ULI Graduation February 2023

The Union Leadership Institute (ULI) graduation was held at the Cornell ILR NYC offices on Feb 10. Participants celebrated their accomplishments with family and friends. Among those present to celebrate were 2 young girls who came to watch their fathers graduate, and a baby born just a few weeks before the final ULI retreat!
 

Graduates participated in three, week-long retreats, which took place in May, July and December around New York State, building their leadership skills and competencies while  developing  deep and lasting relationships and community. 

The ULI program has been training labor leaders in New York State for over twenty years.
There were 28 ULI graduates this year from 16 organizations. Some of the organizations include NYSUT, Laborers, IATSE, 1199 and Adhikaar, a Nepali worker center based in Queens. The group was a true reflection of the future of the labor movement, including 12 women and 19 BIPOC participants. Participants included labor leaders from all around New York state, including Buffalo, Oneonta, Albany, Westchester, and the five boroughs. 

We were joined at the graduation by Patricia Campos-Medina, Executive Director of the Worker Institute and Dean Ariel Avgar. James Shillitto, President of UWUA Local 1-2 gave remarks, and Mario Cilento, President of the NYS AFL-CIO made the keynote speech and participated in the presentation of graduation certificates. Peter de Jesus, President of the Western NY Area Labor Federation, was chosen by his cohort to be the class speaker. We’re incredibly proud of the ULI class of 2022! 

We will begin recruiting for the next class in March 2023, with an application deadline of June 1.