Labor and the Democratic Party at Point Loma Assembly – Feb. 22nd

“Labor and the Democratic Party” is the focus of this month’s meeting of the Point Loma Democratic Club.  The speakers for the event include Richard Barrera, Secretary-Treasurer/CEO at San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, and Daraka Larimore-Hall, Secretary of the California Democratic Party and Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party Labor Caucus.

The speakers will discuss historical and contemporary ties between the party and the labor movement and conclude by talking practically about how to be a labor activist without being anti-Party and a Democrat without ever being anti-labor.

Some background on the speakers:

Richard Barrera

A first-generation San Diegan, Richard’s father emigrated from Colombia and mother is the daughter of European immigrants who came to America through Ellis Island. After graduating from El Cajon Valley High School, Mr. Barrera received his Bachelors Degree in American History from UCSD, and a Masters Degree in Public Policy from Harvard University. Barrera was elected to the San Diego Unified School District Board in 2008.

Richard has a background as a community organizer, working to revitalize low-income neighborhoods and create networks for parents of pre-school aged kids. He served five years as president of the Consensus Organizing Institute and has also worked for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the Comer Science and Education Foundation and as a consultant for the City Heights Community Development Corporation.

In the field of labor relations, he has served as San Diego regional organizer for both the United Domestic Workers and United Healthcare Workers. Mr. Barrera serves as a board member of the San Diego Cooperative Charter School, the Greater Golden Hill Community Planning Committee, the San Diego League of Conservation Voters, and the San Diego Unity League, and volunteers for the Urban Corps of San Diego County and as a coach for his sons’ North Park Little League teams. Mr. Barrera’s two sons are students in the San Diego Unified School District.

Daraka Larimore-Hall

Daraka Larimore-Hall grew up in Santa Barbara, where he first got involved in activism as a high school student opposing the first Gulf War. Raised in an activist family, Daraka’s background forged his strong commitment to social justice, and some of his earliest family memories are from anti-Apartheid and nuclear disarmament protests.

Since graduating with honors from the University of Chicago in 1999, Daraka has worked as a political organizer on electoral and issue-based campaigns throughout the United States and Europe. In 2001-2002, he worked as an anti-racism and election organizer in Norway and Sweden. From 2003 until 2011, he was an activist and officer in UAW Local 2865, the union for Teaching Assistants at the University of California. He is currently finishing a PhD in Sociology at University of California, Santa Barbara.

For the past seven years, Daraka has been chair of the Democratic Party of Santa Barbara County. He has served as Vice President of the Tri-Counties Central Labor Council, and is currently Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party Labor Caucus.

As a Democratic Party activist, Daraka has focused on creating more opportunities for leadership for young people and expanding the Party’s role in local elections and community issues. He strongly believes that electing Democrats is only the start of the Party’s job, and that we must engage in advocacy and organizing that holds elected representatives to our cherished values of equality, peace, freedom and fairness.

The event begins 3:30PM (30 minutes earlier than normal) and goes to – 5:00PM. It’s being held at the Point Loma Assembly, 3035 Talbot St, San Diego, CA 92106. For additional info call (619) 800-5098.

After the meeting ends the local Dem club suggests adjourning to the Point Break Cafe at 2743 Shelter Island Dr to sit outside on the (dog-friendly) deck and continue our progressive conversation. Happy Hour is until 6:30pm.