[ Social Justice ]

Union convenes first-ever Members of Color Conference

It was the first, but won’t be the last.
T

he 2024 NYSUT Members of Color Conference convened in Albany Dec. 7–8, bringing together a host of the union’s current and future union activists of color for a weekend of solidarity and empowerment. The conference, a ticketed event, was part of the union’s Members of Color Action and Affinity initiative and sponsored by its Many Threads, One Fabric program.

“We’re committed to fighting against systemic injustices and working toward a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive regardless of their background,” said NYSUT Secretary-Treasurer J. Philippe Abraham, whose office leads NYSUT’s social justice work and who was the driving force behind the event.

group photo of Joshua Joseph, Tyrone Hendrix, Wayne White, Michaelle Solages, Alithia Rodriguez-Rolon, and LeRoy Barr
From left: Joshua Joseph, executive director of the NYS Black, Puerto Rican, and Asian Legislative Caucus; NYSUT Executive Director Tyrone Hendrix; Wayne White, NYSUT director of social justice; Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages; Alithia Rodriguez-Rolon, NYSUT director of legislation; and UFT Secretary LeRoy Barr.
NYSUT Board member LeRoy Barr, who served as conference host, encouraged participants to embrace new experiences and believe in themselves. “Don’t listen to the naysayers … I invite you to let go of the things that are holding us back, that are holding us down, and let the currents of life carry us forward,” said Barr, United Federation of Teachers secretary. “Let’s stay connected and support each other.”

The conference explored the unique challenges members of color experience in the workplace, from feeling unheard, too often being “the only one,” to dealing with microaggressions. Miguelina Ortiz, Baldwin Teachers Association, attended to learn about the experiences of other members of color across the state. “I’ve been in a white space for close to 24 years and the isolation is real,” she said.

“One of my major takeaways is that we need to come together and find mentorship and allyship to implement change,” said Ursula Moorer, Baldwin TA.

Survival tactics such as code switching (adapting to cultural expectations in different situations) and being hypervigilant in white-dominated workplaces, were discussed as forms of racial trauma, since the desire to fit in, as a form of self-protection, can lead to emotional exhaustion. “Our bodies aren’t meant to be in a constant state of vigilance, so this leads to burnout,” said presenter Kenneth Shelton, director of training and deputy organizing director for Citizen Action of New York, in “Navigating Spaces: Colorism, Model Minority Myth and Codeswitching.”

Asia Curry, UFT, felt devalued when her efforts to speak up and share her views in the workplace weren’t welcomed. “At first I got knocked down and stayed silent, but after advocating for myself I saw change,” she said. “It’s important to elevate your voice by following up, [via email or other means] so others know you’re serious.”

Montserrat Garibay, assistant deputy secretary and director for the Office of English Language Acquisition at the U.S. Department of Education, spoke about the impact of teachers on her journey. She came to the states from Mexico as an undocumented child, becoming a citizen 20 years later. “Teachers gave me the tools that I needed to dream big, to understand that anything and everything is possible when you work hard,” she said.

Other conference highlights included speakers Terrence Melvin, New York State AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer, and Michael Harriot, New York Times bestselling author of Black AF History: The Unwhitewashed Story of America, and workshops detailing the history of race and labor and educators’ legal rights as union members of color.

“The future of the labor movement is multi-racial, multi-ethnic and multi-gendered,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person in welcoming
participants. “That’s why we’re ensuring, through conferences like this one, that all union voices are heard.”

To learn more about NYSUT’s social justice work, visit nysut.org/MOCAA.

group photo of members attending first-ever Members of Color Conference
PHOTOS: EL-WISE NOISETTE