The first wave of the inaugural class of the WILL Empower apprenticeship program commenced work this week, marking the launch of this innovative program designed as an on-ramp for up-and-coming women labor activists. Four young women began their apprenticeships this week, and several others are expected to begin their placements later this fall.

The WILL Empower apprenticeship is a unique, paid opportunity for women to explore a career with a union or other kind of worker rights organization. Apprentices may work in a variety of roles, including as organizers, researchers, communicators and campaigners.

Each apprentice has a female mentor within her host organization, as well as an “external mentor,” a female mentor from another movement organization. The mentorships build unique, cross-movement connections that represent a core WILL Empower strategy. The apprentices will gather in early October at Georgetown University for a training and development session. Each apprenticeship placement will last for three to four months.

“I am a Haitian-American, first generation college graduate from a working class family,” said Jokebed Morinvil, a apprentice researcher placed with Jobs with Justice. “Throughout history women, especially those with other marginalized identities, have been dismissed as leaders in the labor movement and the work they have done is typically overlooked. WILL Empower is providing an opportunity to change that and giving us a platform to showcase our various leadership qualities.”

“We can all find great hope in how many young people are eager to be active in today’s workers’ movement,” said WILL Empower co-director Lane Windham, who also serves as Associate Director at the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown. “We were overwhelmed with applicants for this new apprenticeship program, and are just thrilled with how many movement women have stepped up eagerly as mentors.”

Jokebed Morinvil, a recent Rutgers University graduate, will serve as a researcher with Jobs with Justice national headquarters in Washington, DC. At Rutgers, Jokebed was very active in United Students Against Sweatshops, including as the People of Color Caucus chair. Erin Johansson, Jobs with Justice Research Director, will serve as her internal mentor. Raven Hall, staff attorney for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), will serve as her external mentor.

Katherine Murphy, who holds both a BA and MPA from the University of Colorado, Boulder, will begin as a researcher with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) at the Washington, DC headquarters. While working at a performing arts center in Colorado, Katherine served as an officer for IATSE Local B-7. Elissa Laitin, Campaign Communications Coordinator at the IBT, will serve as her internal mentor, and Nell Geiser, research coordinator at the Communications Workers of America (CWA) will serve as her external mentor.

Alia Todd, the founder and organizer of the Asheville Sustainable Restaurant Workforce, will focus on organizing and politics at the North Carolina AFL-CIO in Raleigh. Alia was a Champion of Change recipient at the White House in 2016 for her work on fair wages. MaryBe McMillian, NC AFL-CIO President, will serve as her internal mentor. Darla McGlamery, business agent for IATSE 491, will serve as her external mentor.

Ebony Watkins, a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, will work on communications and politics for the North Carolina AFL-CIO in Raleigh. Ebony was active with UNC Student Action with Workers. MaryBe McMillan will also serve as Ebony’s internal mentor. Ebony’s external mentor will be Amaya Smith, the new Vice President for Communications and Marketing at the National Partnership for Women & Families.

WILL Empower is planning a public celebration of the apprentices and their mentors on Tuesday, October 9 at Georgetown University. Please mark your calendars!

WILL Empower will begin recruiting for the 2019 class of apprentices in the spring. For more information on the WILL Empower program – as an applicant, host organization or mentor – please contact willempower.labor@gmail.com.

WILL Empower is a bold initiative to train, nurture, and convene a new generation of women labor leaders. It is a joint project of the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University and the Center for Innovation in Worker Organization at Rutgers University (SMLR).