Making an Impact: LCS Fellowship Alums & Leadership

Learn more about what they've accomplished as Fellows and beyond

Last month LiUNA announced they had secured a Project Labor Agreement for work on on the Purple Line in suburban Washington DC.

Dennis L. Martire, LIUNA Vice President and Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager is quoted in LiUNA's press release saying: “Other projects in the area are suffering major workmanship issues without a PLA, and it speaks volumes that MTS and Purple Line Transit Partners are taking steps to prevent those issues on the Purple Line... They recognize that a PLA is a good procurement option for everyone involved.” With the new PLA, workers who lost their jobs when construction stopped will have the opportunity to return to the Purple Line with a higher wage and benefits package.

The aspect of special note is that one of Heartland's LCS Fellows was placed with LiUNA this summer and assisted with this win for workers: "Ben Donnelly-Fine provided critical assistance in reaching out to pension funds around the world who were invested in the Purple Line. Two hundred laborers will be going back to work!" according to Jennifer S. O’Dell Assistant Director, LiUNA Corporate Affairs Department. Read below for more from Ben about his time in the LCS Fellowship program.

Featured below is more information about the transportation project in Maryland, as well as updates on other Fellowship Alums who are finding applications for their Fellowship experiences as they progress in their academic and professional careers. Keep up with the latest news by joining our LinkedIn Fellowship page!

It is not just the young people who are making change, for the better, in this world. We'd like to commend Heartland Capital Strategies co-chair, Debbie Nisson, who was given the Counselors of Real Estate Committee Service Award this week during their Annual Convention in Boston.

Well deserved, Debbie!

Benjamin Donnelly-Fine(Rutgers University 2023) 2022 Labor Capital Strategies Fellowship Alum reflects on his placemen with LiUNA: "Walking into the office each day at LiUNA you pass a mural depicting the work their members do from building roads and bridges, schools and skyscrapers, all manner of energy infrastructure, and are reminded of the power vested in that building. My

supervisors, Jennifer O’Dell, and Erin Hutson, always connected our tasks to the larger mission of creating better, safer jobs in industries where non-union work is dangerous, underpaid, and precarious. From the start, I was given projects that I knew would be used well after I left. One capital strategy campaign resulted in hundreds of jobs in a newly negotiated agreement. I was learning more about how private equity operates and how Labor’s simultaneous cooperative and adversarial stance helps further the interests of workers-- whether it be through higher pension returns or assisting in ongoing organizing. I had an exciting and fulfilling time this summer and cannot recommend the Fellowship or LiUNA enough if you want a hands-on crash course in labor capital strategy."

2022 LCS Fellowship Alum, Diego Valdez Colin (Georgetown University 2022) will be continuing his work with Meketa Investment Group this fall following his successful summer placement with them for the Fellowship. Read more about Diego's experience in our program: "I [had an] opportunity to learn more closely about the role that capital plays in bolstering the Labor movement and advancing the

welfare of workers... I conducted research on Just Transition, which seeks to lessen the impact that a transition to a low carbon economy inevitably imparts on workers. Additionally, I took an active role in the data analytics and visualization work needed for the publication of climate reports showcasing the extent to which private and public investors account for ESG factors in their decision making.. I am thrilled about the valuable contributions and connections I made in these past two months. I look forward to the work that lies ahead in the labor movement and the contributions that I can make in ensuring that the dignity and future of workers is secured and cared for."

This summer, Casey Doyle, JD candidate (Columbia Law 2021) 2017 LCS Fellowship Alum secured a

Fellowship with the impressive Peggy Browning Fund. According to their website, "PBF educates and inspires the next generation of advocates for workplace justice. Through fellowships, workers' rights conferences, networking and other programs, The Fund provides unique opportunities for law students to work for economic and social justice."

In August,Jasmine B. King MPA(University Of California Law School, Berkeley 2024) 2021 LCS Fellowship became the Senior Technical Editor of the Berkeley Business Law Journal. Also, from the stellar 2021 LCS Fellowship cohort, alum Anjunae Chandran (Georgetown University 2022) was promoted to Investment Banking Analyst at Centerview Partners.