Lara Manzione of the National Labor College reports on last night’s “Time to Build” fundraising gala at the college.

Following the first day of the AFL-CIO Executive Council meeting held at the National Labor College (NLC) in Silver Spring, Md., the college hosted a “A Time to Build”  gala last night. The gala honored Mark Ayers, president of the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD), and the presidents of five entertainment  unions:  Ray Hair, American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM); Ken Howard, Screen Actors (SAG); Matthew  Loeb, Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE); Roberta Reardon, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA); and Nick Wyman, Actors’ Equity (AEA).

AFL-CIO  President Richard Trumka says he selected the NLC as the location for this Executive Council meeting because “education is such an important part of the future of the labor movement, and a key way for us to transmit labor’s values during a time of change in our economy and our society.”

More than 300 labor supporters attended the gala event, which started with a reception at the George Meany Memorial Archives. After dinner in the Lane Kirkland Center, the event culminated with a talk show-themed award ceremony complete with the NLC band on the mezzanine. Jack Speer, award-winning NPR radio host and AFTRA member, served as emcee for the “talk show” and interviewed the four  honorees who attended the event (Ayers, Howard, Loeb and  Reardon).

NLC President Paula Peinovich reminded guests of the real reason for the get-together.  

Thanks to your generosity, tonight the NLC was able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to help support the ongoing programs for the only higher education institution committed to educating union members and their families, and union leaders and staff. 

The NLC recently began offering online bachelor’s degrees in business administration, construction management, emergency readiness and response and labor studies. Applications are still being accepted for the fall semester, which begins Sept. 6, 2011. Click here for more information. The college also offers Bonnie Ladin Union Skills courses year round in topics like organizing, safety and health and contract negotiation. For more on the skills courses, click here.