Fallon Ager-Norman has worked in the labor movement for over 20 years. While attending Hunter College, she started her career in a clerical position in the Medical Department of Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW. It was unclear to her at that time that she had found her life’s calling and this job would turn out to be a fulfilling and successful career in the labor movement.

She has worked in a variety of local union positions, including as a Service Representative, Union Representative, and as the Director of Field Operations. She served as an Executive Committee member of the UFCW Women’s Network, holding various roles since 2004. She also served as a Trustee and Executive Board Member of Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW, as well as a Pension Board Member for their Retirement Fund.

In January 2016, Fallon assumed the role of Executive Assistant to the Director for UFCW International Region 1. In that role, she was privileged to work alongside the UFCW locals in New England during the Stop & Shop strike in 2019. In August of 2019, she was promoted to Assistant to the UFCW’s National Bargaining Director, and in February of 2021 she was named Director of Region 1. Most recently, she was elected as a Vice President to the UFCW International Executive Board.

She continues to dedicate her efforts to improving the working conditions of all workers and in advancing the labor movement’s agenda. She currently resides in Queens, N.Y., with her husband Anthony and sons Tyler and Aiden.

Jackie Allen is currently the International Vice President and Director of the International Chemical Workers Union Counsil Region One. She is a proud union member of Local 995c for over 30 years. A daughter to immigrants from Mexico, she stepped up and made them proud. She started her career at So Cal Gas, where she began her involvement with the union and that is where her love for the labor movement began. She was blessed to be mentored by Raquel Looney (may she rest in peace), a sister of the women’s network and a former coordinator. Jackie has been blessed to work along side some amazing union people and gives thanks to them for her union career. May she be a blessing to future union generations and mentor them as other did to her.

Nil’s union involvement started in 2006 when she organized her own support staff unit and joined the Student Workers Union at her University where she studied International Law and Policy with a minor in Women’s Studies. She became President a year later and served on the Quebec Council of her Federation for 3 years. In 2008, she obtained the position of Organizer at Centrale des Syndicats du Québec (CSQ), where she spent ten years organizing and training workers.

Looking for new challenges, she joined UFCW in 2019 as an Organizing Coordinator and led a team of organizers through multiple campaigns. Aware of her roots as a first generation immigrant as well as a woman, she believes that the best way for a better future is through collective action. Aside from leading multiple successful campaigns such as Four Seasons, Adonis, Voilà, Première Moisson, Lufa, Attitude and Avril. She has also adapted the "Unionizing as a Woman" training that was given to a group of women from the three Quebec locals, and worked on several tools aimed at raising awareness among our members and those we seek to represent in the future.

Since December 4th, Nil Ataogul is Director of Organizing, Education and Communications at Local 501 of UFCW.

Sartaj Birring is a National Representative, Organizer , and Chair of UFCW Canada’s Young Worker’s Committee. She works closely with workers who are experiencing unfair working conditions, such as wage theft, sexual harassment, and discrimination.

Her start in the labour rights movement began during her many years of retail experience in unionized and non-unionized workplaces and has continued in her work organizing retail, restaurant, cannabis, and industrial sectors, among others. She has used her workplace and organizing experience to organize many large employers such as Cineplex and Sephora, using both in-person and digital tactics. She is passionate about worker empowerment, labour education, and closing the gender wage gap.

