Join us on Thursday, October 12th from 6-9pm at CUNY School of Law to honor the following Champions of Economic Justice and celebrate worker-led organizing!

🎭 Theme 🎭

Our theme this year is “Joy as Resistance” because we believe joy is powerful in spite of all the obstacles we come across while organizing. We invite you to practice this with us by dressing up however joy looks like for you! It could look like wearing your favorite outfit, or dressing as your favorite labor hero or even a character from your childhood. 🎉

🎶 Performers 🎶

Sing in Solidarity:

Whether marching to “L’Internationale” on May Day, leading a picket line in “Roll the Union On,” or performing music from The Threepenny Opera in concert, members of Sing in Solidarity, the choir of the New York City chapter of Democratic Socialists of America, use their voices to strengthen the socialist community through song. Begun in 2017, the choir draws its repertoire from the rich tradition of international revolutionary song: its mission to disseminate anti-capitalist music, build internationalism, and unite the struggles of working and oppressed peoples through culture and song.

La Manga:

La Manga is a Brooklyn-based cultural identity laboratory inspired by the spirit of the modern and ancestral people of the Colombian Caribbean coast. This collective of women artists, directed by Daniela Serna, works to foster a creative community that accesses the Afro-Colombian cultural manifestations such as Bullerengue, Cumbia, Gaita, and Tambora. In performance, the group honors Black and indigenous oral traditions by engaging the power of Afro-Colombian percussion, including tambor alegre, tambor llamador, tambora y maracas, and celebrating life through storytelling, dance, and song.

Event Program:

6pm Arrival + Welcome Drinks

6:30pm Opening Performance by Sing in Solidarity

6:45pm Welcoming Reflections on “Joy as Resistance” from Brandworkers’ Executive Director, Gabriel Morales

+ Honoring Two Champions of Economic Justice: Senator Kristen Gonzalez & UFCW Local 1500

7pm Grab some food from Street Vendors Project Members Mercedez & Joaquina

+ Enjoy Afro-Colombian music from La Manga!

8pm Honoring Two More Champions of Economic Justice: Jollibee Workers & Writers Guild of America East

8:15pm Closing Remarks & Dancing!

About Our Work:

At Brandworkers, we are committed to supporting food workers organizing their workplaces and building strong, worker-led unions to fight back against these injustices. The transformation of our food system begins with building worker power in the workplace.

Currently in Brooklyn, alongside 140 workers in two factories, Brandworkers' organizers are providing the training and tools necessary to support worker leaders organizing in their workplaces to create lasting change.

But we know that true change is achieved through direct support and solidarity. We invest hours upon hours to provide one-on-one, week-to-week high-capacity organizing training, taking the time to knock on someone's door, sit with them on their couch, and have heartfelt conversations about the intersections of workplace, racial, gender, and economic justice while they prepare dinner for their family. It is in these moments that we forge bonds and ignite the spark of collective action.

How You Can Make a Difference: This year, Brandworkers aims to raise $50,000 at the annual Awards Social to continue supporting worker leaders organizing their workplaces. Directly, these funds will be used to provide organizing training and leadership development to worker leaders in food factories across NYC and North New Jersey. Can you contribute to the movement and make a donation today to support worker-led organizing?

Together, we can build a more just food system. Your generosity will fuel the flame of change and ensure that these workers have the tools they need to create a more equitable future.

Our Sponsors:

Movement Builder:

Vladeck, Raskin, & Clark P.C.

Trailblazer:

IWW NYC GMB

Catalyst:

Solidarity Partner:

Ally:

Cristina Gallo

Sustainer:

Nancy Holmstrom

Event Sponsors:

2023 Awards Social

By Brandworkers

2023 Awards Social

Celebrate worker-led organizing with us!

Team Members