WILL Empower launches new nationwide economic justice movement apprenticeship program

By SHERI GASSAWAY

Correspondent

WILL (Women Innovating Labor Leadership) Empower is accepting applications for its new nationwide apprenticeship program, which is designed to identify and recruit activists who are interested in trying out for a job in the economic justice movement.

WILL Empower, a legacy project of the Berger-Marks Foundation, is a newly launched, multipronged initiative designed to identify, nurture and train a new generation of women’s Labor leadership. It’s a joint project of Georgetown University’s Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor in Washington and Rutgers University’s Center for Innovation in Working Organization in New Jersey.

Apprentices may work in a variety of capacities including organizing, research, communications, politics, mobilization and policy in unions and worker organizations across the nation. Participants earn an average of $15 an hour during the three- to 12-month program.

APPLICATIONS DUE JUNE 15

The apprentices will be part of a formal mentorship program with mentors both within and outside of the host organization and will receive an initial WILL Empower training. The first group of apprentices will begin work this fall.

Following successful completion of the program, WILL Empower staff work with program graduates on job identification and recommendations. Applications are due June 15.

TO QUALIFY

To qualify for the program, applicants must have:

• A proven commitment to social and economic justice;

• A strong interest in being part of a program designed to build a new generation of women’s Labor leadership;

• An interest in working long-term in a worker-based organization;

• Solid leadership skills;

• Excellent writing and speaking skills;

• Proven experience in at least one of the areas of apprenticeship focus: organizing, policy, research, communications, politics or mobilization.

TO APPLY

To apply for an apprenticeship, visit willempower.org. For more information on the program or to become a host union or organization, email willempower.labor@gmail.com.