Local elections

Citizen Action Records

drice — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:24:20 -0500

Citizen Action (CA) was founded in 1979 by former members of Students for a Democratic Society and the Indochina Peace Campaign as a coalition of state and national liberal consumer and activist groups. It organized door-to-door canvassers to work on the state level promoting CA membership and educating the public on issues such as health care, energy, environmental concerns, and auto insurance. Citizen Action was also active in election campaigns on the local, state and national level to recruit and support candidates who espoused the same ideas on various issues. Citizen Action affiliates, such as Ohio Citizen Action and Connecticut Citizen Action Group, played a key role in get-out-the-vote campaigns and issue-specific canvassing and lobbying, especially regarding health care. On the national level, Citizen Action lobbied Congress and the federal government, often testifying before committees, working to introduce bills and interacting with federal departments and commissions. Citizen Action was shut down in 1997 after a scandal emerged involving illegal funds from the Teamsters.

The records in this collection are primarily from the national office of Citizen Action, though there are documents dealing with issues and activities in specific states. Also among these records are documents from affiliate organizations: Citizens/Labor Energy Coalition (C/LEC) and Energy Action.

Michael W. Kerwin Papers

srafferty — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 14:17:13 -0400

Mike Kerwin moved to Detroit in 1950 and began work at American Metal Products Co. which led to his membership with the UAW Local 174. Mike Kerwin also served as an Editor of the Local 174 newsletter, Union Voice. After 3 years in this position and becoming increasingly involved in Local 174’s Education Committee, Kerwin began working directly for the UAW as a Technician in the Education Department. Kerwin worked in the UAW Education Department until his retirement, creating educational programs for union members. Kerwin’s work with the UAW, as well as his own interests, led him to be very active in a number of Detroit and Michigan area groups related to the Democratic Party, Detroit Public Schools, Catholic faith, and labor. Among his many accomplishments, Kerwin helped found the Michigan Labor History Society in 1977 where he remained an active member until his passing on July 19, 2021.

(32426) Election and victory press conference, Local 1199 P, 1999

gstrassel — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 14:47:20 -0500

Members of Local 1199 P Allegheny General Hospital celebrating their election victory in Pittsburgh.

(32627) SEIU election victory celebration

gstrassel — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 16:41:44 -0500

Local 1199 P Allegheny General Hospital election and victory press conference. Employees from Pittsburgh's Allegheny General Hospital celebrating their election victory.

Podcast: "She Never Gave Up on This City:" Remembering Firebrand Detroit City Councilwoman Maryann Mahaffey

teller — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 10:36:35 -0500

Labor and Urban Affairs archivist Shae Rafferty shares how Maryann Mahaffey's college summer job as recreation director at the Poston Japanese internment camp in Arizona in 1945 strengthened her resolve to fight against discrimination and help those in need later in her career in social work. read more »