(ALBANY, NEW YORK) - The future of the Labor Movement may depend on gathering the next generation of Young Activists of Color as Unionists, but the move toward Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in everyday life is also one in keeping with the goals and ethics of United University Professions (UUP).

Those two themes - the practical, broad approach to DEI, and the hard work of a Union examining its own conscience and making the changes it knows it needs to make - dominated the discussion of a UUP-hosted virtual forum last week, titled: Creating a Culture of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

The forum was part of UUP’s celebration of February as Black History Month and it featured a panel of experts from throughout New York State - and also from within the State University of New York (SUNY), who talked about the many ways that a diverse, equitable and inclusive UUP and SUNY can work better for all Members.

“The work on this effort must come from within,” UUP President Fred Kowal said in his opening remarks before a virtual audience of nearly 200 UUP members.  “In our history as a Union, and in the general Labor Movement, there have been far too many times when we have been racist, when we have been exclusionary.  We must examine and determine what is happening in our own home, our own Union.”

Speakers included: The Reverend Terrence Melvin, Secretary-Treasurer of the New York State AFL-CIO; LaNina Cooke, Assistant Director at SUNY Farmingdale’s Center of Criminal Justice; Nakeia Chambers, Director of Multicultural, Disability and Veterans Affairs at Upstate Medical University; and Edward Lawson, an Adjunct Professor of Black Studies at SUNY New Paltz.

UUP Members Darleyne Mayers of Farmingdale and Patrick Romain of Albany - both Statewide UUP Executive Board Members and Co-Chairs of the Statewide UUP Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee - opened the forum with remarks that noted the many gains which UUP has made in the area of DEI through its legislative efforts, its Statewide Committees that tackle tough social topics and its advocacy for better access for students from underserved communities.

As part of that ongoing effort, UUP is using a $50,000 grant from the AFL-CIO Workforce Development Institute to create a “Capacity Building Team” of Members who will be trained in ways to expand diversity, equity and inclusion efforts on their campuses and in their Union.

UUP statewide Vice President for Professionals Carolyn Kube noted that when UUP put out the call for applicants to participate in this training program, the Union received 88 responses for 40 slots.

Eventually, these participants will go on to train others in the same effort.

“This is permanent work, because we must be that committed,” Kowal said.