I have been a union member for over 36 years. 12 years with Local 320 Fireman and Oilers and 24 years with Local 75 United I have been a union member for over 36 years. 12 years with Local 320 Fireman and Oilers and 24 years with Local 75 United Food and Commercial Workers Union. Over the course of my career, I have served as a Chief Union Steward, Area Director, Director of Representatives and currently as Executive Vice President for Local 75. I currently also on the UFCW Women’s Network Executive Board. I have one daughter and 2 beautiful granddaughters that keep me quite busy and current. It is a pleasure to mentor women coming up in the labor movement. Description goes here

Marie is the Secretary Treasurer for United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 832, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. UFCW Local 832 represents over 16,000 members of the private sector in over 130 different workplaces across the Province. As Secretary Treasurer, she is responsible for all financial aspects of UFCW Local 832. Marie began her career with UFCW Local 832 in 2002. Marie came on staff as a relief representative - becoming a permanent, full-time union representative in March, 2003. In the same month, in addition to her appointment as a Local 832 full-time union rep, Marie was elected to the Executive Board of the UFCW Canadian Council. Marie has also been the Manitoba representative for the UFCW Canada Youth Committee and the UFCW Canada Women’s Advisory Board. She was the Local’s Director of Servicing for 4 years before moving into the Negotiation’s department in 2012. After 4 years as a full time Negotiator and Executive Assistant to the President, Marie moved into the role of Director of Operations. As Director of Operations, she oversaw all staff and overall operations of the locals 3 offices & 2 training centres in the Province. In June of 2021, Marie was elected by acclimation to the role of Secretary Treasurer. Marie also represents UFCW Local 832 as a member of the Manitoba Federation of Labour Executive Council. Marie also sits on the Manitoba Labour Board as an Employee Representative.

Marie currently sits as a trustee for a variety of Health and Welfare Benefit Plans and served a term as a board member for the Central Regional Health Authority. In May of 2020, Marie was appointed to the Board of Directors for Manitoba Blue Cross.

Quote: “I really love working with the kids and having my own daughters involved at the studio.”

Alia grew up in the studio and studied under both of her parents, Bob White and Barbara Lee White.

Alia has been with her husband, Kris for 30 years. She is an active member of the PTA at her twin daughters’ school and her community. She appeared, as a guest on the show Romper Room in the early 80’s and participated in the filming of Karate Kid and Karate Kid 3.

CERTIFICATIONS

3rd degree black belt

45 years of experience

Teaches group and private lessons

Katrina Chen is a former UFCW member who moved to Canada from Taiwan on her own and attended Simon Fraser University before beginning her grassroots work in the community. She served as a trustee on the Burnaby Board of Education and was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Burnaby-Lougheed. She also served as Minister of State for Child Care, building the foundation for a new social program committed to $10-a-Day child care for all families, implementing dozens of new policies and programs in just a few years. Katrina was also the first Taiwanese-born Canadian appointed to the BC Cabinet and its youngest member at the time. While she has announced that she will not seek another term as MLA, Katrina will continue her advocacy for childcare, public education, mental health, equity, and the fight against gender-based violence, drawing from her years of work and lived experiences.

Teresa D’Asaro is a fourth-generation union member and former Community Outreach Director from UFCW Local 99. Teresa got her start in the labor movement in 1992 as a rank-and-file union member at a Smith’s grocery store in Torrance California. After moving to Mesa Az in 1994 becoming a shop steward in her store, Teresa was recruited by her union rep to work for her union as a Special Project Union Representative (SPUR) signing up new members to join Local 99 across Arizona. In 1997, she was officially hired as a union rep and over 27 years, worked her way up through the union as Field Coordinator, Field Director, and Community Outreach Director. Teresa has continued to be a champion for working Arizonans through her role as Secretary Treasure on the Executive Board of the UFCW International Women’s Network and as Chair of the Maricopa Area Labor Federation. Teresa started a new leadership role and has joined Maricopa County Democrats as the Labor Committee Chair and other community organizations to continue to make a difference.

Debora De Angelis is the Ontario Region Director with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Canada), representing more than a quarter of a million workers across the country. She works with an amazing group of National Representatives that help workers bring UFCW to their workplace!

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Labour Management Relations, from the University of Toronto. While in University, Debora was a retail worker, who made history by organizing her coworkers at Suzy Shier to exercise their labour and collective bargaining rights.

