Activism was a full time job for seven AFT interns this past summer as they rallied, mobilized, made signs and dialed hundreds of phone calls as part of the 14th annual AFL-CIO Union Summer for Jobs Campaign. During the 10-week program, these student interns got to experience a range of worker issues 40+ hours a week as they helped the hotel workers in their contract fights, the car wash and sanitation workers in their battle for recognition and safe working conditions, and helped educate the public about Arizona's discriminatory new immigration law.

Placards with "I want to work" and "I need a job, not financial assistance" on them peppered the crowd as they cheered on AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, Senator Barbara Boxer and Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa who all spoke at the event. Sen. Boxer and Mayor Vallaraigosa promised to fight for the 30/10 plan to bring jobs to more workers in Los Angeles and made the case against the Republican strategy of delaying job creation and voting against important job-saving bills like the recently passed state aid package.

West LA College Builds Relations

West LA College has experienced a demanding, yet exciting and successful semester. With the addition of four new interns mid-year, the West LA program added to its diverse team. As a new group of students working together, the interns were able to expand their influence on campus and simultaneously create a powerful force. They exemplified leadership and building relations.

For many of the 250 students who turned out for a Mar.4 town hall meeting at Mission College, the effects of recent cuts were all too real. With State Sen. Alex Padilla addressing rising concerns over the state budget crisis, the town hall gave students a chance to have their questions answered.

Students from Southwest Community College speak out about budget issues and quality education. They discuss their personal goals and experiences as AFT Interns on campus and share the impact their efforts have made thus far on campus and in the fight for community colleges.

• Activists Relating Their Compelling, Personal Stories to Elected Officials

Dec. 2009 - Since the beginning of the fall semester, student mobilization interns across LACCD haven’t had a chance to catch their breath. To date, they have planned and held six townhalls meetings, 15 legislative visits, collected tens of thousands of ‘Stop the Cuts’ postcards, conducted 10 surveys and held five campus rallies.

AFT interns get real world lesson in grassroots democracy

Community college student Joana Batz, 21, has mobilized classmates to fight education cuts, marched in rallies and phone banked voters to educate them about elections.

ADD the following text + attached pix (091119-batz) to the home page : Her hands-on experience in grassroots democracy, through an internship program organized by American Federation of Teachers, Local 1521, is grooming her to be part of the next generation of progressive activists. But she has also performed a valuable community service by connecting with voters who are often left out of the political process.

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• Elected Officials Address reduced classes, other cuts in services at community colleges

Two Town Hall meetings at Mission and Pierce Colleges on Oct. 29 featured hundreds of students asking legislators tough questions about the budget cuts and their impact on their education. At Pierce College, before a standing room only crowd, Assemblywoman Julia Brownley fielded questions from students about the budget process and heard their displeasure over more cuts. At Mission College, Los Angeles City Councilmember Richard Alarcon took questions from students asking about the future of their education, and focusing on the California state budget crisis.