The Hilton -Americas and George R. Brown Convention Center were the backdrops for the 2018 AFL CIO Martin Luther King Conference in Houston, TX, January 12-15, 2018. Over thirty-five LIUNA members attended the conference including LIUNA Vice Presidents John Penn and Robert E. Richardson. The African American Caucus used the group opportunity to host its executive board meeting prior to the conference opening.
This year’s theme - Reclaiming the Dream: Strategize, Organize, Mobilize! focused on advancing Labor’s economic policy and advocacy agenda connected to the modern day civil rights movement. Several LIUNA members were intricately involved in the success of the conference participating as panel members in three separate workshops:
Mike Aaron, Local 1191, Detroit, MI and Lavon Chambers, NY LECET both highlighted programs they are involved in on the Criminal Justice Reform Panel.
Ryan Boyer, Philadelphia and Vicinity District Council, facilitated a workshop on Infrastructure.
Dionne McDaniel, LIUNA Strategic Communications Department, participated in a Political Bootcamp panel on Right to Work/Janus.
LIUNA LAAC members along with other conference attendees gave back to the Houston community during the MLK Day of Service. Members bagged items and distributed food to the community along with Congressman Al Green at Bethel Family Church. Other members replaced sheetrock at two hurricane damaged homes in Congressman Sheila Jackson Lee’s district. All enjoyed the various opportunities to commemorate the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as they forged new innovative ways to build political power in 2018 and beyond.