Currently, Debora is also UFCW Canada’s National Coordinator for Strategic Campaigns. In this position she prepares strategic training, messaging, and tools for national organizing drives.

Debora was instrumental in the National agreement signed between UFCW Canada and Uber Canada on January 27, 2022. She supports a team of UFCW Representatives that handle account disputes and deactivations for Uber drivers. Debora is also responsible for developing training programs, building capacity, and creating new processes.

As an advocate for women’s issues, Debora chairs the UFCW Canada Women and Gender Equity Committee and represents UFCW Canada on the Canadian Labour Congress Women’s Committee.

As a health and safety advocate for workers, Debora represents UFCW Canada on the Board of Directors of the Workers Health and Safety Board (WHSC) and The Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW).

Debora can be contacted at debora.deangelis@ufcw.ca
www.facebook.com/debora.deangelis.54
Instagram: @debora.deangelis

Glacier Effs-Samuel is the Recorder and a Union Representative with UFCW Canada Local 1006A. She is also the Chair of the Women’s Issues Committee (Women’s Issues Network) for UFCW 1006A and a First Vice President for the Minority Coalition.

Coming from the shop floor, Glacier is dedicated to promoting equality, fairness, and human rights. She believes in empowering members and her community with knowledge to become active in their union and in their communities.

As a Union Representative at UFCW 1006A, Glacier services workers at Toronto Pearson International Airport, Billy Bishop Airport and transit workers in York region.

As a women of colour, Glacier understands the obstacles that women, 2SLGBTQi, non-binary, Indigenous and racialized women are faced with daily and is passionate about removing these barriers and changing the landscape for a more inclusive world.

I'm Liz Fontanez, and I proudly serve as the Organizing Director for Local 342. Since 2009, I've dedicated myself to our cause, starting in the office in the appeals department, tackling the challenges as a union representative and evolving into a leader in organizing, all thanks to the belief and opportunity bestowed upon me by the late Richard Abondolo. His trust fueled my passion to make effect positive change alongside my exceptional team of organizers. Additionally, I'm honored to sit on the organizing co-chair for the Women’s Network, advocating for empowerment and progress in every aspect of our work.

A’shanti F. Gholar serves as the president of Emerge, the only organization dedicated to recruiting and training Democratic women to run for office. In this role, she leads the organization and steers its overall strategy and direction, overseeing a national staff as well as affiliates across the country.

A’shanti is a nationally recognized political strategist, who most recently served as Emerge’s Political Director, responsible for strengthening national partnerships and working closely with state affiliates to strategically recruit for key seats, as well as directing the organization’s overall political strategy. For over 15 years, A’shanti has been a grassroots organizer and activist for women, communities of color and progressive causes. She has experience in building coalitions, program development and community and political engagement. Prior to coming to Emerge, A’shanti served as the National Deputy Director of Community Engagement and Director of African American Engagement for the Democratic National Committee. A’shanti has also served as the Manager of National Partnerships for United Way Worldwide, as a political appointee in the Obama Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor and as the Director of Public Engagement for the 2012 Democratic National Convention Committee in Charlotte, NC.

A’shanti was named by She The People as one of the women of color in politics who would play an impactful role in the 2020 elections and beyond. She was featured as a political influencer in CQ Roll Call Magazine, named a top woman of color in policy by Walker’s Legacy, and was awarded the “Changemaker” award by African American Women in Business Careers. In addition, A’shanti serves as a Sisters on the Planet Ambassador for OxFam America, an Equity Advisor for Sephora, and as an Advisory Board Member for Global GAIN. She is also the founder of The Brown Girls Guide to Politics, an award-winning podcast that was featured as one of the top political podcasts by Time Magazine, Teen Vogue, and Vanity Fair.

