Scontras Center Director Finalist Public Talks: The Role of Labor and Community Education in Empowering Maine’s Contemporary Working Class

The Scontras Center for Labor and Community Education at USM, which so many of you worked to get established and funded during the last legislative session, is about to hire a director. Each of the five finalist candidates has been invited to campus for a series of activities, including a public talk that is free and open to all, and which will include some time for Q&A with the candidate. Each candidate was given the title of the talk “The Role of Labor and Community Education in Empowering Maine’s Contemporary Working Class” and some guidance on what the hiring committee would like them to cover.

All the talks will be held at Luther Bonney on the USM campus and will also be available via Zoom at the times and dates listed below. The search committee encourages union members and leaders to come and “meet” the finalist candidates as the Center moves closer to formally launching.

• Vanessa Sylvester, Portland Adult Education and former Regional Organizing Director, National Nurses United  When and Where: Wednesday March 22, 5-6:15 209 Luther Bonney or https://maine.zoom.us/j/88938803459

• MC Floreani, Lead Organizer for Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, Starbucks Workers United Campaign When and Where:  Monday March 27, 5–6:15  209 Luther Bonney or https://maine.zoom.us/j/89207852330

• Matthew Emmick, Former Field Organizer for National Nurses United, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and Farm Labor Organizing Committee  When and Where: Wednesday, March 29, 5 - 6:15  209 Luther Bonney or https://maine.zoom.us/j/82454865204

• David (Mac) Marquis, Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of History at the University of South Carolina When and Where: Thursday, March 30, 4 – 5:15 209 Luther Bonney or https://maine.zoom.us/j/88072209008