Meet the 2024-2025 Cohort
In November 2024, we welcomed the 11th NLLI cohort. Below, you'll find the dynamic workers who make up the 2024-2025 class.
Nathan Allen
- Director of Organizing & Affiliate Supports (C4OAS), National Education Association
Nathan Allen is the Director of Organizing & Affiliate Support (C4OAS) at the National Education Association, marking 22 years with the organization.
Lacy Barnes
- Secretary Treasurer, California Federation of Teachers
Lacy has been an instructor and faculty leader since 1994.
Cassondra Curiel
- President, United Educators of San Francisco
Cassondra Curiel is the president of United Educators of San Francisco.
Rose Denis
- President, UNITEHERE, Local 355
Rose Gabriel Metellus Denis. Mrs. Denis is originally from Haiti. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of State in Haiti in 1995.
Samuel A. Epps IV
- President, Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO
Samuel Epps has two decades of experience in labor, government, advocacy, and electoral politics.
Jeffery M. Freitas
- President, California Federation of Teachers
Jeffery M. Freitas was elected CFT President in March 2019 after serving as CFT Secretary-Treasurer for eight years. He is the first openly LGBTQ+ member to become President of the CFT.
Cynthia Gomez
- Deputy Director of Membership Growth, ROC United
My name is Cynthia Gomez and I was born in Mexico. At 18, I immigrated to the United States and lived in New York for 4 years where I worked as a waitress.
Simon Hazelwood
- General Vice President, Canada - International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
Following in his father’s footsteps, Simon Hazelwood started his apprenticeship as a drywall finisher in 1990 and later obtained his Certificate of Qualification as a Drywall Finisher.
Johanna Puno Hester
- Deputy Executive Director, United Domestic Workers of America
Johanna Puno Hester is the Deputy Executive Director of the United Domestic Workers of America/AFSCME, Local 3930, which represents more than 180,000 home care and family child care providers in 39
Courtney Jenkins
- President, Metropolitan Baltimore Council AFL-CIO
Courtney Jenkins is a native son of Central Maryland. At the age of 19, he began his career at the United States Postal Service as a mail processing clerk at the Linthicum Incoming Mail Facility.
Tear Jones
- Chief of Staff, American Federation of Teachers
Tear Jones was appointed as Chief of Staff of the American Federation of Teachers in 2021, becoming the union’s first black woman to serve in the role.
John Lepley
- Department of Education Director, United Steelworkers
I have worked in the United Steelworkers’ Department of Education and Membership Development since 2010.
Arina Lester
- Director of Resource Development, Solidarity Center
Arina Lester is the Resource Development and Planning Director at the Solidarity Center, the largest US-based international grassroots worker rights organization with work in nearly 70 countries.
Paolo Marinaro
- Country Program Director - Mexico, Solidarity Center
Paolo is a labor rights expert in U.S.-Mexico relations with 10 years of experience managing projects related to trade union development and strengthening.
Jake McIntyre
- Assistant to President, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC)
Jake McIntyre has served the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) as Assistant to the President for Planning & Policy since Fall 2021.
Hayley Millington
- National Executive Vice-President, Union of National Employees
Hayley Millington grew up on the island of Trinidad and Tobago, land of the Hummingbird, Steelpan and Calypso; a twin island republic situated off the northern edge of the South American mainland.
Lorraine Montemayor
- Training and Leadership Development Coordinator, Texas AFL-CIO
Lorraine Montemayor is the Training and Leadership Development Coordinator for the Texas AFL-CIO, a state labor federation consisting of 240,000 affiliated union members.
Zachary Norris
- California Climate Director, Greenpeace USA
Zachary Norris is Greenpeace USA’s California Climate Director.
Juanita Ray
- President, UWUA Local 223
Juanita Ray has served as the president of Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA), Local 223, Region IV, Michigan since Feb. 19, 2020.
Chad Rink
- General President, International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, AFL-CIO
Chad Rink is a third-generation Iron Worker who began his career in 1994 in Youngstown, Ohio.
Baschki Robertson
- Senior International Representative, OPEIU
Baschki began her career as a teacher in upstate New York. Baschki became involved in the union after she, along with several other teachers, faced a layoff.
Robert Varela Rodriguez
- Executive Committee Member, NEA
Robert Varela Rodriguez is a special education teacher in the San Bernardino City Unified School District.
Christa Sarrack
- President, UNITE HERE! Local 17
Christa Sarrack is the President of UNITE HERE! Local 17, Minnesota’s hospitality union. Christa started with Local 17 in 2010 as an Organizer and was elected President of the local in 2017.
Chris Scheiblein
- Director of Helping Hands, IUPAT
Chris Scheiblein worked as an Employee Assistance Professional (EAP), starting in 2006.
Milly Silva
- Secretary Treasurer, SEIU 1199
On August 26th, 1920, after more than three generations of a courageous campaign, women earned the right to vote.
April Sims
- President, Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
April Sims (she/her) was elected President of the Washington State Labor Council,
John Paul Smith
- Executive Assistant & Chief of Staff, AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer
John Paul (JP) Smith is the Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff to the AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer where he oversees the federation's administrative departments and organizational finances.
Denise Specht
- President, Education Minnesota
Denise Specht was elected president of Education Minnesota at the Representative Convention April 27, 2013. She took office July 1, 2013, and was re-elected in 2016, 2019 and 2022.
Debby Szeredy
- Executive Vice President, American Postal Workers Union, AFL0CIO
Activist in the Retail Clerks Union in CA right out of High School, 1973
Adrian Williams
- Assistant Director of Education, AFSCME
Adrian Williams is an Assistant Director of AFSCME's Education department who manages staff and facilitates the union education of the Eastern, Southern, and Central regions of AFSCME.
Nia Winston
- Recording Secretary, UNITEHERE International
Nia Winston is Recording Secretary, UNITEHERE International .
Stephen Wishart
- Campaigns Hub Director, Supply Chains Cross-Regional Programs, Learning Coordinator, Solidarity Center
Stephen is the campaigns hub director and the supply chains cross-regional programs and learning coordinator at the Solidarity Center, AFL-CIO, where he focuses on creating and strengthening strate