We're Celebrating Black History! CWA Leader Profile: Carl Kennebrew

WE’RE CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY!

CWA LEADER PROFILE: CARL KENNEBREW

Carl Kennebrew became the 8th President and first person of color to lead IUE-CWA on August 2, 2018. A proud member of IUE-CWA for nearly 29 years, Carl started his Union career as a delegate and Vice-President at Local 84755 in Dayton, Ohio. As a Local officer, Carl graduated from The Minority Leadership Institute (MLI), an intensive 3-week program dedicated to increasing the involvement of minorities at all levels of our union. As Vice President, Carl also worked as an organizer, served as the local’s Legislative Political Action Team Member, and as an Executive Board Member for the Dayton Miami Valley AFL-CIO. In August of 2013, Carl became the first Minority President of Local 755, the founding local of IUE-CWA. He was re-elected without opposition in 2014 and 2017.

Developing and coaching people has been a lifelong interest for Carl, who is a certified life coach and John Maxwell Certified Leadership Trainer and Mediator. In addition to serving as a Recruitment Specialist for the Green Alliance for Manufacturing Skills Training program, Carl worked for ten years as a Leadership Trainer, teaching both management and union members concepts surrounding Diversity, Change, Communication, and Team Concept. Additionally, Carl was recently ordained as a Minister for Revival Center Ministries.

A long-time supporter of community and social justice groups such as Stand-Up Ohio and the MVOC (Miami Valley Organizing Collaborative), Carl serves as a Board Member for The OOC (Ohio Organizing Collaborative), Triune Skilled Development Services, GDUCI (The Greater Dayton Union Co-op Initiative), The United Way of the Greater Dayton Area, and serves on the Dayton Metro Library Board of Trustees.

In 2017, Carl was recognized one of the Top Ten African American Males in the Miami Valley. He has also received the Staircase to Excellence Award, the United Way Volunteer of The Year Award, and Dayton’s Men of Influence award.

As President of IUE-CWA, he has expanded organizing and training programs, placed a renewed emphasis on Skilled trades Development, and focused resources on the development of young workers and activists.

President Kennebrew currently resides in Dayton, Ohio with his wife and three children.

During Black History Month, CWA District 9 will profile CWA leaders. We salute and thank President Kennebrew for his years of service to CWA members and the labor movement!