The Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO will host a year-long series of labor education workshops designed to better equip labor activists and leaders to meet the challenges facing today's labor movement. Now in its fourth year, the Philadelphia Labor Activist Academy is co-sponsored by the Labor School at Penn State. All local unions affiliated with the Philadelphia Council are eligible to send members to participate, as well as invited community allies.

The curriculum consists of four comprehensive, non-credit courses designed to develop critical thinking skills and to increase capacity for building power. Instructors include faculty from Penn State's Labor School, labor leaders, and community experts. Using a multi-union setting, the courses encourage participation and networking with other activists. Each course includes ten hours of classroom time over fours weeks. Participants should commit to attending all four sessions of each course. Each 4-week course costs $60. Participants who complete all four courses will graduate with a Certificate in Labor Studies from Penn State.

Fill out the form on this page to register for the first course: Unions For the 21st Century: What Every Activist Should Know. After you submit this form, we will contact you to make arrangements for your payment of the course fee.

Course Dates: Tuesday October 2, Tuesday October 9, Tuesday October 16, Tuesday October 23

Course Time & Location: All sessions run from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the Philadelphia Council, AFL-CIO

Course Description: Unions For the 21st Century: What Every Activist Should Know

This course will focus on the challenges faced by today's unions and on what union leaders and union activists need to know to effectively address these challenges. Participants will gain an understanding of how our economy has shifted and what this means for workers and our organizations.

• Week One (10/2): How We Got Here & Current Challenges
• Week Two (10/9): Economics for the Working Class
• Week Three (10/16): The New Political Economy and Why It Matters
• Week Four (10/23): Building a Multi-Generational Movement