A couple of the most important things that HTUP gave me were: Context and understanding of what else is happening in the wider world of labor. This came from both the instructors and my fellow students. Great lifelong friendships with others who share the same values.
Since attending I have remained actively engaged in promoting the value of a unionized workforce. I remained political director for my union for 5 years after HTUP and then took a position leading our union preparation for the Friedrichs/Janus Supreme Court Case. In 2016 I developed, implemented, and ran our union’s strategy to prepare for the loss. I remain very energized in engaging our membership in a positive way, focusing more on non-work/political issues and the value of “stronger together.”
