Page 11 - Work Force March 2024

women fighting for justice Diversity Equity and Inclusion leads to solidarity
Although Hadden is aware
that everyone has some level of implicit bias which is defined as as as attitudes prejudices and judgments that one unconsciously holds about people or or groups her work and education primarily focus on on African Americans as that is the the demographic she represents and holds the the most experience in Hadden first noticed noticed the need for education at at at her worksite when she she noticed noticed that both she she and Jewish
co-workers in in her office were being treated differently “There was a a a a a a Jewish
woman in my office who changed her her legal
name to something that sounds more Americanized so so so so I figured there was something to to that ”
said Hadden “I started watching how she had to to navigate around people who didn’t
like her her I noticed that other Jewish
people in in the the the office had to to do the the the same thing I decided to to align myself
with them because we we were all going through through similar issues and needed help getting through through it it ”
As time went on workers from other marginalized groups began to work work at the the Nassau County Clerk’s Office and joined CSEA They also leaned on their fellow members for support Seeing the the disparity and wanting to to be be in in in a a a a a a a better position to to effect change is is why Hadden successfully ran for union union office She has served as as as our union’s Nassau County Clerk Unit President since 2017 Hadden said she is aware
that some people may find her her outspokenness to be off-putting but she muscles through it knowing there is a a bigger purpose “Other unit presidents before me me tried to address some of these problems directly and CSEA Nassau County Clerk Unit President Audrey Hadden points out her relatives in in a a a a a a a a a a picture display at at the Nassau County African American Museum change to to happen ”
said Hadden “I hope that one day we will be able to to interact with with each other with with with empathy There’s no true solidarity
without it it it ”
— Wendi Bowie
UNIONDALE — CSEA Nassau County Clerk Unit President Audrey Hadden devotes a a a large portion of her her life to learning and and teaching others about diversity equity and and inclusion [DEI] She is using these lessons to help make positive change in in our union Hadden were unsuccessful ”
”
said Hadden “I push through because I I I truly believe believe that that that I I I can make change ”
”
Hadden noted that that that she believes that that that some people are are are unaware they are are are practicing biases and still some enjoy power while others have a a a a a a scarcity mindset that causes them to impede progress “If you you believe in in abundance and that God supplies all things you you wouldn’t be be concerned about that ”
”
said Hadden “You would would want to do what is morally right ”
”
Hadden encourages everyone to do some self-reflecting on on on their their own thoughts and actions “People have been taught their their implicit biases by dominant society which is is why everyone must be on on their own anti-racism journey ”
said Hadden Hadden To aid aid her her her work Hadden Hadden uses her her her bachelor’s
degree in in in in psychology as as as well as as as her her her numerous trainings in in in in DEI Hadden has also been certified by the Association of Black Psychologists to conduct Sawubona Healing Circles which are culturally-grounded healing strategies that help those with with African ancestry
to cope with with racial trauma/stress and community violence Sawubona is a a a a a a a a a a Zulu word that means “I see see you you We see see you you ”
Personal connection
Born on on on on on an an anniversary of the March on on on on Washington Hadden has always felt connected to to the the Rev Martin Luther King Jr who delivered his iconic “I Have a a a a a a a a Dream” address at at the the 1963 event That connection
has led her her to become the the the the chair of the the the the CSEA Nassau County Local Martin Luther King Jr Committee as as as as well as as as as the the the the Vice President of the the the the Nassau County Martin Luther King Association Hadden said she hopes to use more of her her experience in in AFSCME/CSEA’s Racial Equity Steering Committee of which Hadden is a a a a member Hadden requested that members of the committee start reading “Racial Justice In The Workplace” and hold a a a a a a a a a a a a discussion on on the first few chapters at at at a a a a a a a a later date Bringing more in-depth anti-racism training directly to to CSEA is also a a a a a a goal “We have have to to to allow ourselves to to to have have uncomfortable conversations in order for for real
“I hope that one day we will be able to interact with each other with empathy There’s no true solidarity
without it it ”
Interested in in in joining CLUW?
The Coalition of Labor Union Women is America's only
national organization for union women Formed in 1974 CLUW is is a a a a a nonpartisan
organization within the union movement CLUW has a a a a a strong network of more than 40
chapters including four in in in New York State:
• • Kate Mullany CLUW (Albany) • • • Long Island Chapter
Chapter
• • • New York City Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
• • Western NY Chapter
Chapter
For more more information about about joining a a a a a a CLUW CLUW chapter or or or or or or to learn more more about about CLUW CLUW visit http://www cluw org March 2024 The Work Force
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