Honoring and congratulating April Verrett, the first African American woman to become the President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

WHEREAS, Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a keynote address

at the SEIU convention in Philadelphia to recognise and congratulate

April Verrett

on being appointed President of the nation's largest long-term care union, and Rocio Saenz, SEIU’s Executive Vice President and Secretary Treasurer; and

WHEREAS, April Verrett

is a champion for workers and a forward-thinking leader spearheading the creation of a contemporary labor movement fundamentally rooted in anti-racism. Verrett’s goal is to create the largest, most daring, diverse, queer-friendly, trendiest, “gym shoe-wearing labor movement” the world has ever witnessed; and

WHEREAS, SEIU’s strategies and initiatives work towards helping eliminate generational poverty, dismantle structural racism, strengthen our democracy, and overall enhance the lives of workers and their communities;

and

WHEREAS, Verrett brings ambitious vision to the uni

on and

life experience that fuels her belief in the power to make change when we come together across

barriers of race, ethnicity, or religion

; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, by the COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we do hereby honor congratulate and recognize that April Verrett brings a bold vision, and a wealth of life experiences that reinforce her steadfast belief in the transformative power of unity across racial lines.

FURTHER RESOLVED T

hat an Engrossed copy be presented to April Verrett, further evidencing the sincere respect of this legislative body.

End