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Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers union, was the keynote speaker at a March 21 program in the student center of East Los Angeles College launching the Los Angeles Community College District’s (LACCD) Dolores Huerta Labor Institute.
“For the first time ever, the Los Angeles labor movement will have a new way to spread the good word about unions to community college students throughout Los Angeles County,” said Huerta. “This is great news considering the important role that labor unions play each day in improving the lives of working families here.”
Other event speakers included Maria Elena Durazo, Secretary-Treasurer of the LA County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO; Darroch “Rocky” Young, LACCD Chancellor; labor union leaders and members of the LACCD Board of Trustees.
“We see this institute as a fine addition to our vocational and transfer classes which help prepare students for the nation’s workforce,” said Board President Georgia Mercer. “It will be housed at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, bringing labor practitioners and academic experts together to offer students labor history curriculum, volunteer activities and internships.”
The Institute will address Huerta’s goals of educating the public on the role, significance and contributions of workers in the changing global economy. Students will learn the public and private policies that govern employment and the significance of the labor movement in U.S. society. The Institute is funded by contributions made by L.A. County labor unions and the LACCD.
Applications for the Institute’s summer internship program are due on May 4. Applicants must be LACCD students who have an interest in working with unions, a commitment to social and economic justice and the ability to work with a diverse population. The 11-week internship includes a $450 per week stipend.
Huerta revolutionized the labor movement in the 1960s using tactics of non-violence and ultimately dedicating her life to the struggle for justice, dignity and a decent standard of living for farm workers. Today she travels regularly to cities across the nation speaking on public policy issues affecting immigrants, labor, women and youth.
The nine colleges in the Los Angeles Community College District provide the best career education possible, with convenient campuses throughout the city offering more than 2,900 different courses and serving more than 185,000 vocational education and transfer students each academic year. Tuition is only $20 per unit, enabling greater access to higher education. For more information, visit www.lacolleges.net.
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