UCLA Labor Center

Seats are filling fast for one of the most important conversations at Skills Summit 2025. "From Worker Voice to Workforce Solutions" will explore how workforce and education policies become stronger when workers and learners have a real seat at the table. In a moment when so many feel unheard, this session will focus on ensuring workers are not just included in policy conversations but positioned as decision-makers across all sectors. This mainstage plenary will bring together a dynamic group including my colleague, Michael Richardson , Saba Waheed from UCLA Labor Center, Rachel Korberg from The Families and Workers Fund, and Rachel Wilkerson and Atheena Martinez from the National Skills Coalition Student Advisory Council. #NSCSkillsSummit is the premier gathering for leaders shaping the future of workforce development, and this session is a must-attend for anyone committed to building a more effective and inclusive workforce system. If you haven’t registered yet, now is the time to secure your spot. Register now to reserve your seat:?https://lnkd.in/e-pBr2fn.

Last Friday, UCLA Labor Center Director Saba Waheed moderated a panel at the Thinking Gender 2025 Research Conference, “Gendered Labors & Transnational Solidarities”. Keynote speaker Adriana Paz Ramírez of the International Domestic Workers Federation explored how domestic workers have galvanized their movement into a global force through strategic alliance building. Thank you to the Center for the Study of Women UCLA for bringing together these powerful minds and relevant research. ??

As we gear up for our building reopening this fall, let's take a moment to highlight the poster art commissioned for our 60th anniversary last year. LA-based artist Brenda Chi captured the essence of the UCLA James Lawson Jr. Worker Justice Center and the communities that we serve through our mission of advancing worker justice. Stay tuned for more details about the reopening and how the Center will continue to serve as a hub for advocacy. ??

Our newest article focuses on our Global Solidarity program's Mexico City convening last November, where labor centers came together to explore binational research and collaboration opportunities. Learn more about how the UCLA Labor Center is working collaboratively to create a sustainable, impactful research agenda that benefits workers across borders. ?? ??

Kent Wong, Project Director of Labor and Community Partnerships at UCLA Labor Center sat down with Kellogg Company foundation to speak on the importance of empowering and protecting immigrant communities. “Immigrants aren’t just contributors to our economy. They’re our neighbors, caregivers, and leaders. When we fight for their rights, we’re fighting for a better future for all of us.” https://buff.ly/3Dcjs9l #InTheNews

MacArthur Park has a long, vibrant history of facilitating community spaces. PBS covered the Youth Break Center, Inc. a.k.a. "Radiotron” that served as a safe space for local youth, becoming known as the first West Coast Hip Hop youth center. https://buff.ly/3CNL3xB We are excited for our MacArthur Park building to reopen in the fall and continue the neighborhood legacy of community building and advocacy.???

In our new article, a former LAUSD student reflects on her experience returning to the classroom as a labor studies educator. ?? Meet Victoria Fierro, a senior at UCLA double majoring in Labor Studies and Education (UCLA School of Education and Information Studies). Victoria has been working with the UCLA Labor Center as an intern for our Young Worker Initiative, bringing workplace readiness training directly to LAUSD high school students. Read her article to learn more about the initiative and the work that is being done.

Tia Koonse, Legal and Policy Research Manager at the UCLA Labor Center and University of California, Los Angeles - School of Law alumni, will be honored at this year's U Serve LA celebration. Throughout the years, her steadfast commitment to workplace justice has been unmatched! ??

Don't miss out! As immigration policies evolve rapidly, it is crucial for campus communities to stay informed about their impact on hiring, retention, and support for international faculty, staff, and students. ?? Join AFT and community partners for an informative town hall where experts will discuss the latest changes in U.S. immigration policies and how we can best defend faculty and staff at colleges and universities. Kent Wong, UCLA Labor Center Project Director for Community and Labor Partnerships will be a featured speaker. ?? ??????. 25 ???? 7 ??.??. ?????? ???????????????? ??????: ????.??????.??????/??????

”Thousands of University of California healthcare, research and technical employees voted to authorize a strike, citing what they described as systemic and ongoing staffing shortages that erode patient care and hurt research operations.” https://buff.ly/3CSsQyQ #InTheNews