2022 2022: Labor Education Center holds annual awards banquet

The 2022 event recognized the accomplishments of long-time and new labor leaders

On October 20, the Arnold M. Dubin Labor Education Center celebrated its 47th anniversary at their annual awards banquet in New Bedford.

The event celebrated the resurgence of labor organizing often lead by youth and Black, Indigenous – people of color organizers. The event recognized long-time and new labor leader that have strengthened the region’s labor movement. Honorees include Sean O’Brien, International President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Yvonne Tobey, Project Coordinator Building Pathways South, and Movimiento Cosecha, a New Bedford-based immigration rights group.

“The Dubin Labor Education Center is honored to annually offer this celebration of social justice leadership.  It is an important event to highlight the synergy of community building between UMassD and labor and community leaders.  We are pleased to introduce students to these leaders and grateful for their engagement in the planning of the banquet as well as their participation,” said Kimberly Wilson, Director of the Center.

The Labor Education Center serves as a bridge between the university, the labor movement, and the local community. The Center creates internships for students and offer programming on campus focused on social change for justice and organizing. The Center provides external training to unions and labor councils in the SouthCoast region.

One of the speakers at the event was student Gabriel Johnson. Johnson is a Labor Education Center student employee and was a participant in the Summer Solidarity program that provides for a paid position within the Center where students and recent grads receive training and work with community and labor groups for the last week of the summer.   

“Youth like me already have the fire and desire to shake things up,” said Johnson.