Leaders in Action for Justice

Jay Fermin

  • United Healthcare Workers West
  • Healthcare
What is one of your proudest leadership moments during the past year and why? Feel free to share more than one.

One of the memorable experiences he’s had in organizing is camping out of this guy’s home. He waited until he finally arrived. He was able to connect with him and until now this person still calls Jay. He’s proud to be a member of the AAPI Organizing Institute. He learned a lot about the labor history of AAPI in the US. He felt that there’s a need because AAPIs are underrepresented in organizing. He wanted to build that group because when you’re organizing someone with AAPI background, it’ll be easier to connect when you come from a similar culture.

Looking ahead to this year, what do you want to be the next step in your development as a leader? How will that step help our movement for economic and racial justice?

He talked about his role as a leader in organizing. He feels that organizing is important work because it’s changing lives. Organizing is having heart-to-heart conversations, not about organizing, but being genuinely interested in people. They have unique stories, they have families, their hobbies. These are ways you connect with them.