Lorena is the first woman and first person of color to serve as Chief Officer of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO. She was sworn in on July 27, 2022. Lorena’s first summer job was with the San Diego Labor Council’s Labor Participation non-profit, handing out food bags to striking workers. She would later go on to become the Political Director and eventually be elected Secretary-Treasurer and Chief Officer of the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

In 2013, Lorena was elected to the State Assembly promising to fight for California's working and middle classes. The Atlantic Magazine labeled her “The California Democrat setting the National Agenda” for her practical, progressive legislation aimed at alleviating real issues in people’s lives. In 2014, she passed historic legislation to allow every single Californian the ability to earn paid sick leave, creating a model for the nation to follow. In 2016, she went on to author a law making California the first state in the nation to require farmworkers to be paid overtime after 8 hours of work in a day. Lorena also authored legislation to protect janitorial workers against sexual assault and provide professional cheerleaders basic labor protections, both of which became subjects of national PBS documentaries. In 2019, Lorena passed Assembly Bill 5, the strongest law in the country protecting workers against misclassification and wage theft. In 2021, Lorena passed legislation to ensure employers in California can be criminally prosecuted and sent to prison for engaging in intentional wage theft, and she authored the nation's first law establishing worker protections against Amazon's dangerous warehouse production quotas.

Lorena was the first Latina to serve as Chairwoman of a legislative Appropriations Committee, and was the longest serving Chair in history. She also served as Chairwoman of the California Latino Legislative Caucus from 2019 to 2020. A graduate of Stanford University, Lorena also holds a master’s degree from Georgetown University and a law degree from UCLA.

Stacey Hofert, M.B.A, serves as the Group Vice President of Labor and Trust for Progyny, Inc. In this role, she collaborates with plan sponsors to integrate family building benefits and a full continuum of women’s reproductive health services. With over two decades of experience working with Labor and Trust organizations, Stacey’s journey began as a steelworker at Granite City Steel, igniting her passion for supporting labor throughout her career. Her expertise extends to navigating the intricacies of Taft Hartley Multi-Employer plans and other labor-related initiatives. Stacey's success in the industry stems from her ability to identify specific needs within a plan and provide innovative solutions that not only enhance the plan itself but also positively impact the members affected by those solutions.

Stacey holds a BS degree in Human Resource Management from Western Illinois University and earned her MBA from Kellar Graduate School of Management. Her commitment to advancing labor and trust initiatives, coupled with her strategic problem-solving approach, continues to make a meaningful difference in the industry.

LaQuita Honeysucker serves as the Director of the Civil Rights and Community Action Department of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, the largest private sector union in the United States.

In this role, she is harnessing the UFCW’s diverse and inclusive membership to bring hardworking families a better life. Whether it’s fighting back against voter suppression, providing hope to immigrant workers, working to end exploitation of refugees, creating more opportunities for women, or expanding LGBTQ equality, Ms. Honeysucker is positioning America’s food and retail union as a powerful voice for all workers from all places.

Prior to this, she moved the union’s legislative and regulatory priorities forward as the UFCW’s Legislative Director.

She has extensive experience when it comes to lobbying members of Congress, federal agencies and states on labor issues including food safety and nutrition; federal minimum wage, overtime pay; responsible economic development, civil rights and immigration.

Before the UFCW, Ms. Honeysucker served as a Legislative Counsel in the office of Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott. Ms. Honeysucker provided counsel to the Congressman on pending legislation and policy initiatives including, but not limited to, housing, judiciary, civil rights, telecommunications, transportation, immigration and healthcare.

Ms. Honeysucker received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Tennessee College Of Law in Knoxville, Tennessee. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia. Ms. Honeysucker is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia.

In her early career, Debbie worked in the fashion industry. During this time, she attended yoga classes, to improve focus and reduce stress.

In 2009, she was diagnosed with cancer. Despite difficulties with physical poses, she turned to breathing exercises and meditation to manage anxiety and cope with treatment side effects. Her yoga practice evolved during her illness and recovery, leading her to embrace a slower pace, nurture self-compassion, and embrace change. This transformative journey has now become an integral part of her life.

