Next Up team members with AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler.
Meet members of the AFL-CIO's Young Workers Advisory Council.
Karns, of Franklin, Pa., is a Therapeutic Activities Aide for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare at Polk Center and a student at the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Md., studying for a Bachelor of Arts in Labor Studies. Karns’ mother was an AFSCME member and now is treasurer of her retirees’ chapter. Karns is on AFSCME Council 13's Next Wave Steering Committee.
Doherty-LaCasse is a special education teacher, a member of Boston Teachers Union (BTU) Local 66 and an Executive Board member of BTU. She also serves as an Executive Board member of the Greater Boston Labor Council, Futures Representative of the Greater Boston Labor Council, former Futures Massachusetts AFL-CIO representative, a building representative (steward) and a delegate to her union’s affiliated organizations, including the AFT and the Greater Boston Labor Council. Her father was president of the BTU for 20 years and now is special assistant to the president of AFTMA. Doherty-LaCasse is the lead singer/saxophone player of a rock band named "The Swells."
Duckett joined Working America in February 2007. As assistant field director, he helps manage and maintain all aspects of a network that has reached more than 20 canvass offices with more than 500 paid canvass staff. Prior to serving at Working America, he worked as the field director for the Democratic Party of Georgia, where he helped manage field campaigns for two of the most competitive congressional races in the country, and as canvass director for Grassroots Campaigns Inc. on its fundraising project with the Democratic National Committee. He was raised in Atlanta, where he received a bachelor's degree in Religion and Political Science from Emory University. In his few moments away from politics, he spends his time playing and following soccer and trying new techniques in the kitchen.
Arciniega, of San Jose, Calif., is a full-time customer service representative at Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and a full-time college student—a schedule that has forced him to give up his pass-times of baseball and Azteca/Foklorico traditional dance, at least for now. He is involved with Electrical Workers' (IBEW’s) LU1245 YES (Youth Engaged for Solidarity) Group.
Kuntzler has worked in the political field for more than seven years. A University of Colorado at Denver graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, she began working for the labor movement in 2004 as an intern and was hired on as the political organizer for the Colorado AFL-CIO. In 2006, she ran the field program in Pueblo for both the Colorado AFL-CIO program and the campaign to increase the state minimum wage. In 2007, she began work as the political director of the Denver Area Labor Federation, shifting her focus to include work at the municipal and county levels, and in 2008, she was released to the Colorado AFL-CIO to run the statewide field campaign that helped elect Sen. Udall and President Obama and defeated amendments 47 and 49. In 2009, she helped lead the campaign that defeated Initiative 300 in Denver, which targeted undocumented immigrants. Kuntzler sits on the NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado Public Policy Advisory Committee and is a member of The Newspaper Guild/Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 37074. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Organizational Development from George Mason University and the National Labor College.
Gaitaud, a member of United Steelworkers Local 7150 in Albany, Ore., is a journeyman millwright. He has held several positions with his local, including treasurer, PAC chair, safety chair, Executive Board member and a member of the Rapid Response Committee. Currently he serves on the union’s grievance committee and the USW young worker council. He’s also president of Oregon AFL-CIO Young Emerging Labor Leaders (YELL). Gaitaud, who is a father of three young children, says his family gatherings can be “interesting, to say the least”—he says his parents are right-wing union opponents while his in-laws are fourth-generation union members.
Wyvill, who grew up in Churchton, Md., joined the Machinists (IAM) union in February 2007 as an administrative secretary in the Strategic Resources Department. In March 2007, she was nominated and elected as a shop steward for her local. Last fall, Wyvill earned a certificate of achievement for completion of the Leadership I course, offered by the IAM’s William W. Winpisinger Technology & Education Center in Hollywood, Md. In February 2010, Wyvill was appointed to the newly formed IAM Youth Focus Group, designed to educate and boost involvement of the IAM’s younger members.
In September 2010, she traveled with the IAM and IUPAT GOTV “It’s About Jobs Now” bus tours, and she helped plan the first-ever IAM Human Rights Conference in 2011. In her community, Wyvill volunteers with her church, with National Autism Speaks and with the Autism Project of Owings, Md. She lives in southern Maryland with her husband and their four boys.
Redleaf is a Daytime Emmy Award-winning actor-writer-director. He's the creator and co-star of "Odd Jobs," winner of the 2010 Streamy Award for "Best New Web Series," the 2010 Independent Television Festival for "Best Writing" and the "15 Gigs of Fame" Jury Prize from the New York Television Festival. He has appeared in numerous films, series and animated projects and recently joined the cast of "Sesame Street," creating the role of "Gonnigan." Redleaf is developing a multi-platform series for Fox Television Studios and splits his time between New York and Los Angeles. He is a member of the Screen Actors, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Actor's Equity.
Wilfong, a native New Yorker who was raised in Baltimore, has been employed with the Postal Service for 15 years and has been a union member and a union rep for five years. She serves on the Executive Board of the Baltimore Young Trade Unionists (YTU). At the Postal Service, she is the Social and Recreation commissioner, the AFL-CIO Christmas Basket coordinator, P.O.W.E.R. secretary, Human Relations assistant and is on the Constitution Committee and the Ergonomics team.
Ingerick, of Arlington, Va., is a member of Young Trade Unionists and DC Young Trade Unionists. She is the public relations manager for American Income Life.
Sloan, of Washington, D.C., is a member of the Young Lions and director of Government Affairs for the Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT).
Clinton is a native of St. Louis, Mo., who now lives in Orlando. The Disney service worker by trade is president of UNITEHERE! Local 362. A member of the Young Worker Project, Clinton is married to another young leader who is the shop steward of her union.
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