Staff
Filiberto Nolasco Gomez, M.A., Latin American History
Chair
612-624-1104
nolas011@umn.edu
Growing up in a working-class Mexican community in eastern Los Angeles Filiberto was observant of the grind his parents and community members went through to fulfill their daily needs and fight to live with dignity. These insights led to an extensive breadth of union experience having worked with UNITE HERE Local 11, UAW 2865 and SEIU 284. Determined to tell stories that media ignores he started his own media company El Huateque five year ago quickly becoming a platform of expression and commentary. His writing and podcasts have drawn attention to abusive dynamics within the music industry, new slumlord of South Minneapolis, gentrification in Los Angeles and the struggles of everyday latin people. He is excited to leverage the scope of these experiences to sustain and expand the vision and breadth of Workday Minnesota.
Howard Kling, M.A., English
612-624-4326
hkling@umn.edu
Howard's work for LES includes being a media and video professional and activist. Howard directs the LES Telecommunications Project, coordinating video production, union website maintenance and development and Workday Minnesota. Howard is also a playwright and for eight years was director of the Solidarity Kids Theater, a youth labor theater group located in the Twin Cities. He earned an MA/ A.B.D. in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a concentration in theater and American working class literature. Howard is a member of the Executive Council of the International Labor Communications Association, the Executive Board of the United Association for Labor Education, Board Chair of the national Worker's Independent News radio project and a member of the Board of the Twin Cities Media Alliance, which operates the Daily Planet website
Amy Livingston, M.A., Philosophy
612-624-5020
livingst@umn.edu
Amy has been a labor educator at the Labor Education Service since 2015. She has taught classes on a wide range of topics for union members and other workers, including steward trainings and courses on collective bargaining, grievance handling/contract enforcement, labor history, labor law, union leadership, and internal organizing. Additionally, Amy has taught and co-taught classes on Janus and right-to-work; racial justice in the union; the history of race and labor in the U.S.; labor and other social movements; and labor and mass incarceration. Amy has a particular interest in working with unions and workers who are struggling toward racial, gender, and disability justice in their workplaces and unions.
Prior to joining the LES, Amy worked as an internal organizer and representative for two teachers’ unions in Illinois: GEO, IFT/AFT Local 6300; and GEO, IFT/AFT Local 6297.
Meron Negussie, Program Coordinator
612-624-5020
negus008@umn.edu
Meron joined LES as a Program Coordinator in January 2018. She is a steward, an organizer and serves as a member of the Executive Board with AFSCME 3800. Meron has 5 years of service at the University of Minnesota. She is studying Business Management with a focus on Labor Studies. She is a first generation immigrant from Ethiopia. She is passionate about social justice and often volunteers her free time to work with organizations with similar views. Meron also loves animals and wishes to have a hobby farm in the future.
John See, M.A., Advocacy and Political Leadership
612-624-6039
jsee@umn.edu
Cassie J. Williams, M.A., Education
Cassie earned a B.A. in Literature and Creative Writing and a M.A. in Education from Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU). With a passion for education, she has an extensive background in student affairs, diversity, equity and inclusion. Her background includes teaching human relations, global studies, and facilitating workshops focused on cultural competency, equity and inclusion. She was also a member and corresponding secretary for MSUAASF at SMSU. Through her involvement in multiple art and rural community based organizations, Cassie has a special interest in how art is used to address social and racial inequalities as well as rural and urban partnerships. Her experience and passion for others led her to commit to empowering union workers to challenge inequities in the workplace, strengthen union bonds by creating spaces of support, and to promote professional growth and leadership by providing workers with tools needed to fight for social and economic justice. When she is not teaching and advocating for the rights of others, she enjoys spending time with her family and writing poetry with aspirations of one day completing multiple works of poetry.
Sasha Yunginger, M.A., Education
Sasha came to the Labor Education Service with an interest in working with unions and marginalized workers. Sasha holds a BS in Corrections and Sociology and a Master’s of Arts in Education. While working with incarcerated people, Sasha learned in more detail the complications of the criminal justice system and continues to have a passion to change it. Sasha taught special education in public schools for ten years prior to coming to LES. While teaching, Sasha was an active member of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers, Local 59, MEA, AFT, and NEA. Sasha served as site steward and held a position on the special education labor management team as well as the restorative practices labor management team. She was sent to the Labor Notes conference on behalf of her local as well as served as state delegate. Sasha wants to continue to help union members find their voice within their union. In her free time, Sasha enjoys traveling with her partner, reading, gardening, and fostering animals.
Contact Labor Education Service
- Email: les@umn.edu
- Phone: 612-624-5020