2017 - 2018 Annual Report

1. 2017 - 2018 Annual Report John J. Driscoll United Labor Agency

2. Letter from Board PresidentLori Pelletier The United Labor Agency has a storied and remarkable history of helping workers when the world tries leaving them behind; from layoff interventions to training to assistance on a number of issues. When then President of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, John Driscoll, created his vision of a labor backed agency of workers-helping-workers he certainly couldn't have imagined the success his legacy attained!   However, what is truly remarkable about the agency is its ability to adjust to the changing needs of the clients and the economy. Today's ULA is equipped to be a rapid response team ready to go to where the need takes them while maintaining its core functions of training displaced workers. It has also become a true community partner working with the religious community and schools on their "backpack" program for urban youth or providing thousands of meals for struggling families throughout the state.   During the Holidays, ULA ensured that families had a holiday meal. They provided toys for 760 children all over Connecticut.   As our economy seeks new avenues for growth, the ULA in partnership with the Connecticut Building Trades is coordinating the Building Pathways – CT Apprenticeship Readiness Program to women and minorities looking to enter construction. This work is done because our labor movement decided long ago we must be ready, willing and able to help out our neighbors when life wasn't so easy. Today's ULA serves the needs of today's workers whether they are young or old, gay or straight, private sector or building trades.   Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to a bright and exciting 2019!

3. Letter from Executive Director Amy Blackwood In 2018 the John J. Driscoll United Labor Agency continued to achieve its mission of helping workers throughout the State of Connecticut in their time of crisis—unemployed or underemployed. As the numbers of “working poor” increased we serviced more and more clients who at one point sat comfortably in the middle class and are now faced with, despite working, seeking assistance and services. Help came in a variety of forms; emergency food pantry assistance, Operation Fuel Assistance, access to private foundation funding, referrals to agencies, advocacy for unemployment and worker’s compensation hearings, immigration and workers rights issues, counseling, job search assistance and free training.   The agency is operating the very successful Building Pathways Connecticut Pre-Apprenticeship Program with DOL and PSEG that has helped prepare 44 (24 women, 20 men) women and minorities for apprenticeships with the building trades. We also assisted over 429 clients with employment issues. Our Annual Toy Drive resulted in 760 children receiving a brighter holiday.   The Labor of Love Backpack Program provided 257 students (5 schools) and their families with access to nutritious meals each week throughout the school year. In addition over 103 senior citizens were given access to supplemental food through our Labor of Love Senior Food Program.   As we move toward the future, we want to continue to position ourselves as the Community Services arm of the AFL-CIO, to work collaboratively and strategically within the movement. To better coordinate efforts and work together, so we can continue to do good things for the community. This agency has been doing good things for 40 years and will continue to do them bigger and better.   We were able to be successful because of the support of our labor family. It is through their nurturing and support that we can continue to help Connecticut’s workers. We thank you and the workers throughout the State of Connecticut.  Solidarity is crucial to our survival!

4. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lori Pelletier, President President, CT AFL-CIO Jody Barr, Adm. Vice President Executive Director, AFSCME Council 4 Jan Hochadel, Vice President President, AFT CT Bev Brakeman, Treasurer Director, Region 9A UAW Laila Mandour, Secretary Esq. Keri Hoehne, Organizing Director UFCW Local 371 Betty Kuehnel Elizabeth Marafino, CT President of Retired Americans Craig Metz, Business Manager IUOE Local 478 Mary G. Millar Victor Mitchell, 4 C’s Matt O'Connor, Communications Coordinator Tiana Ocasio, President Labor Council for Latin American Advancement Mike Petosa, President Bristol CLC Edward Pryjmaczuk, Agency & Recorder UFCW 919 Craig Smith, President UAW Local 376 Valerie Stewart, President of Pride at Work William Wolf Jr., AFT BPSA Local 6012 Taffy Womack, President AFSCME Local 704 Kirby Boyce, IAMAW Local Lodge 6012 Janis R. Bureau, A & R, Treasurer Michael Calderon, Vice President of UFCW 919 Shellye Davis, President Eastern ALF Ivonne Hamm, First Vice President, AFT/UHP 3837 Rick Hart, IAFF 1339

