President's message

As we enter the holidays and begin to reflect on the past year, we have much to be thankful for.

We have achieved a great deal this year, from legislative wins in the state Capitol to individual fights for our members such as that of Demarco Rotan-Mitchell, all of which is highlighted in this issue.

Part of reflection, though, is taking the opportunity to look inward and ensure we are addressing the needs of our community – each of you who serve as the lifeblood of our organization.

Upon leaving last year’s Annual Conference, the message I heard from delegates was clear: CSEA needs to be a place where everyone feels safe, respected, and heard.

The Board of Directors and I have been hard at work taking the first steps toward building an organizational culture of which we can all be proud. Over the past few months, we have set out to create the foundation to guide our organization forward with a set of core values. These values are not just those that apply to CSEA, but those that we should strive for in our everyday lives: empowerment, inclusivity, respect, transparency, and innovation.

These values will serve as our North Star in what will be an ongoing and conscientious effort to shape the future of our union’s culture. I look forward to sharing more about these in the future and working with each of you throughout this process to continue CSEA’s growth as an organization and community.

Our UNION cannot accomplish the ambitious goals we aspire to unless we are just that – UNITED, with every member feeling that they are heard, seen, and safe among our ranks. This endeavor will require collective will, sustained effort, and ongoing vigilance - and I am confident we will rise to the occasion.