Angel shares his testimonio about becoming a labor activist and advocate.
Angel's bio from his University of Iowa website:
Angel Gonzalez Irizarry joined the Labor Center staff in January, 2006, as a Program Consultant. Prior to working at the Labor Center, he worked as an Education Office Intern (1995) and then as Assistant to the Director of the UFCW International Education Office, 1996-1997. Angel served as a UFCW International Representative from 1997-2005, participating in many public and private sector organizing campaigns in the mainland United States and Puerto Rico. He assisted in a successful AFL-CIO effort to obtain public sector collective bargaining rights for Puerto Rico public employees in 1998, bringing over 150,000 new members into AFL-CIO unions. Military Service:1985-1987 US Army Reserve;1987-1993 US Navy. Angel earned his law degree in 2005 and was admitted to the Puerto Rico State Bar in 2006. He is a member of AFT Local 716.
Gabcast! Journey Across Our America #3 - Jose Elizondo, W. Liberty, Iowa councilman, tells us about his family's contributions to the local community
At 32, Jose is the first Latino councilperson elected in W. Liberty's history. Now a town of 49% Latinos, W. Liberty has struggled to make change, but has managed to do so with the tenacity of families like the Elizondos.
Jose's father was from Tamaulipas, MX and his mom is from Weslaco, TX. He had some fascinating stories to tell about his short tenure as city council person, but I decided to share this segment with you because it is a great tof the persistence and entrepreneurial spirit of Latinos who start with little and fill an important cultural niche in small communities all over the US. I heard similar stories of many folks in the Chicago area who start businesses out of their cars and eventually open stores, restaurants, and/or delivery services.
No comments:
Post a Comment