CWA Members Graduate from Minority Leadership Institute

Last week, CWA leaders from across the country met in Iowa City, Iowa, for the Dennis Serrette Minority Leadership Institute (MLI), a week-long leadership training program hosted by the CWA Human Rights Department. During MLI, participants from CWA Districts and Sectors undergo rigorous training in subjects including leadership development, communications, organizing, and legislative advocacy.

CWA Director of Human Rights, Education and Health and Safety Angie Wells provided opening remarks, followed by a welcome from Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague. CWA Secretary-Treasurer Ameenah Salaam, IUE-CWA Industrial Division President Carl Kennebrew, and CWA Chief of Staff Sylvia J. Ramos spoke on the importance of MLI to our union. CWA Minority Caucus President Maurice Washington grounded those gathered with a history of the Minority Caucus.

Salaam also opened a panel discussion, moderated by Angie Wells, titled “Paths, Obstacles, and Strategies for Developing Leadership.” Speakers included CWA District 4 Vice President Linda L. Hinton; Public, Healthcare and Education Workers Vice President Margaret Cook; IUE-CWA President Kennebrew; Western Region At-Large Diversity Executive Board Member Keith Gibbs; and Central Region At-Large Diversity Executive Board Member Reggie Small.

Students also met with CWA President Claude Cummings Jr., who discussed the role MLI-trained leaders have played in building our union, as well as the importance of integrity, honesty, and collaboration.

Congratulations, graduates!

 
Meet the Dennis Serrette Minority Leadership Institute’s Fall 2025 Graduating Class! Top row, left to right: Letizia Maria Zamudio (CWA District 9), Belinda Aguilar (CWA District 6), Shannon Gomes (CWA District 1), Kelese Richardson (AFA-CWA), Antwan Marshall (IUE-CWA). Front row, left to right: Wayne Herring (CWA District 4), Tay Akins (CWA District 7), Andrae Johnson (PHEW), Bill Baker (NewsGuild-CWA), Yvonne Kinston (Telecommunications and Technologies), LeAnder Fleming (CWA District 3).

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.