Women’s Schools

2022 SUMMER SCHOOLS

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE NORTHEAST SUMMER SCHOOL FOR WOMEN IN UNIONS AND WORKER ORGANIZATIONS

CLICK HERE TO Register NOW for the Southern School for Women Workers

SOUTHERN SCHOOL FOR WOMEN WORKERS, AUGUST 4 TO AUGUST 7, 2022 Registration Extended to July 23 Register Now!  Location: Highlander Center, New Market, TN 37820 Highlander Center is a 90 year old social justice school that has hosted groups since 1932 working on workplace issues and unions, civil rights and racial justice, environmental justice, economic justice, immigrant rights, LGBTQ rights and other important issues in the South and Appalachia.  It is located on a 180 acre farm east of Knoxville, overlooking the Smokey Mountains.   Facilities are lodge and dorm style and capacity is 30 people.      For more information about Highlander Center – www.highlandercenter.org Schedule for school:   Thursday evening, August 4 with dinner at 6:00 eastern time through Sunday August 7 with graduation and lunch at noon.     Workshops: Leadership and Activating the membership Voter Mobilization  and Election Protection The Things We Don’t discuss Out Loud Cafe Self Care and wellness (including time management) Your Rights at Work Women and Labor History   Plenaries  Union Victories & New Laws affecting Workers  Registration costs $400 for program, room and meals, registration deadline is July 23.  Register Here Travel:  Highlander Center is located  east of Knoxville, TN, and McGhee Tyson Airport near Knoxville is the nearest airport, it is about 45 minutes away if traffic is good.  Highlander’s address is 1959 Highlander Way, New Market, TN 37820. Scholarships:  We are working to raise money for scholarships and we encourage unions and other workers groups to support their members to come.  Sponsoring groups: United Association for Labor Education www.uale.org Labor Heritage Foundation www.laborheritage.org Highlander Center www.highlandercenter.org  For more information you can contact: Elise Bryant  execdr@laborheritage.org & Susan Williams at Highlander susan@highlandercenter.org

What Are the Women’s Summer Schools?

Every year, UALE sponsors 4 regional “women’s schools”. These residential programs typically last between 4 and 5 days, and include classes and workshops on a variety of labor-related topics. Women from all over the country and beyond learn the skills and knowledge needed to play leadership roles in their organizations. Visitors from labor unions and workers’ organizations in other countries frequently participate. One of the most valuable aspects of the schools is the chance to meet and network with other labor women from around your region and beyond.

• Western Summer Institute on Union Women
• Midwest School for Women Workers
• Northeast School for Women in Unions and Worker Organizations
• Southern Women Worker Summer School

History of the Women’s Summer Schools

The Union Women’s Summer Schools began in the Northeast Region in the late 1970s and expanded to the Midwest, Western and Southern Districts of the United States. Their conception was rooted in the  traditions of early worker education as exemplified by the Bryn Mawr summer schools for Women Workers of the 1920’s and the Works Progress Administration worker education programs of the 1930’s. Courses of study were tailored to the needs and interests of working people. Barbara Wertheimer, Director of Cornell’ Institute of Women and Work, introduced the idea to colleagues in the University and College Labor Education Association (precursor to the UALE). Encouraged by the the rising feminist movement and the founding of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, the UCLEA launched its first school in 1975 at the University of Connecticut. Designed by a committee of labor educators, the residential schools bring together women workers, officers and staff of unions and workers organizations to strengthen their knowledge of the labor movement and develop skills which will enable them to become more active and influential in their organizations. The schools are a place where women workers can share experiences and give one another support. As Gloria Johnson, past President of CLUW and frequent speaker at the schools’ graduations ceremonies pointed out, “We have to create “old girls” networks to be able to support each other and advance.” The schools contribute to this objective, as evidenced by the record of participants. Since 1975, the schools have educated thousands, many of whom have become leaders of their unions.

Current Women’s Schools

Current labor women summer schools are coordinated by the UALE Women’s Committee and rotate in location as they are hosted by university labor education programs in each region. Scholarships are available.  Classes are supplemented with networking opportunities. Often participants engage in demonstrations relating to  local labor struggles.

Relevant Publications (not comprehensive)

• Barbara Mayer Wertheimer, Labor Education for Women Workers (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1981, Reissued 2018).
• Emily E. LB. Twarog, Jennifer Sherer, Brigid O’Farrell, and Cheryl Coney, “Labor Education and Leadership Development for Union Women: Assessing the Past, Building for the Future,” Labor Studies Journal 41:1, 2016.
• Karyn L. Hollis, Liberating Voices: Writing at the Bryn Mawr Summer School for Women Workers (Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 2004)