18th Annual Promoting the General Welfare Conference
The William Brennan Institute for Labor Studies (WBILS), at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), invites you to explore expanding the boundaries of democracy with nationally renowned speakers at its Promoting the General Welfare Conference.
OMAHA - A Conference Exploring the Boundaries of Democracy
Experts from across the country will come to the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center (Weitz CEC) on Saturday, March 11, 2017, to speak on the future of the labor movement, protecting vulnerable workers, making a difference in the workplace, and sharing powerful messages. The conference will last one day and has limited seats available. People interested in learning more about economic and social justice from a union perspective are invited to attend. The conference is limited to the first 120 attendees who register and offers six hours of Social Work CEUs. Student scholarships to attend the conference are available for twenty UNO students on a first come, first-serve basis.
The William Brennan Institute for Labor Studies (WBILS) is one of several signature outreach programs housed in the Weitz CEC, UNO’s College of Public Affairs and Community Service. It is driven by a statewide mission to foster creative and critical thinking among labor leaders, potential leaders, and interested union members. The Institute welcomes opportunities to speak with members of the general public about the American labor movement and its many contributions. The American labor movement is arguably our nation’s oldest, largest, and most successful institution advocating for bringing meaningful democracy to workplaces across the nation. It believes in leveling playing fields and removing barriers so that everyday wage earners have a fair shot at achieving a piece of the American Dream.
The registration fee for non-scholarship students to attend is $35. The fee for general admission is $45. Register online.
Conference Details
The conference will be held at the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center, in Large Meeting Rooms 201,205, and 209, from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M.
Morning Plenary
The Labor Movement of the Future
Esther Lopez, International Secretary-Treasurer, United Food and Commercial Workers
The United Food and Commercial Workers union is leading the way in organizing vulnerable wage earners towards a better future for their families and communities.
Concurrent Sessions
The following three workshops will run 75 minutes each and repeat three times during the conference.
Protecting Vulnerable Workers
Alison Dickson, Faculty, University of Illinois Labor Education Program’s Worker Solidarity Program
Unions show themselves to be the paths that lead from poverty to the middle class. The challenge is to organize all workers in communities to create a meaningful and unified voice for improving the quality of life.
Unions: A Pathway to the American Dream
Will Fischer, Executive Director, United Veterans Council AFL-CIO
As a Marine veteran of the war in Iraq Will personally understand the significant challenges facing veterans after they complete their years of service in our military. The AFL-CIO has created a Union Veterans Council to help veterans in organized labor and to educate other veterans on the benefits that lie in organized labor.
Helping Younger Workers Become Difference Makers
Silvia Fabela, Young Worker Coordinator AFL-CIO
The story of how today’s modern employment relationship was humanized over the years is not being told to this generation of young workers. Fabela will speak on why the economy is not working for young people and what they can do to make a difference both in their workplaces and communities.
Closing Plenary
Values, Bridges and Message Framing
John Kretzschmar, Director, William Brennan Institute for Labor Studies
John Kretzschmar has been “message framing” for over six years. Kretzschmar will be showing how to use “value bridges” to connect with an audience and develop meaningful dialogue. He will apply those lessons to show how to most effectively share the information you received during the day’s conference.
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Unless otherwise clearly stated, any views or opinions expressed as part of events at the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center (Weitz CEC) should not be viewed as endorsements by the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and do not reflect the official position of UNO or the University of Nebraska system. Please also be aware, the responsibility for any changes to events held at the Weitz CEC, including cancellation, lie solely with the event organizer and not UNO or the Weitz CEC.