Staff

John See, M.A., Advocacy and Political Leadership (MAPL)

Co-Director
612-624-6039
jsee@umn.edu

John started producing television programs in 1982 while an undergraduate at the U of MN as a director, writer, editor, and on-air talent. With these skills he began his work at LES in 1984 by cofounding "Minnesota At Work" which became the longest-running, regularly scheduled cable television in the U.S. about labor and working people, and which ended in 2009. He was one of the founders of the Union Producers and Programmers Network (UPPNET). For 30 years he has taught video production classes and produced many video projects for LES. He served on the board of the Minneapolis Television Network 1989-1996, eventually as board chair, and was instrumental in promoting MTN's non-profit internet service to unions around the state. In 1993, John began teaching classes in website creation and internet skills and is responsible for dozens of local unions' websites. In 2000 he became the webmaster for Workday Minnesota. He has been active as a representative on two University governance committees. He is a long-time member and Trustee of IATSE Local 219, an associate member of the Minnesota Newspaper Guild and Typographical Union, and a past member of Teamsters Local 4. John received his Master of Advocacy and Political Leadership M.A. in 2010 at the University of MN-Duluth. 
 

 

Howard Kling, M.A., English

Co-Director
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 joined LES from the Graduate Employees' Organization, a local of the American Federation of Teachers, where she worked for six years as an organizer and educator of graduate student employees at the University of Illinois. She has designed and taught classes in a variety of traditional collective bargaining areas and initiated programs around special topics, such as diversifying the union and "queering" the contract. Amy has connected with workers in a variety of ways, working on issues such as fast food organizing and the problem of mass incarceration. Her interests and skills will bring new strengths and perspectives to LES programming. Amy holds bachelor's and master's degrees in philosophy from the University of Memphis.

 

Filiberto Nolasco Gomez, M.A., Latin American History
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.

 

Meron Negussie
612-624-5020
negus008@umn.edu

 

 

Meron joined LES as our new Program Coordinator. She is a member of AFSCME 3800 and has 2 years of service at the University of Minnesota. She worked for Biomedical Engineering as a Purchasing Coordinator. 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.