March 3-4, 2020
Southern CA
Plumbers and Pipefitters District Council 16
March 6, 2020
Denver CO
Sheet Metal Local 9
March 11-12, 2020
Boston MA
Sheet Metal Local 17
March 14, 2020
Portland OR
Heat and Frost Insulators Local 36
March 16, 2020
Spokane WA
Iron Workers Local 16
March 17, 2020
Spokane WA
Sheet Metal Workers Local 55
March 28, 2020
Everett WA
Snohomish County CLC
March 31, 2020
Skagit County WA
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21
April 2, 2020
Seattle WA
Global Visionaries Youth Leadership Program
April 4, 2020
Medford OR
Int’l Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 659
April 7, 2020
Everett WA
Sheet Metal Local 66
April 13, 2020
Pasco WA
Sheet Metal Local 55
April 14, 2020
Dupont WA
Sheet Metal Local 66
April 20, 2020
Portland OR
Iron Workers Local 29
April 21, 2020
Portland OR
Sheet Metal Local 16
April 25-26, 2020
Wichita KS
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 2
April 27, 2020
Lake of the Ozarks MO
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655
May 2, 2020
Seattle WA
Cement Masons Local 528
May 13, 2020
Napa CA
California Pipe Trades Council State Convention
June 6, 2020
Seatac WA
SPEEA Nat. Leadership Conference
June 24, 2020
Rapid City SD
Int’l Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 11th District Progress Meeting
June 27, 2020
Albuquerque NM
New Mexico State Federation of Labor Convention
September 21, 2020
San Antonio TX
United Food and Commercial Workers Region 5
September 24, 2020
Joliet IL
Illinois State Sheet Metal Assoc. and North Central States Sheet Metal Council Joint Conference
September 28, 2020
Peoria IL
Sheet Metal Local 1 (and other local unions)
October 6, 2020
Everett WA
Sheet Metal Local 66
October 13, 2020
Dupont WA
Sheet Metal Local 66
Diversity, inclusiveness & hope in Chicago
Hello Friends,
During this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, I was honored to speak at the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus (EWMC) 30th Annual National Leadership Conference in Chicago for the third consecutive year. I was deeply inspired by the love, energy and determination of the 550-plus very diverse delegates and speakers. I want to share some inspiring stories from the conference that will encourage you and others to greater activism this year. We must bring down Trump and his allies in this election. Finding and sharing stories of hope and victory can and will inspire others.
Please pass this story on. It was published in The Stand, the news outlet of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and can also be found here on the website. And, as always, I would love your feedback via email or the Contact page.
In solidarity. Take care.
Mark
Finding Hope and Fighting Forward in 2020
This year we need to rise up and take concerted action to crush Trump and his anti-union, anti-people allies, win the elections and move our country toward a more just, equitable and humane future. My work this year is focused on bringing hope to people so that we can prevail in this great effort. Despair and hopelessness are our enemies. The best antidote to despair and hopelessness is sharing stories of victory which bring hope and encourage us to take action. As Peter Seeger once said many years ago: “The key to the future of the world is finding the optimistic stories and letting them be known.” Knowledge is power when we take action.
I am sharing an article of great victories in Arizona over the past 8 years. It was published in The Stand, the news outlet of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and can also be found here on the website.
In solidarity. Take care.
Mark
Workshop: “Fighting for Our Unions, Democracy and Future in the Age of Trump”
I launched this new interactive workshop to inspire and help union activists and community members be more effective in fighting forward against the Trump regime, its allies and Corporate America. This video version is titled: “Fighting for Our Unions, Our Democracy and Our Future.” It is critical that we understand that our ancestors faced the “divide and conquer” strategies of Corporate America and its allies. These strategies were based on racism, sexism, anti-immigrant hatred and other forms of bigotry and are being used once again to divide working people and our nation. Learning from our ancestors’ successes and failures is critical in our efforts to fight forward toward a better future for all of us. Click here to view the video and its Powerpoint.
“Your inspirational message to our delegates was educational and thought provoking.” – Lonnie Stephenson, International President, IBEW
“Your presentation was impressive. We will be in touch.” – Richard Lanigan, International President, OPEIU
“Mark presented at our National Electrical Workers Minority Caucus’ 28th Annual Leadership Conference in Detroit. His presentation was riveting as he held the delegates’ attention throughout. Mark’s workshops were overflowing and delegates overwhelmingly requested he be invited back. Thank you.” – Keith Edwards, National President, EWMC, Detroit MI
“Your presentation was indeed AWESOME! You were personally inspiring. I hope we can bring you back to speak to a larger audience. In Unity.” – Vonda McDaniel, President, Central Labor Council of Nashville and Middle Tennessee and Executive Council Member of the national AFL-CIO.
Making the American Dream Real for Everyone
This video is my 2018 speech in Seattle at the Cement Masons Local 528’s Orientation Day for new apprentices and union members. The topic was “Making the American Dream Real for Everyone.” Its tells an updated 125-year history of working people’s fight to build our labor movement and the American Dream. It provides inspiration and valuable lessons about our successes and failures and what we can learn from our history to help us fight forward toward a better future for all. It is an updated version of the 2013 IBEW video seen below. Click here to view the Powerpoint presentation.
This video is my speech at IBEW’s National Membership Development meeting in Las Vegas in 2013, my original presentation on the 125-year history of working people’s fight to build our labor movement and the American Dream providing inspiration and valuable lessons about our successes and failures and what we can learn from our history to help us fight forward toward a better future. Click here to view that Powerpoint presentation.
Newsletter #3 Published
My third newsletter is a compilation of analysis and tactical solutions to aid in our struggle in strengthening democracy and building a more just, equitable and sustainable world. My central argument is that the Trump regime with Republicans would escalate their years-long efforts to suppress voting to steal future elections. Check it out and subscribe now!
Here are newsletters #1 and #2.
The theft of the next election is already under way
If you care about the right of the people to fairly choose our elected officials, you should be paying close attention to these systematic efforts: The theft of the next election is under way.
The Democratic Party is losing the working class
Understanding why is the key to rebuilding a populist progressive movement. This was published recently in the The Stand, The Democratic Party is losing the working class
Scroll down or use the links above to find out about upcoming events, endorsements, and more. If you want to connect please email me or visit my Facebook page.