman, ATU 1287

Brenda Joyce Tillman wants to be the first female president of ATU Local 1287. She has been a bus operator for 28 years, is a single mom with four children and is now raising her grandson. She attended an ATU International Women’s Caucus, returned home and formed a local caucus where she became the chairperson. She is the first woman elected to the Executive Board in the history of Local 1287. Tillman received the Regina V. Polk for Labor Leadership for Midwest School for Women Workers and was appointed COPE Director for her local.