My education at UCLA Labor Studies was transformative: theoretical, political, practical and applied. Labor Studies opened my eyes to the forces that perpetuate economic injustice and discrimination, while also broadening my ideas of what social change work can look like. As a student, I was introduced to organizers, writers, researchers and community leaders, each with a different area of focus. Their diverse expertise helped me realize that everyone has unique skills and talents to apply to social justice movements. The wide-ranging course offerings in UCLA Labor Studies and close mentorship from faculty allowed me to find a meaningful career path in mission-driven communications.
Now, as a communications specialist at the UCLA IRLE, I elevate awareness of the labor movement and support research on issues related to working people. My goal is to continue writing and shaping public narratives on equality, extraction and value, toward a freer and more loving world.
— Willa Needham, Communications Specialist at the UCLA Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE)