Debbie completed her initial teacher training in 2014 and has been teaching ever since. She has taken many additional trainings through the years and has dedicated herself to be a lifelong learner of the vast subject of yoga. Now a seasoned teacher, she guides her own teacher training program to pass on knowledge and techniques of the practice.

Amid the challenges faced by community studios during the pandemic, limited resources were gathered, and the faithful decision was made to launch Hello Yoga in 2021. This decision reflects the importance of providing a physical space for the community to gather, particularly during our current social climate, when so many factors are keeping us apart.

Rebecca Johnson is a co-founder of Vidl Work, a workplace culture transformation firm that helps teams and organizations function at full capacity. Through her team’s consulting, training, and coaching services, Vidl Work inspires and guides employees to excel with energy, connect with heart, and lead with courage. Rebecca is known for her down-to-earth style and for the ability to help people have hard conversations they might not otherwise have. Rebecca lives happily in Florida with her husband and their four children.

I have been a proud Union partner of UFCW for 27 years, 18 in the stores and 9 on staff. A founding member of Outreach back in 2013. Been partnered with my lovely wife for 29 years. My love for this Union and what we do is my driving force every day.

Marcy Kelly got her start as a summer intern with Local 1776 in 2006. She is currently the Education Director. She loves empowering members and stewards and, educating them on their rights in the workplace. She also runs the member events for her Local and the Retirees’ Club.

In 2006, Karina Lopez commenced her professional journey as an organizer with UFCW Local 888. Progressing to the role of Community Organizer in the DC Metro area in 2013, she later ascended to the position of Field Programs Coordinator within the Civil Rights and Community Action Department of UFCW International in 2017. By May 2020, Karina assumed the role of Executive Assistant to the UFCW Region – 1 Director in the Northeastern region, subsequently transitioning to Assistant to the Organizing Director at UFCW in August 2023.

Across her career, Karina has shown a steadfast commitment to collaborating with members and allies to cultivate inclusive work environments and develop strategies that amplify the concerns of women and working families, positioning them as a potent political force. She continues to actively collaborate with UFCW Leadership to craft comprehensive strategies that empower the working class by strengthening connections among members, other labor unions, and supportive allies.

Karina holds an Associate in Business Administration from American Public University and completed her Bachelor's in Political Science from Pennsylvania State University.

Emmanuelle works and plays on the territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Wendat peoples and many other nations whose land was occupied due to settler colonialism. As Human Rights, Equity and Diversity (HRED) Co-ordinator for UFCW Canada, she is proud to serve as Chair of the UFCW Canada HRED Committee, the UFCW Canada Indigenous Sub-Committee and as an Executive Committee member of the Executive board of UFCW OUTreach. With 20+ years of experience in the labour movement, Emmanuelle leads national equity-focused strategic programming and advocacy initiatives and is dedicated to building worker power through an intersectional, feminist, and anti-oppressive approach.

Tiffany Beroid is an International Representative with UFCW Region 2. A proud mother of 4 (19, 11, 4 & 2), they were inspired to begin organizing after experiencing pregnancy discrimination while working at Walmart. Shortly after speaking out publicly, she was retaliated against, resulting in her termination. She didn’t give up; she continues to lead others in having a voice in their workplace. They had the opportunity to guide some from first contact to the first contract. She truly enjoys steering others in making a workplace difference.

Sadatu Mamah-Trawill is the Deputy Director for the Organizing Department at the RWDSU. Sadatu has over 19 years of experience fighting for social justice in New York. While working at a non-union hotel in New York, Sadatu helped organize her co-workers into Hotel Trade Council Local 6, UNITE HERE. Sadatu later joined Local 6 as a union Organizer. In 2006 Sadatu continued her organizing with the Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union (RWDSU), where she served as a Organizer/Secretary Treasurer for Local 2006 and now as a Deputy Director for Organizing. While at RWDSU, She help to start the Retail Action Project (RAP), and served as RAP's Lead Organizer. Over the course of her career, she has helped hundreds of workers to organize and won back millions of dollars in unpaid wage claims. Sadatu also worked with the African Communities Together (ACT) which is an organization for African Immigrants fighting for civil rights throughout the USA. Sadatu is an immigrant from Ghana and is fluent in Hausa, speaks Twi and Ga.

