From the sweatshops of the garment industry to the sweatshops of the restaurant industry, from looking for work on street corners as day laborers to working in private homes as domestic workers, from working tirelessly in the evening as janitors to providing supportive services for the ill and the elderly in their homes, immigrant workers endure much hard work and sacrifice daily, but they fail to earn enough to raise themselves out of poverty. For three days thirty-two union and non-union immigrant workers from these different industries converged at the UCLA Downtown Labor Center for the Spanish Language Leadership School.

In March of 2002, the UCLA Labor Center conducted the first multi-union Spanish language leadership training program in the country. The Labor Center views the leadership school, known as “El Colegio,” as part of its commitment to providing leadership development for union members and other immigrant workers so that they can take on the leadership role in the struggle for workers’ rights in the labor and immigrant rights communities. The Colegio is an important component of the leadership development process of the UCLA Downtown Labor Center. Since the first Colegio in March of 2002, the UCLA Downtown Labor Center has emerged as a central location where immigrant workers can participate in skills development and leadership workshops. From ESL classes and computer classes to workshops based on popular education methodology, the Center has provided the space for workers to engage in leadership development.

For the first time, the Colegio brought together not only union members, but also immigrant workers through worker centers here in Los Angeles. On the union side, the participants consisted of janitorial, hospital and homecare workers from SEIU Locals 1877, 434b, and 399. On the community side, the participants were day laborers from the day laborer programs of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles and the Institute of Popular Education of Southern California (IDEPSCA); garment workers from the Garment Worker Center; a market worker from the Korean Immigrant Workers Advocates (KIWA); a non-union janitor from the Maintenance Cooperation Trust Fund; and a domestic worker from CHIRLA’s Domestic Workers Project.

The principal goal of the Colegio was to create a strong leadership of immigrant workers representing a diversity of unions and worker centers with a special focus on health and safety and the fight for healthcare for all. For three days, the workers participated in participatory workshops with a focus on leadership development through a train-the-trainer approach. By Sunday’s graduation, the Colegio had created a strong diverse leadership base of 32 immigrant workers representing major unions, worker centers, and industries.

In order to build a strong leadership from the group of participants, the Colegio created a space for the workers to get to know one another and develop a strong support network. On day one, the participants engaged in a dynamic exercise using a popular education tool, “los refranes” or sayings. Through this exercise, the workers got to know each other and begin this network-building process. On the same day, the workers participated in a giant puzzle exercise that helped them to learn the important qualities of unity and respect and how to deal with different dynamics when working within a group setting. The artist who created the puzzle used an indigenous symbol of the “Olin” that symbolize the connection of the past, present and future to highlight the last 15 years of workers rights struggle in Los Angeles. After putting it together, the workers reflected on the puzzle and their place in the movement and how they see themselves as its future.

An excellent team of facilitators implemented the workshops and guided the leadership development process of the workers. The team was composed of Project Directors Carolina Bank, Linda Delp and Victor Narro; Pablo Alvarado from the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) and Katarina Davis Del Valle from SEIU and LA Trade Tech Labor Studies Department. On the first day, Carolina walked the participants through a lively and energetic time line exercise that covers important events in the labor movement and struggle for workers’ rights during the past fifty years. The participants had the opportunity to reflect on important personal experiences connected with labor and immigrant issues and how they connected with the timeline.

On the morning of the second day, Katarina facilitated effective power analysis workshop called “Chencha Me Contó.” The workers role played characters, in a scenario focused on a community’s fight for living wages, health benefits, and health services. This exercise was successful in helping the participants develop a comprehensive understanding of the power structure and the important role of immigrants in promoting economic and social changes. In the afternoon, Linda facilitated an excellent session on health and safety issues and health policy issues affecting immigrant workers. By utilizing popular education methodologies such as body mapping and break out group sessions, the workers learn about the major health issues that impact them and how they can educate other workers. On the final day, Pablo facilitated an all day workshop on how to create a plan of action and how to plan a campaign. During the day, the workers had an opportunity to educate one another about the work of each union and community organization through a series of teatros.

The Colegio capped off with a moving graduation ceremony at the Downtown Labor Center on Sunday. Each participant received a beautiful personalized framed certificate with their picture. The Day Laborer band, Los Jornaleros del Norte, played for the event, which featured a moving keynote address by Maria Elena Durazo, president of HERE Local 11. The workers who graduated from the Colegio made a commitment to implement what they learned in their respective unions and worker centers, and to continue supporting each other’s campaigns and organizing efforts. On March 8, the workers are having an all-day workshop at the Downtown Labor Center as part of the UCLA Labor Center’s commitment to continue providing specialized workshops for them and developing their leadership skills.

Through the colegios and other leadership program initiatives, the Downtown Labor Center is providing a space where workers can become the leaders of their different unions and worker centers, and build strong alliances with one another to strengthen the movement for economic justice for immigrant workers here in Los Angeles.