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REPORT
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How pleased we are to share with you some of the many successes of our May 18-19 “Full Circle for Economic Justice” Conference. Evaluations were four and five-star! Click here for a photo array that tells some of the story. Adobe Reader is necessary to see this PDF document.
What did Conference participants like? All praised the presentations by youth groups from around the state. With poise, energy and ethical vision, these students (31 showed up) are standing up for farmworker justice, fair trade, an end to sweatshops, trade agreements that treat both workers and the environment justly and a ‘full circle economy’ that no longer exploits the working poor. Students returned home with the memory of standing ovations and plaques to motivate their next campaigns.
Other participants gave rave reviews in the areas below. :
- NYS Labor Department Commissioner Patricia Smith’s keynote address calling for action on behalf of low-income workers, victims of trafficking and those denied labor protections, such as domestic workers and farmworkers. Click above for a summary of her presentation.
- Marilyn Clement’s talk and workshop and national organizing efforts for Healthcare NOW for ALL PERSONS;
- Special opportunities to link with like-minded activists “we didn’t know were out there;”
- Trainings and workshops that “empowered rather than overwhelmed;”
- Music by Jonathan and Annie Rosen.
We had hoped for 100 – 120 participants. When we reached 160, space limitations required us to turn some people away.
Staff and board and “ Full Circle” participants left bubbling with possible follow-up and next steps. Click here to read descriptions about the in-depth trainings and workshops from the conference agenda.
The conference also included special recognition of winners of the Kennedy-Hirsch Award and the Jim Wood Coalition Builder Award. One of the home page photos features Bishop Howard Hubbard of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany thanking Kennedy-Hirsch winner Rev. Richard Witt, director of Rural and Migrant Ministry.
Click here for an article about the first day from the Daily Gazette in Schenectady, "Labor-religion group looks at social inequity." For a New York Teacher article, "Commissioner highlights agenda at annual Labor-Religion conference," click here.
For a photo from the May 20 rally with farmworkers and domestic workers near the Capitol, click here. Notice signs created at the closing of the conference on May 19.
© Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State