Ademola Oyefeso is an International Vice President and the Director of the Legislative and Political Action Department (LAPAD) at the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), the largest private sector union in the United States. In this role, he advances the union’s legislative priorities and works with elected officials and candidates at every level of government to support the issues that matter most to the UFCW’s 1.3 million hard-working members and their families.

Under Ademola’s direction, the LAPAD won 67 percent of all the races targeted in 2022. During the pandemic, the LAPAD helped to create the Farm and Food Worker Relief Grant Program to help members with COVID health and safety costs, and supported the American Rescue Plan, which protects the retirement benefits of workers and retirees in multiemployer pension plans, as well as the Protecting America’s Meatpacking Workers Act, which provides essential protections to UFCW members. The LAPAD also played a role in several state legislative victories, including recreational cannabis legislation with labor peace agreements in New York; Paid Family and Medical Leave legislation in Maryland; overturning right-to-work in Michigan; premium pay legislation in Minnesota; a fair scheduling ordinance in Seattle; and the creation of the first union dues tax credit in California.

For multiple years, Ademola has led the UFCW’s legislative outreach and national sponsorship surrounding the Stamp Out Hunger food drive, helping to ensure it remains the largest single-day food drive in the United States. He also helped to pass New York City’s fresh food financing initiative, which brought grocery stores to underserved communities.

Prior to joining the UFCW International office, Ademola served at the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU) and the Speaker’s Office of the New York City Council.

He has extensive campaign experience and has held leadership positions on Gubernatorial, U.S. House, New York Mayoral, and New York City Council races.

Ademola graduated from the State University of New York College at New Paltz. He lives in Brooklyn, NY, with his wife and two children.

A California native, Amber Parrish Baur has spent the last 20 years working in politics. After graduating from CSU Sacramento, she started the Masters Program at SFSU and began working for Noreen Evans in her bid for the State Assembly. Amber worked for in the North Bay for 5 years, first serving as Evans’ Campaign Director and then District Director when she was elected.

As the Political Director for the San Francisco Labor Council for over 8 years, Amber was instrumental in building a strategic organization, designed to grow support for the contract, bargaining, and organizing goals of affiliates while developing and implementing political field and data operations.

Amber is currently the Executive Director of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Western States Council. The Western States Council is composed of 185,000 UFCW members who work in the states of California, Arizona and Nevada. Mrs. Baur leads the UFCW’s political and legislative efforts in the states that are affiliated with the council.

Amber lives with two young children in San Francisco.

Laura Elena is a worker’s right advocate and National Representative for UFCW Canada based in Ontario. She works assisting locals on organizing campaigns, collective bargaining, training, and other capacities helping members across Canada. She is also involved in the Agricultural Workers Alliance, helping migrant workers know and protect their rights.

Rosalba Pérez serves as the Secretary-Treasurer and Funds Director at United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 888. Born in the Dominican Republic, Rosalba migrated to the Bronx, NY, at the age of 13. Rosalba earned her Bachelors of Science in Health Services Administration from Lehman College in 2000 and her Masters of Science in Labor Studies from the University of Massachusetts in 2020. While pursuing higher education, she joined the UFCW Local 888 staff where she played a crucial role in serving their Spanish-speaking membership and overseeing the management of the local's Health, Pension, and 401(K) Plans. Her dedication to ensuring members' have access to retirement benefits and affordable healthcare goes beyond her role within the union. Since assuming the role of Secretary-Treasurer in 2020, Rosalba works diligently alongside the UFCW 888 leadership team to enhance working conditions for the local's expanding immigrant membership.

