Leaders in Action for Justice

Matthew Yarnell

  • Healthcare Pennsylvania
  • Healthcare
If there were a leadership yearbook, what would your yearbook superlative be and why?

If we truly want a just society, then we need to be the leaders of that movement, and spark leadership in others. Understand and educate around the 100’s of years of history in this country and systems created to disenfranchise entire populations in this country!

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

The leadership and passion that our ignite members brought back to the local was over the top.

The entire leader cohort came back to Pennsylvania and went all in to organize 20,000 home members. In the matter of a few weeks there leadership had a huge impact on both the organizing campaign and GOTYV, and we WON! Many of whom became organizers and have unleashed member leaders in organized chapters that have been standing still for the better part of a decade.

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?

We are currently running a leadership academy in 5 regions of the state, lead by a member leaders 4 of which were at ignite, to create the space and build a team of folks who want to lead their members and communities to fight for a better Pennsylvania and a just society.

Anything else you would like to add?

Creating the space to lift up and invest in member leadership, engage members as whole people and then letting those leaders organize in their own way is a powerful thing!