NLLI 12th Cohort

The National Labor Leadership Initiative (NLLI) is an intensive year-long leadership development program for top-level national leaders in the labor movement and the broader movement for worker justice.

Meet the 2025-2026 Cohort

Learn more about NLLI

In November 2025, we welcomed the 12th NLLI cohort. Below are the dynamic leaders who make up the 2025-2026 class.

Matt Bennet

Associate Director, National Education Association (NEA)

Karen Betancourt

Secretary Treasurer, UNITE HERE Local 30

Lawrence Burgess

National Pre-Apprenticeship and Job Corps Coordinator, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades

Marley Clements

Senior Advisor to the General President, Laborers' International Union of North America

Denise Diaz

Director of Institutional Advancement, Jobs with Justice

Erika Fagan

Director of Program Quality, Learning and Compliance, Solidarity Center

Cathy Ferguson

Staff Representative, US Steelworkers

Terrell George

President, UNITEHERE! Local 24

Katie Gerken

Senior Extension Associate, Labor Leadership Initiatives

mkg74@cornell.edu

Adekemi Gray

Executive Vice President, 1199SEIU, Mount Sinai Division

Brendan Griffith

President, NYC Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO

Melissa Harter

Organizer, Utility Workers Union of America

Michael Hellstrom

Vice President, Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA)

Madison Hull

Deputy Chief of Staff, International Union of Painters & Allied Trades

Paris Jones

Associate Director for Education and Leadership, American Federation of State, City and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

Sussie Lozada

Secretary Treasurer, UNITE HERE Local 100

Gladys Marquez

Executive Committee Member, National Education Association

Elly Matsumura

California Director, PowerSwitch Action

Patrick Moran

President, Maryland Council 3, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME),

Dave Osborne

International Vice President, Ironworkers

J.J. Popio

National Organizer, Utility Workers Union of America

Jenny M. Reed

Director of Education and Staff Development

Jeremy Rivas

North Central Regional Director, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers

Jerry D. Wilson

President, Iron Workers District Council of Texas and Mid-South States

Brian Wingate

Vice President, UNITE HERE Local 35

Braxton Winston II

President, North Carolina State AFL-CIO