News

Minority Leadership Institute: A New Generation of CWA Leaders

27 Feb, 2015

For over 30 years, CWA's Minority Leadership Institute (MLI) has fostered leaders within our union. Last week, the class of 2014-2015 graduated and headed back to their locals fully charged with enthusiasm and new skills to begin building for the future. This year’s leaders included District 9's Domonique Thomas, "I appreciated the opportunity District 9’s Vice President, Laura Reynolds, awarded me by selecting me to attend the CWA’s 2014 – 2015 Minority Leadership Institute training. The two week session provided me with extensive training with regards to public speaking, writing, and training techniques. The training also equipped me with an array of tools necessary to continue our fight in the labor movement. The knowledge I obtained will be vital when I’m representing Members, training the Stewards, and mobilizing people against anti-union initiatives.”
The MLI was conducted over a two one-week session Washington DC. During the seminar, the CWA Human Rights Department organized and led a series of workshops designed to provide our leaders with tools to organize and motivate our members. In between sessions, participants engaged in individual projects and additional online training, developing skills needed in an ever changing and continually challenging union and social justice environment.

MLI participants (from top left to right): Kelvin Banks, District 3; Dwayne Phillips, District 4; Tamera Nelson, District 2-13; Dante Harris, AFA-CWA; Domonique Thomas, District 9; Arnise Porter, District 6; Donald Rodriguez, District 7; Michelle Devera, TNG-CWA; Angie Torres, NABET-CWA; Jenelle Blackmon, District 1; Joe Perales, IUE-CWA.