My name is Jenny Phan and I am a Cannabis Organizer with UFCW International and proud rank-and-file member. As I transitioned from the illicit cannabis market to the newly legal market, I saw the same injustices persisting with corporations continuing to undermine and exploit our labor. Through my local union, UFCW324, I learned the value of my labor, the power in fighting from the ground up, and the necessity to unify all cannabis workers in order to preserve our culture. The cannabis industry is growing exponentially, and I am fortunate to be growing with it as I help fellow cannabis workers across the country demand for a better future, de-stigmatize the conversation, and fight to secure and legitimize our industry.

Luz Rivera brings over 11 years of dedicated service to the UFCW, where she has served in various roles ranging from rank-and-file member to organizer. Currently a member of Local Two staff, Luz is the Assistant to the President of UFCW Local 2 and United Latinos of UFCW. In this capacity, she plays a pivotal role in advancing the organization's mission of empowering and advocating for Latinx workers.

Luz attended Dodge City Community College, Kansas State University, and is currently completing a certificate in Accounting through Cornell University.

LaKenya Roberson is an Organizer with Working Together Mississippi, a broad based coalition that consists of religious congregations,non-profits, labor unions and community groups that build internal trust and power to make changes within their own communities.

LaKenya is a former labor union organizer who came full circle after beginning her career as a Human Resources professional. Her labor union accomplishments include winning 3 out of 5 organizing campaigns within 24 months, serving as a Field Coordinator for the Missouri AFL-CIO to defeat Right to Work (for less) in 2018 and helping to raise Missouri’s minimum wage during that same year. During her tenure in New Orleans she served as the lead coordinator on a disaster response team immediately following the March 2022 tornado in Arabi, located in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana.

Though Working Together Mississipi is a young statewide organization they have had recent successes in helping to change the Mississippi state flag as well as expanding Postpartum Medicaid coverage and increasing voter turnout with new tools and intensity. Working Together Mississippi is building diverse chapters across the state to change the way decisions are made in communities that have been politically marginalized.

LaKenya is a native of St. Louis Missouri where she received a Bachelor’s in Business Management and her Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management from Webster University. She relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana in 2021 and began organizing institutions in New Orleans East and the Lower 9th ward. While transitioning her career and residency LaKenya achieved a life-long goal and became a proud member of the first Black Greek lettered sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Nicole St. Germain serves as the Lead Outreach and Education Coordinator and Public Relations Manager for the Los Angeles District of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency that enforces federal laws which prohibit employment discrimination. Nicole oversees the education and outreach initiatives along with public relations for the Los Angeles District, which includes central and southern California, southern Nevada, Hawaii, and the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, Wake Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Nicole joined the EEOC in 2009 and has held the positions of Enforcement Investigator and Systemic Investigator. She was appointed to the position of Outreach & Education Coordinator and Public Relations Manager in 2016. She is a sought-after trainer and subject matter expert. In 2022 she was detailed to the Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs as a Public Affairs Specialist. Also in 2022, Nicole received the EEOC’s Emerging Leader Award, a prestigious national award recognizing her commitment to the agency’s mission.

Prior to joining the EEOC, Nicole was a Probation/Parole Officer for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Nicole holds a graduate degree in Forensic Psychology, undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Criminal Justice, and is fluent in American Sign Language.

Hannah (she/her) is an organizer based out of the digital department. She works primarily on the REI campaign.

Deliana Speights is a trailblazer for women in America’s Labor Movement.

Now in her 10th year as secretary-treasurer of Local 1428 of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Speights negotiates labor agreements, enforces labor contracts and coordinates staff on behalf of a varied membership of workers in the region surrounding Southern California’s San Gabriel Valley. She also serves as international chair of the UFCW Women’s Network, a national association dedicated to advancing the welfare and status of women in the union.

