Greetings!
APALA's 11th biennial convention is around the corner, so we wanted to give you an inside look at some of the great speakers who will be there. If you haven't registered yet, it's not too late to register online! We will have an exciting march to Oakland City Hall led by AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler, a job fair featuring 20 union and progressive employers, and an elected officials reception and Gala to honor APALA leaders who have been on the forefront of the fight for worker rights.
Plenary Highlights: The five plenary sessions will highlight worker testimonials, national organizing campaigns in the public and private sectors, what federal agencies are doing to protect immigrants and workers, how to move immigration reform and DREAM, and demonstrate the importance of building effective labor, student, and community coalitions to advocate for the right to organize. Hear first hand accounts from student activists, young workers and rank and file union leaders who have been on the front lines of many of these dynamic campaigns. In addition, here are just some of the keynote speakers at convention.
 Featured Speaker: HILDA L. SOLIS, US Secretary of Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis was confirmed as Secretary of Labor on February 24, 2009. Prior to confirmation as Secretary of Labor, Secretary Solis represented the 32nd Congressional District in California, a position she held from 2001 - 2009.The daughter of immigrants, Secretary Solis is a long-time advocate of Asian Pacific American (APA) workers' rights, access to quality education, job creation, comprehensive immigration reform, and the DREAM Act.
 Featured Speaker: LIZ SHULER, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer
Elizabeth "Liz" Shuler became the first woman ever elected Secretary Treasurer of the AFL-CIO when she was voted into office by acclamation at the Federation's 26th convention on September 16, 2009. Ms. Shuler also became the youngest officer ever elected, rising through the ranks from her first union position in Local 125 of the IBEW in Portland, OR. Liz is active with many women's causes and sits on the board of the Women's Campaign Fund, and Women's Policy Inc.
 Featured Speaker: LEE SAUNDERS, AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer
Lee A. Saunders is the Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, which represents 1.6 million workers. He was elected at the union's 39th International Convention in July 2010. Prior to his election, Saunders served as Executive Assistant to AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee and was responsible for managing what is acknowledged to be one of the most effective political and legislative operations in the history of the American labor movement. AFSCME's clout in fundraising and member mobilization, and its lobbying expertise are unmatched in the ranks of the AFL-CIO and beyond.  Featured Speaker: MARY KAY HENRY, SEIU President
Mary Kay Henry serves as International President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the fastest-growing union in North America, with 2.1 million workers in healthcare, public and property services. Henry was elected to SEIU's International Executive Board in 1996 and as an International Executive Vice President in 2004. In her role as International Executive Vice President, Henry served as the union's chief healthcare strategist and led efforts to build a stronger voice for healthcare workers and enact historic healthcare reforms. More than a million healthcare workers nationwide, including registered nurses, technicians, doctors, and hospital and clinic workers are now united in SEIU Healthcare. Featured Speaker: MIKE HONDA, U.S. Congressman U.S. Congressman Michael Honda has represented the 15th Congressional District of California in the U.S. House of Representatives for a decade. In Congress, Rep Honda is a member of the powerful House Appropriations and Budget Committees, Chair Emeritus of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Co-chair of the Democratic Caucus' New Media Working Group, House Democratic Senior Whip and the original author of the Equity and Excellence Commission now housed in the US Department of Education.  Featured Speaker: JOHN CHIANG, CA State Controller As the State's chief fiscal officer, John Chiang brings extensive experience and fiscal leadership to the State Controller's Office. Chiang was first elected to the Board of Equalization in 1998 where he served two terms, including three years as chair. He began his career as a tax law specialist with the Internal Revenue Service and previously served as an attorney in the State Controller's Office. The son of immigrant parents, Chiang graduated with honors from the University of South Florida with a degree in Finance. He received his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. Chiang and his wife, Terry Chi, live in Torrance, California. Featured Speaker: DAVID CHO, ASPIRE at UCLA  David Cho is a graduate student at UCLA and helped found ASPIRE at UCLA. He is the first Korean American and actually the first undocumented student to ever become the conductor, the drum major of the UCLA Marching Band. At UCLA, he came out as undocumented and founded a new branch of the IDEAS group called ASPIRE (Asian Students Promoting Immigrant Rights through Education). Since the group's founding, four more Asian American students at UCLA have publicly come out as undocumented. Cho is coordinating DREAM Summer to organize youth to pass the DREAM Act.
We invite you to come and see our stellar lineup of speakers. See you in Oakland! In solidarity, Luisa Blue APALA National President |
