By Sheri Davis-Faulkner

This past Friday there was a major shift in the universe. Yes, the much anticipated film, Black Panther, drew record-breaking audiences, my son and I included. We were rewarded with some of the most powerful images of women’s leadership depicted in a major motion film to date. My son and I waited months to attend this global cultural event. While this marvelous fiction is beyond inspiring, the shift I am speaking of happened in a quiet corner in Washington D.C. where nearly a dozen women leaders in labor joined together to form an All Star Advisory Team for WILL Empower, Women Innovating Labor Leadership.

This fierce group of women shared the twists and turns in their leadership journeys to becoming national and state leaders as well as directors in large public and private sector unions and labor federations. They described “making a way out of no way” to lead unions and other formations of worker justice organizations and put forth a vision for a broader and more inclusive worker justice movement. From the barriers they pushed through to get to the decision-making tables to the mentors and coaches who pushed them to speak up and lead, this team is battle-tested and knows how to win against the odds.  

Like the Women of Wakanda provide wise counsel and protect their people, we too have a phenomenal crew of women–The Women of WILL. They are experienced teachers, journalists, organizers, and activists who know campaign strategies, finance, communications, research, policy-making, advocacy, and so much more. When these justice-seeking women face barriers they take to the streets, speak poetry into big moments, name experiences and educate, build new leadership, write proposals and create new paths where there are none. Together, these true warriors for social and economic justice WILL Empower the next generation of women leaders. We’re Ready!