Posts Tagged: Local 1000

By Robin Kerfoot, Local 1000, North Carolina NAACP Freedom Summer Action Project

I am working on the Freedom Summer project in North Carolina – it has been a very busy third week! This week, Victor Bowling (my UFCW GOLD partner) and I have been working with an organizer from the NAACP, Robert Gray. We have been educating people on the issues facing North Carolinians and helping them to register to vote and update their information.

On Monday and Tuesday we delivered voting registration boxes to local barber shops. We also set up volunteers who will check these boxes every few days. On Tuesday evening we attended a dinner with the Raleigh branch of the NAACP political action committee. We were able to meet several amazing people, discuss upcoming events, and listen to their take on how things are affecting their communities and how we can help.

On Wednesday evening we teamed up with the League of Conservation Voters at a local basketball tournament. This tournament was the perfect place to register voters and collect signatures for a petition against pollution. When the tournament ended, we enjoyed pizza and Gatorade with all of the spectators.

Friday evening we held a screening of PBS’s Freedom Summer at a local church.  When the film ended, a lot of people mentioned that there was a lot of information in the film they had never heard before. Even people there who lived through the Freedom Summer said they learned something. Hearing everyone’s views on it was great.

Saturday we had two events scheduled, an LGBTQ expo and a neighborhood canvass. At the LGBTQ expo we handed out information and registered people to vote with Nicole, a NAACP organizer. It was a lot of fun talking with and meeting new people. That evening we met up with volunteers and some people from the NAACP Raleigh branch to canvass a neighborhood. We were able to educate people we met on current issues and even registered a few to vote. I really enjoyed getting to meet so many interesting people.

The GOLD experience has changed me in such a positive way. I’ve seen how communities can come together to help each other, and in turn help themselves. I have been truly inspired by all of the wonderful people I have met here.

Last week, 36 UFCW GOLD interns met in Chicago for a week of orientation and training. Throughout the week they spoke with and learned from elected officials, labor activists, civil rights leaders, and UFCW members with acute knowledge of the action projects that they’ll be working on.

GOLD interns will be spread across the country at eight different action projects from July 7^th – August 4^th. The projects are wide ranging – GOLD interns will be working on paid sick leave fights, voter registration drives, workplace injury research, and organizing workers on campaigns across the country.

Even though it was the first time any of the interns had met each other, the excitement within the room was extraordinarily high. Interns made fast friends and had high hopes for the summer.

“This week has proven to me that UFCW really is just a giant family. From the second I stepped off the plane and met everyone in baggage claim there was an immediate bond between us all. I feel like I’ve known these people my entire life.” – Melissa Berry Local 655

“I love the idea of working together to create better lives for people. I feel like being a GOLD intern is a great way to do that. That’s why I’m here.” – Anthony Mustacchio Local 1500

“I applied to be an intern because I love the advantages of being in a union and want to bring that to other workers. This entire week in Chicago has been incredible. It’s amazing how quickly a group of 36 strangers can come together with a common goal and common drive. Shows how much power there is in a united workforce.” – Matt Greeley Local 1473

“It’s an absolute privilege to be here. I’ve met 35 brothers and sisters that I didn’t know I had. All of us are looking forward to showing everyone that we can be the leaders they need us to be. GOLD interns are going to be making an impact this summer and beyond.” – Dan Puglisi Local 23

“I’m a GOLD intern because I like helping people and inspiring others to do the same. I’ve seen horrible working conditions and I want them stopped everywhere. If I accomplish one thing this summer I hope its bringing people together and letting them know they have a voice that no one can take away.” – Robin Kerfoot Local 1000

“It’s an exciting moment right now because all of us have the chance to accomplish something great – something that will last. Hopefully all of us can inspire people across the country to take ownership of our communities and put the movement back in the labor movement. This entire week has gotten me really excited for the potential of this summer.” – Mikhail ‘Flip’ Filipovitch Local 951

GOLD interns can be found this summer in San Francisco, Sacramento, Seattle, Chicago, Atlanta, Jackson, Raleigh, Iowa City, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Greenbelt.

If you want to follow UFCW members taking part in the GOLD internship, their photos will be tagged on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #ufcwgold all summer long.