Reflections on My Participation at the 32nd IAFFE Annual Conference in Rome, Italy

I was invited to participate at the 2024 conference of the International Association for Feminist Economics (IAFFE), presenting a workshop in collaboration with other organizations that value and practice the popular education methodology. A group of women were interested in using the approach UFE has developed, which is our Popular Economics Education. We worked on a collective workshop proposal, spotlighting portions of UFE’s workshop curriculum, “Overworked and Undervalued: Women, Race, and the Economy.” It was accepted mainly for UFE’s approach which – according to notes we received back – “seems innovative.”

On September 22, 2024, Jeannette Huezo, UFE Executive Director & Senior Popular Educator, led members of the National TPS Alliance through an intensive, virtual training as part of an ongoing series that utilizes UFE’s Popular Economics Education methodology. She facilitated conversation intended to deconstruct the immensely dehumanizing narrative surrounding documented and undocumented immigrant labor – demonstrating how our economy cannot function without such workers. 

Jeannette Huezo, UFE’s Executive Director and Senior Popular Educator, upper left, meeting with leaders of the National TPS Alliance 

On October 1st, nearly 50,000 dock workers with the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), from ports in Texas to Maine, went on strike, demanding better wages and an end to automation, which they claim directly violates their contract. A strike of this magnitude has not occurred since 1977. Workers across the country are rising up and reclaiming what rightfully belongs to them!

Striking longshoremen picket outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port, in Philadelphia, Pa., on Oct. 1. Photo credit: Ryan Collerd/The Associated Press

On October 5th, the strike was officially postponed to January 15th after the union reached a deal to negotiate a new contract.

We are excited to welcome Yashini Krishnakumar as our Tisch Scholar for the 2024-2025 school year. The Tisch Scholars program at Tufts University is a leadership development program that combines academic coursework, fieldwork in local communities, skill-building, and critical reflection.

¡Bienvenido, Yashini! 

On September 14th, almost a hundred Durham residents filled Asbury United Methodist Church for the Duke Respect Durham campaign kickoff event. This campaign – led by a broad coalition of labor groups, community organizations, political organizations, non-profits, faith groups, students and regular working-class people – has one main objective: to make Duke pay their fair share in taxes to the city of Durham! UFE was there in support.

Almost 100 members of the Durham community joined to kick off the campaign. Photo credit: Duke Respect Durham Coalition

On September 4th, 2024, United for a Fair Economy had the incredible privilege of hosting the Apache Stronghold in Durham, North Carolina on their national prayer journey leading up to their Supreme Court fight on September 11th.

Community members, organizers, and UFE staff join the prayer ceremony with the Apache Stronghold at the Avila Center for Community Leadership. Photo credit: Apache Stronghold

On July 25th-28th, 2024, members of Boston Neighbors United For a Better East Boston (NUBE) joined UFE for a Civil Rights tour led by our Director of Southern Inclusive Economies, Ana Delia Espino. Developed in collaboration with NUBE, UFE designed and hosted an Alabama Civil Rights Tour and analysis using our newest workshop, Racism in the Mind, Skin, and Action. The 4-day event centered on teaching economic justice through a racial lens.

From June 26 to 29, 2024 the city of Durham, North Carolina hosted the Southern Summit, a gathering organized by the Southern Vision Alliance along with numerous partner organizations.

The Summit centered around the theme of "Reclaiming Democracy and Defeating Fascism by Worker and Community Organizing," aiming to foster resilience and progressivism in the South.

United for a Fair Economy (UFE) and our Responsible Wealth (RW) project are proud to join other national advocates in supporting the American Housing and Economic Mobility Act (AHEM), introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Emanuel Cleaver, is aimed at strengthening the federal estate tax. It is poised to raise approximately $500 billion and invest that money in creating affordable housing.

On Saturday, June 22, UFE and other partner groups of the Avila Center for Community Leadership in Durham, North Carolina hosted our first Political Education Training. The day was filled with learning, collaboration, and a shared commitment to building a better North Carolina and fighting for a more just world. 

We are excited to announce that our Executive Director, Jeanette Huezo, will be representing United for a Fair Economy at the 32nd annual conference hosted by the International Association of Feminist Economics in Rome, Italy. This year’s theme focuses on feminist economics responses to the digital revolution and a crisis of democracy of the current economic and political landscape.

We are excited to welcome three interns this summer — one from Student Action with Farmworkers and two from the Social Justice strand of Brandeis University's World of Work (WOW) internship. Please join us in welcoming them!