As Co-Director of CTUL, my role is coordinating the corporate campaigns that build power for worker voice, as well as overseeing the infrastructure of the organization. One out of every five people in Minneapolis live below the poverty level, struggling every day just to survive. Communities of color bear the brunt of this reality – the Black poverty rate is over four times higher than the white poverty rate in the Twin Cities metro area. When you consider the fact that the wealthiest 15 corporations in Minnesota hold over $1 trillion in assets, it becomes abundantly clear that the wealthiest 0.1% have systematically extracted this wealth and resources from our communities, pitting the majority of the population against each other to fight over scraps. If we took just 10% of those assets, we could more than double the wages of every single minimum wage worker in the state for over 10 years! What motivates me to fight is the emerging leadership of CTUL members who are standing up for basic dignity and respect, declaring – enough is enough!
I imagine a future where everyone has a voice in decisions that impact their lives. I imagine a transition from the current model of development that is based on the extraction of wealth from poor communities of color, to a model of development that is based on investing in the leadership and well-being of our communities. In my free time, I enjoy frolicking with my kids and family, playing racquetball, and going on long meandering walks.