This program is part of the series, "America 250:  Rebuilding Democracy for Worker Justice", part of the Civic Engagement and Leadership Development program at the Murphy Institute of the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies.

 

Series Overview

America 250:  Rebuilding Democracy for Worker Justice

Civic Engagement and Leadership Development - Spring 2026

 

As the USA nears its 250th anniversary, democracy itself feels brittle -- captured by money, hollowed by polarization, and distant from the people who make the country run. Yet beneath the fatigue, worker power and people power is stirring all over the country. Democracy is not a document but a daily discipline, practiced in the collective demand for dignity. This is a moment to think audaciously about the civic power sleeping inside everyday work. Organizing is the seedbed of a new social contract—one that links economic fairness to planetary survival and collective self-rule. We must rebuild a democratic spirit worthy of the next century. In an era of deep political and social division, we need effective strategies for building lasting, multiracial, and cross-sectoral solidarity among today’s diverse workforce who demand justice.

• What must we learn—and unlearn—from history to build an economy and society that works for all?
• Which buried stories of worker solidarity and struggle offer the most instructive blueprints for a more just future?
• Can we build solidarity strong enough to counter corporate power?

 

Fri. February 20    

"Building Bold Visions & Durable Alliances"

Guest Speakers:

JaNaé Bates, ISAIAH and Faith in Minnesota

Eric Ward, Race Forward and Overcoming the Wedge

 

Fri. March 20    

"Fighting Back: New York and Beyond"

Guest Speakers:

Maria Stephan, The Horizons Project

Gabby Seay, Seay Strategies

 

Fri. April 24    

"Governing New York City: By, Of, & For Workers?"

Guest Speakers:

Fahd Ahmed, Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) and DRUM Beats

Brandon Mancilla, United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 9A