ESTANISLA HURTADO: REFLECTIONS

ON THE NEXT-UP YOUTH SUMMIT

 By Estanisla Hurtado

I would like to thank my Local 1245 for giving me the opportunity of attending the Minneapolis 2011 Next Up Youth Summit.”

This is my first time attending a conference. I don’t have much experience, but I always try to be involved and participate in all the things that my Local 1245 would like me to be in.  Also, I like to help our brothers and sisters from other unions and our Local 1245, especially tree trimmers.

This meeting helped me, and taught me that I don’t need to be afraid of anything, that I need to speak up and can fight for all of our union and nonunion brothers and sisters.  I believe the labor movement is a social change movement for good jobs, shared prosperity, equality and justice for all people.  I also think that if we build connections between labor and community groups and mobilize to take direct action on issues like education, civil rights and worker justice, we can build a stronger and more diverse labor movement.

Thank you again for considering me. I’m excited to have been part of this conference, and I hope I can be part of the next event.

Estanisla Hurtado is a Local 1245 member working for Davey Tree.