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Teamsters Inspire
Note: This is a first-person account of Joanna Levingston, a member of Teamsters 848 in Covina, Calif. She is attending the Teamsters Women’s Conference in New Orleans.
I am here at the Women’s Conference in New Orleans so that I can be a vessel to teach other Teamsters and other workers what I’ve learned here. It’s about empowerment.
Our conference theme is “New Day, New Power, New Orleans.” That word “power,” right there, that’s incredible. As Teamsters we stand for so much and we can help so many people. We can create change.
Make sure you vote. Don’t just sit back. Make sure you stand up for what you believe in.
Teamster women are fighters. We don’t just win one battle. We win all battles. We face challenges, but labor can never give up. A winner never quits and a quitter never wins.
I work as a driver at First Transit in Pasadena, California. I want people to look at me and say if she can drive a bus and do it well and look good doing it, I can too. I can achieve whatever it is that I set out to do, too. Sometimes people need to visualize and see who Teamsters are and that we are in so many professions across North America.
Today was the first day of the conference and it got off to a great start. We heard from General President Hoffa, Teamsters Vice President Becky Strzechowski and Donna Brazile. Each speaker reminded us of what we stand for and of the power we have as Teamsters.
The experience of being here is like none other. Every year this conference is different, whether it was in San Francisco last year or New Orleans this year. I feel stronger now than I did last year.
Every experience in life makes you stronger. When I was 18 years old I was home from college and was jogging with headphones on. I got caught in crossfire and was shot 9 times, but I am still standing here today.
I believe we are all here for a reason. One of those reasons is to uplift. I am here with my Teamster sisters to discover our strength, to uplift each other and to learn and grow.
We all have our stories of experiences, good and bad, that have shaped us and inspire us to do good for others.
We will continue to grow together with each Women’s Conference, and I am honored to be a part of this experience. I look forward to the rest of the week here with my fellow Teamsters.