AFL-CIO Next Up Young Worker Summit Hits Minnesota

Hundreds of young workers, organizers and students focus on movement building, organizing, social media and leadership development

(Minneapolis, MN)– Hundreds of young people including organizers and students from across the country will meet in Minneapolis from September 29 to October 2 for the second national Next Up Young Workers Summit hosted by the AFL-CIO. The summit is part of the AFL-CIO’s efforts, led by Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler, to reach out to working people under the age of 35. The summit will include diverse voices from inside and outside the labor movement including AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and actors Lucas Neff from Fox’s “Raising Hope” and RJ Mitte from “Breaking Bad”. The summit will focus on the current economic crisis and pathways to building a just economy as well as the ongoing attacks on workers’ rights from state legislatures.

This year’s summit also incorporates some new elements including an un-conference where participants can suggest and lead workshops. Attendees will also mobilize through a community service project with Tubman, a Minneapolis non-profit that serves more than 54,000 people in the Twin Cities. They will also take to the streets in downtown Minneapolis to bring attention to the crisis of jobless youth and amplify the America Wants to Work campaign.

Young Workers Summit – Minneapolis, MN September 29 – October 2 Hilton Minneapolis

1001 Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

1:00 – 4:30 Give Back to Minneapolis – Community Service Project

5:00 – 6:00 Keynote Welcome by Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler

Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

Plenary Session Grand Ballroom

9:00 – 9:30 Remarks by AFL-CIO Young Worker Advisory Council

9:30 – 10:30 “State of the Union” Moderated Panel on Current Economic Crisis for Young Workers and the Need to Build a Just Economy

10:45 – 11:00 “State Battles: We Are One” – Addresses recent surge of state battles for workers’ rights

“Attacks on Voting: ‘A Threat to American Democracy’

“Building a Cross Generational Labor Movement”

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1

Plenary Session Grand Ballroom

2:00 – 3:00 America Wants to Work – Town Hall Meeting

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

Plenary Session Grand Ballroom

9:45 – 11:45 Closing Plenary – “Built to Last: A Labor Movement For Now and the Future”: Pres. Trumka, Lucas Neff, AFTRA member and “Raising Hope” Actor, SAG member RJ Mitte from “Breaking Bad”