UniServ Manager Professional Learning Programs
The NEA Center for Organizing will be offering seven Focused UniServ Manager Programs.
These are 90-minute online experiences supported by a set of pre-provided resources, and engage participants using strong adult learning practices. A team of NEA Staff with both management and content experiences relevant to your current circumstances leads these sessions. Each session will allow ample time for questions, discussion, meaningful learning, and will be recorded for access late. The resources for each developed for this series is designed to support and extend your learning.
Addressing Race and Inequality Part 1 – Supporting Staff Learning on Becoming Anti-Racist
January 7, 2020 2:30 PM EST
This session will be the first of a two-part series of racial justice discussions that cover seven concepts from the UniServ Support Program's Advancing Racial Justice curriculum. In this session, we will directly address whiteness and how the institutionalization of this is showing up during the COVID pandemic, how to recognize bias in yourself and others, addressing and redressing everyday racism. We will explore current experiences and discuss how to begin this important conversation with staff and colleagues.
Addressing Race and Inequality Part 2 – Supporting System Learning on Becoming Anti-Racist
January 21, 2020 2:30 PM EST
This is the second session of a two-part series of racial justice discussions that cover seven concepts from the UniServ Support Program’s Advancing Racial Justice curriculum. In this session, we will provide a quick overview of the cycle of racism, the levels of racism, and will provide a deeper focus on how to interrupt the cycle of racism within our own workplaces. The session is structured to allow you to bring problems of practice you see and work towards strategies for addressing those.
Focusing on Organizing and Membership Recruitment Part 1
February 4, 2020 2:30 PM EST
Many UniServ staff see organizing as a central part of their job, while others do not. In a post-Janus environment, all UniServ staff must help bring skill and focus to organizing in their locals. Managers, in turn, must support skill development and set expectations for all staff to engage. Supporting your staff as they work with organizing and membership recruitment tools is a real change from what most of us know. You will be provided resources, explore effective models, and discuss how to support the implementation of this in your setting. Be prepared to share how your organizing and recruitment efforts are working and hear from your colleagues about the ways that they are effectively moving this work.
Register Here!
Addressing Race and Inequality Part 3 – Supporting System Learning on Becoming Anti-Racist
February 18, 2020 2:30 PM EST
These are the third and fourth sessions of a four-part series of racial justice discussions that expand on the foundational concepts from sessions 1 and 2. Attendance at the first two are not required, however, be aware that conversations and the content will be explicit in their analysis about race, privilege, and systems of oppression in affiliate work. These two sessions will focus on assessing organizational culture against a set of characteristics for the purposes of identifying expressions of racism. From these assessments, we will look at several plans for managing change that helps move your organization in an anti-racist direction. These sessions are structured to allow you to bring problems of practice you see and work towards strategies for addressing those.
Register Here!
Coaching Staff towards Organizing and Leadership Development Part 2
March 4, 2020 2:30 PM EST
How do you coach your staff so that they confidently move their work in directions that build strength and growth in their locals? Learn about the parts of an effective coaching cycle and how to apply it to tricky situations such as—a staff person that is doing the work of the leaders, a staff person that is struggling to identify and engage leaders, a staff person that is over-reliant on relationships with the administration to solve problems in a local. There will be generous time to work in small groups on your own issues and for you to bring questions to the group.
Register Here!
Addressing Race and Inequality Part 4 – Supporting System Learning on Becoming Anti-Racist
March 18, 2020 2:30 PM EST
These are the third and fourth sessions of a four-part series of racial justice discussions that expand on the foundational concepts from sessions 1 and 2. Attendance at the first two are not required, however, be aware that conversations and the content will be explicit in their analysis about race, privilege, and systems of oppression in affiliate work. These two sessions will focus on assessing organizational culture against a set of characteristics for the purposes of identifying expressions of racism. From these assessments, we will look at several plans for managing change that helps move your organization in an anti-racist direction. These sessions are structured to allow you to bring problems of practice you see and work towards strategies for addressing those.
Register Here!
Systems Thinking for Effective Management
April 15, 2020 2:30 PM EST
As goals and contexts change, we need to check to make sure that systems in our affiliate remain aligned. Do you have the right people in the right place at the right time? Do you have enough resources to implement the strategies outlined in your mission? As a manager taking time from the many daily responsibilities to answer these systems-level questions can feel daunting. This session will provide you with the tools and resources to move your organization forward by building capacity to change achieve greater effectiveness. Participants will be provided with tools and resources to help you review and revise your operating practices.
Register Here!
UniServ Manager Foundation Program – Managing with Labor's Values
NEA is partnering with the Cornell Worker Institute and the Cornell Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution to offer a unique professional growth program for state affiliate UniServ Managers.
This specially designed program includes four two-hour online modules. They are designed to engage participants in reflection on their managerial roles and challenges and will build on each other. Pre- and post-activities will be used to deepen engagement and learning.
Managing in a Union Environment
February 19, 2021 2:00 - 4:00 PM ET
We will address the unique role and challenges of managing in a union. Topics include personal and organizational values, seeing yourself in the results you get and reviewing the skills needed to manage staff—including an introduction to the topics of the following sessions.
Understanding Implicit Bias in Your Management Role
March 5, 2021 2:00 - 4:00 PM ET
We will start with an introduction to unconscious/implicit bias. We will examine the concepts of “self in the role” and dominant cultural norms. We will use a case study to “workshop” implicit/unconscious bias in one aspect of your management role.
Building Trust with Your Team
March 19, 2021 2:00 - 4:00 PM ET
Earning the trust of each staff and your entire organizational team is critical to managing effectively. Self-reflection tools and small group discussions will be used and preparation for the final workshop will be covered.
Implementing an Effective Coaching and Evaluation Cycle
April 2, 2021 2:00-4:00 PM ET
We will introduce critical skills for facilitating impactful and engaging performance and coaching conversations. We will examine assumptions and seek to increase awareness of the management role in these discussions to improve employee performance. Topics will include setting clear objectives, clarifying expectations, and delivering ongoing feedback. We will introduce a coaching model along with best practices for facilitating challenging conversations to assist with employee development.
Participants will earn a Managing with Labor’s Values Certificate upon successful completion of the series. Participants are limited to thirty (30), on a first-come basis.
Registration has closed for this offering.
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