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Rise Up Institute Instructs and Inspires

Pictured: Maria Serrano (2nd from left) UDW Local 3930
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By AFSCME Staff

Thousands of public service workers participated in the first-ever Rise Up Institute at the AFSCME 43rdInternational Convention. Delegates emerged from the trainings inspired and eager to use the new skills they acquired.

Rise Up Institute sessions focused on how to run effective organizing, communications, political and legislative campaigns, and how to better represent co-workers and support AFSCME members. Across the board, delegates said they felt equipped – and energized – like never before.

All participants took the “Leading Change” course before taking classes in their chosen tracks. In “Leading Change,” AFSCME activists learned how to tap into the power of their personal stories and use their unique experiences and understanding to engage and activate their co-workers.

The political action track’s workshops included sessions on how to become better advocates for public service workers, how to connect the dots between economic inequality and race inequality, and how to win in the current political environment.

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Pictured: Richard Zemke, NV Local 4041

“Letting our legislators know what it takes to do our jobs is so important,” said Kenneth Harmon, a maintenance technician for the Washington Department of Transportation and member of Local 378 (Council 28). “If I’m not there to speak to them, they’re not going to know about the problems we’re facing.” 

The representation track featured workshops that taught participants how to speak up effectively, fight back and build power, and how to help our union gain leverage to achieve great contracts.

“I’m a steward in my local, so ‘Strong Stewards=Strong Locals’ was a big one for me,” said Pamela Richardson, who works for Maryland’s Department of Social Services and is a member of Local 112 (Council 3). “There’s a lot of opportunity to really build your local as a steward, but people need to feel comfortable coming to you.”

The organizing track offered workshops on the power of one-on-one conversations to get co-workers to join together in AFSCME, on improving communication tactics, and on solving workplace problems through issue organizing.  

Meanwhile, in the communications track, participants attended workshops on ways to combat deceptive messaging from anti-worker special interest groups. They also picked up new tips and tools to communicate smartly and learned how best to use the AFSCME story to get their message across.

Communicating the power of the union is especially important to Joan Morgan, an assistant teacher in New York and President of Local 205 (District Council 1707).

“My father was a shop steward for DC 37, so I grew up understanding the power of the union,” she said. “I learned to communicate about how to stand up for what’s right and how to fight for things like better wages, better health insurance and securing our pensions.”

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