Speights joined the UFCW Women’s Network in the late 1990s and became the group’s treasurer in 2018, devoting herself with a boundless passion to advocate for the rights of women and all workers. She became the network’s international chair in July 2020 and proudly serves in this capacity currently.

Kelly Tosato (she/her) was elected by a unanimous vote of the Executive Board and was sworn into her role as President of UFCW Local 175 on February 14, 2024, becoming one of the first women to lead a Local Union of this size.

Kelly’s involvement with the UFCW began in 1988/89 after she assisted with organizing her workplace, Pinty’s in St. Catharines, with UFCW Local 617P. She was then elected as the Union Chairperson at Pinty’s as well. Kelly was an Executive Board member for Local 617P leading up to its merger with UFCW Local 175 at which time she became a Vice-President on the Local 175 Executive Board. Kelly was also involved in the St. Catharines District Labour Council.

In 2001, the Local Union hired Kelly as a Union Representative, and in 2009, she became Director for Region 2 – one of the largest and most diverse regions within Local 175.

After being elected Secretary-Treasurer by the Executive Board in 2014, she also took on the role of Director of Region 1 for the members in Northwest Ontario, and continued in that dual role for several years. Kelly was then acclaimed as Secretary-Treasurer through subsequent Local Union Executive Board elections in 2015, 2019, and 2023.

Kelly sits as a trustee on a number of committees and boards, and on February 27, 2024, she was elected to the position of International Vice-President as well.

As President of the largest UFCW Local Union in North America, Kelly is a strong advocate for all working people and a champion for the advancement of workers’ and human rights.

Flormaria is an exemplary advocate for workers' rights, with a rich background in labor activism and leadership. Starting her journey at UFCW Local 888 in 2012, after graduating from Syracuse University, she quickly immersed herself in the fight for fair treatment and representation of union members. Her commitment to this cause led her to pursue further education, earning a Master of Arts in Union Leadership and Administration from the University of Massachusetts in 2018.

Since then, Flormaria has consistently demonstrated her dedication to empowering workers. Her involvement as Secretary Treasurer of the Black Lives Matter Chapter in Paterson, NJ, since 2017 underscores her commitment to social justice and community activism. Moreover, her appointments to various executive boards within UFCW, including the Minority Coalition and the Women's Network, highlight her leadership within the labor movement.

Rena is originally from California and is Chinese American by way of Mexico. Her father was a restaurant worker and mother a domestic worker. They performed hard, low waged work and their jobs had no union representation. Rena's family had no health insurance, retirement savings, or anything else.

She attended UCLA on scholarship when the Justice for Janitors strike took place in Los Angeles in 2000. That fight by low wage workers (so much like her parents) to be visible and for a dignified living wage inspired Rena to join the labor movement. Against all odds, those workers dared to fight and hope—and they WON. It was Rena’s first glimpse of what is possible when workers organize to build power. After graduating in 2001, Rena became an organizer and has worked in Labor ever since.

Now as President of UFCW Local 663, Rena’s goal is to build power for workers. We need to organize for power throughout the food system – from farm to slaughter, processing, transportation, in to stores and how it gets into people’s homes and on their tables. By activating our members, organizing non-union workers and partnering with other unions, faith groups and community organizations we can improve the lives of all workers.

The youngest union representative at local 1006A, Gloria joined UFCW as a part of the drive to unionize her workplace in 2018, coming onto staff in late 2022. Gloria now services members along the eastern part of Ontario's 401 corridor continuing her efforts daily to ensure workers know their rights, their health & safety and have a voice at the table.

She is the Co-chair of 1006A's indigenous committee, serves on UFCWs Canada's National Indigenous sub-committee, as well her local non-profit fish hatchery's board of directors. Gloria is a avid reader, outdoors enthusiast, sci-fi nerd, cosplayer and dog mom in her off hours.