5. Rapid Response/Early Intervention 965 Workers Were Helped with Issues Arising from Layoffs in CT

6. Building Pathways The Connecticut State Building Trades Council, the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Directors Committee of Connecticut, the John J. Driscoll United Labor Agency and the Connecticut AFL-CIO announce the successful continuation of Building Pathways Connecticut - a program to bring more females into high skilled, good paying construction careers. • A partnership with PSEG in Bridgeport has allowed us to enroll any resident of Bridgeport into the program renamed Ready2Work. • Over 44 individuals have been enrolled statewide with a 68% employment rate. www.facebook.com/Building-Pathways-CT-351433841880041/?ref=br_rs

7. Senior Food Program Rocky Hill and Wethersfield • Through Foodshare we were able to help out with the food insecurity with the senior population • Every fourth Friday of the month Foodshare delivers boxes of food to Rocky Hill • Seniors then come and pick up their box • We served 103 seniors in the Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and surrounding area

8. From mid October to the end of May, ULA staff and community volunteers pack and deliver backpacks full of nutritious food to families in need throughout the state • We were able to expand the program to another school serving a total of 5 schools in 2018 • The schools social workers, nurses and teachers work together to find families who are in the most need • We served 20 families (66 individuals) at Martin Luther King Elementary School and 20 families (81 individuals) at SAND Elementary School in Hartford, 5 families (26 individuals) at Church Street School in Hamden, 8 families (33 individuals) at Charles F. Hayden Day School in Milford, and 10 (51 individuals) John C. Daniels in New Haven. • Each week students are given a backpack with enough food to feed them and their families throughout the weekend • Backpacks also include a bonus item like hygiene products or school supplies nutritional handouts and community resources

9. Hartford Stats

10. Hartford Food Pantry • The Agency served 2961 individuals and distributed about 130,000 pounds of food in 2018 • The average family size served was 4.2 • On May 5, 2018 ULA participated in Food Shares Walk Against Hunger • The money raised from this walk helps support the Agency’s Emergency Food Pantry in Hartford, CT

11. Immigration Assistance • ULA Assisted with 57 Immigration related concerns, questions, information and in 2018 • ULA counsels applicants to the best of their ability; however, there are some cases that will require legal expertise • ULA provides education and materials regarding immigrant rights and workers’ rights • ULA Coordinators can arrange for one on one tutoring sessions for the citizenship exam and interview or can refer you to a location and/or agency that better supports your needs • Referrals are made to attorney Erin O’Neil Baker of the Hartford Legal Group, LLC; consultations are free

12. Middletown Stats

13. Middletown DMHAS Stats

14. Waterbury Stats

15. Holiday Turkey Distribution • 247 families received turkeys and fixings in November 2018 • We would like to thank all of you who came to our rescue and donated turkeys!

16. Holiday Toy Drive Over 760 Children Received Toys during the Holiday Season Thank you to our volunteers and donors for helping make this possible!

17. The Year At A Glance… https://www.facebook.com/JJDULA

18. Our Volunteers! UHP Local 3837   Iron Workers Local Union 15 W.F. Kaynor Technical High School HRP Associates, Inc. Boy Scouts of America Junior League of Hartford SMART Local 40 Connecticut State Building Trades Hartford Yard Goats! IUOE Local 487 Skills USA Thank You to all of our Volunteers!!!

19. Our Donors! AFSCME Local 714 AFSCME Chapter 4 Retirees AFSCME Council 4 AFSCME Local 478 AFT 1018 AFT CT APWU Construction & General Laborers, Local 230 CT State Building Trades CWA District Council 11, IUPAT Hartford Fed. Of Teachers Local 1081 IAM CANEL Lodge 700 IAMAW District 26 IAMAW, CT State Council of Machinists IBEW 1040 IBEW Local 90 Intl. Assoc. of Bridge Structural, Local 15 Iron Workers, Local 15 IUOE Local 478 Kevin & Denise Lynch LIUNA Lori Pelletier Mary Millar Middletown Police Union, Local 1361 NABET Local 14 Sheet Metal Workers Local 40 Stop & Shop, Emilie DeVito Theatrical Stage Emp. Local 84 UA 777, Michael Rosario, Bus. Mgr. UAW 571, Marine Draftsmen's Assoc. UFCW 919 UNITE/HERE United Steel Workers, Local 134L Various Backpack Donors Waterbury Building Trades

20. Some Activities Throughout the Year Organized Labor Night with the Hartford Yardgoats! CWA Family Safety Night

21. Some Activities Throughout the Year AFL-CIO Labor Day Breakfast A&R Christmas Party Toy Drive

22. Some Activities Throughout the Year AFL-CIO Annual Convention

24. The John J. Driscoll United Labor Agency, Inc. Statement of Financial As of June 30, 2017 and 2016