CWA’s Next Gen Gets Political

Members of CWA’s Next Gen, a program for up-and-coming union activists 35 and under, have partnered with the CWA Legislative and Political Department to host short, focused workshops drawn from the department’s well-regarded Political Boot Camp program. Led by CWA Senior Campaign Lead Asa Shaw, these two-hour midday Zoom sessions are designed for activists who have shown strong initiative and were nominated by their Lead Activist or District staff.

Next Gen has hosted six trainings so far this year, with plans to continue them on a monthly basis and increase the pace in 2026 as they get closer to the midterm elections. Topics include The Ongoing Class War, Storytelling and Deep Listening, and A. Philip Randolph and the Labor Movement.

In addition to these capsule political education trainings, Next Gen is working with the Human Rights Department to offer full day virtual trainings on gender justice, implicit bias, and environmental justice. Two sessions are scheduled for this month, with the goal of continuing them on a regular basis.

According to CWA Local 3808 member Landon Bratcher, “The Next Gen trainings have been a big eye-opener for me. The session on storytelling and deep listening showed me how to really talk with coworkers about the union, not just at them. It gave me confidence that I can do my part to get more members active.”

To sign up for updates from CWA Next Gen, visit cwa.org/nextgen.

Follow CWA Next Gen on social @cwanextgen on all platforms.

 
CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. met with Amanda Bratcher, CWA Next Gen Lead Activist for CWA District 3 (left) and Britni Cuington, CWA Next Gen Lead Activist for District 6, at the 80th CWA Convention in Pittsburgh, Pa., in August.

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.