The Senior Constituency Group of the AFL-CIO

"I believe that Labor Rights, Civil Rights and International Human Rights are bridges which cross the broad expanse of disparities in this country and abroad.”

- Clayola Brown

Clayola Brown began serving as President of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, located in Washington, D.C., in August 2004 -- the first female to serve in that role.

Ms. Brown’s lifelong commitment to labor activism began in her hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, where she—alongside her activist mother—campaigned to organize the Manhattan Shirt Factory.  She eventually became Education Director for the newly merged Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union; was appointed Civil Rights Director and served as Manager for the Laundry Division affiliate for more than 13 years.  In 1991, under UNITE! She was elected International Vice President and continues to serve in that capacity and as Civil Rights Director under the repositioned union Workers United.

In 1995, she was elected to the AFL-CIO Executive Council, where she served for 10 years as a Vice President.

Ms. Brown’s tremendous commitment to her community and her fellow man is apparent through the many boards and organizations on which she currently serves, including America’s Agenda: Healthcare for All, the National Board of the NAACP (including chairing both the NAACP Image Awards Committee and co-chairing the Labor Ad-Hoc Committee).  She is a member of the United Nations Advisory Council, the Louis and Irene Simon Scholarship Fund, Executive Committee for the Workers

Defense League, the Board of Governors for the United Way of the Tri-State, Board of Directors of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference/Women, Inc, and the Sidney Hillman Foundation.

Ms. Brown was appointed to the National Commission on Employment Policy by President Bill Clinton, and appointed a member of the New York State Workforce Investment Board by Governor George Pataki.

A graduate of Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida, Ms. Brown has done post-graduate work at American University in Washington, D.C., Queens College and York University in New York City and is a lecturer at Cornell University.   She consults regularly with Trinity College in Washington, D.C. on African American affairs.

President Brown talked about the APRI Convention and its theme of "Staying Woke and Fighting Back."  Click here to read the article on the station's website. or listen to her interview below.

APRI President Clayola Brown appointed Civil, Human & Women's Rights Director by the AFL-CIO

The President's Corner

Clayola Brown

Welcome to our new website! We hope you will find it helpful, and that you will visit here often.

You will also find links to our updated Facebook and new Twitter pages. Please be sure to "like" us, so that you will get updates about our activities, including our upcoming National Education Conference.

The 48h National Educational Conference of the A. Philip Randolph Institute convenes during a most challenging time, but it is also a time full of opportunities to advance the cause of social and economic justice for working families across this nation.

Our Labor Movement is being plagued with growth and program challenges at both the local, state and national levels.

Standing still and doing nothing, maintaining the status quo, or going backwards are not viable options!

WE MUST “STAY WOKE!”

As we know from the 2016 elections, APRI activists and our allies have been fundamental and essential to: educating, organizing and moving political and legislative victories.

More importantly, we are stronger in our relationships with each other as we overcome barriers to worker unity.

So, in this context, we are moved to reenergize and rededicate ourselves to battle and halt the downturn of the economy, the assault on workers and the encroachment on civil and human rights.

With increased education, measurable programs, strong community partnerships and organizational development, We Will Recover AND We Will Advance!

You will find information about our 2017 National Education Conference, which convenes August 2-6, 2017, by clicking the tab above entitled "Conferences."

When we work together, there is no challenge that is too great for us.

When we exhibit our courage, our strength, and our unity, we grow the ranks of those committed to advancing as one fight, the causes of social and economic justice.

"STAY WOKE"

In Unity,

Clayola Brown

National President

President Brown's

2019

Year-End

Message

APRI President Clayola Brown was a guest on Phoenix radio station KJZZ