Conference on the role local civil rights plays in workers’ lives Feb. 20

By SHERI GASSAWAY

Correspondent

An all-day conference, “Civil Rights in Workers’ Lives” examining St. Louis’ civil rights history and the role it has played and continues to play in workers’ lives is set for Feb. 20 at the University of Missouri at St. Louis (UMSL).

The event, which includes lunch, will be held from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the J.C. Penney Conference Center on the UMSL campus at 1 University Blvd. in St. Louis. It is sponsored by the UMSL Labor Studies Program and the University of Missouri Extension Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

“The program is the first of what we hope will be a series of workshops that focus on bringing students, faculty and staff together with members of the community to discuss these important issues,” said Doug Swanson, UMSL Labor Studies Program coordinator.

The program will include a discussion about techniques and tactics that were used in the past to change workers’ lives in St. Louis, a look at what is happening today in regard to civil rights and workers’ rights, and interactive sessions where guests can participate.

Speakers include:

• Pat Dolan, a St. Louis County Councilman serving the Fifth District, an apprentice coordinator at the Missouri AFL-CIO and president of Sprinkler Fitters Local 268.

• Rosemary Feurer, an associate professor of history at Northern Illinois University and author of “Radical Unionism.”

• Bruce Franks, Missouri State Representative (D-St. Louis).

• Percy Green, founding member of the Action Committee to Improve Opportunities for Negroes and member of the St. Louis chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality.

• Deborah Henry, a champion for diversity in construction and professor of history at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park.

Additionally, Gwen Moore, curator of the nationally acclaimed No. 1 Civil Rights Exhibit at the Missouri History Museum, will give a presentation on the display.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

Guests are asked to register for the event online or by contacting Swanson at 314-516-6698 or at swansondj@missouri.edu.

There is no cost to attend the conference, but organizers are requesting donations to defer the costs. You can mail a check payable to the UMSL Labor Studies Program to 132 E. Monroe Ave. Kirkwood, MO 63121.