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2004 LA SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
Barbara Helmick
Barbara Helmick is Director of Progressive Action Network (PAN), a membership organization made up of progressive organizations dedicated to grass roots participation in the political process. PAN provides training and management services to member organizations. PAN designs and implements field and phone programs, membership fundraising and development campaigns, and list management and computer support.
Barbara’s activism spans 4 decades. In 1973, while living in Chicago, Barbara answered an ad for "Activists" - she has been building the profession of canvassing ever since. She has set up canvass operations for grassroots groups coast-to-coast including one dedicated to the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, numerous state programs for Citizen Action and Clean Water Action. Barbara founded the CLEC Canvass Network. Then, in 1998 she united more than a dozen organizations that use canvassing to raise money and recruit members in their fight to change the world by empowering people to more fully participate in democracy. Barbara grew up on a family farm in Iowa. She now lives in Washington, D.C., which some day will be a state!
Michael Scarver
Michael Scarver was appointed by International President, George Becker, of the Untied Steelworkers of America to coordinate Political Action Committee (PAC) activities in 1998. Michael graduated from Cleveland East High School in 1970. In April of 1972, he began working as a Laborer for Jones and Laughlin Steel, which later became J & L Steel through a merger in 1986. His appointments in Local Union 185 include Assistant Committeeman in 1980, Chairman of the Incentive Committee in 1988, and Chairman of the Safety and Health Committee in 1980. IN 1995, he was appointed by President Becker to manage the Trico Campaign.
Michael has been elected as Grievance Committeeman of Local Union 185 in 1982, Chairman of the Grievance Committee in 1988 and re-elected in 1991, finally to become President of the Local in 1994. Also he serves as Co-Chairman of the USWA/LTV Labor Management Steering Committee. He currently conducts presentations and PAC drives around the country informing USWA member of the importance of PAC and is being very well received by the membership.
Mike Dolan
Mike Dolan is a campaign specialist for the Service Employees International Union, the largest, most diverse and fastest growing union in the AFL-CIO. Last year Mike worked on SEIU’s successful national coalition effort called “Put Families First”, which won $20Billion in state fiscal relief – with $180Million coming to Iowa -- half of which was earmarked for a temporary increase in the percentage that the federal government contributes to Medicaid. He also worked against the Bush administration’s Medicare privatization plan – which unfortunately passed last year under the guise of a prescription drug benefit.
Before joining SEIU, Mike was on the trade and globalization beat for Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch. He was a lead organizer of the Battle of Seattle against the World Trade Organization. He’s been a field campaign coordinator and coalition builder on many electoral and legislative campaigns; and he was the original Field Director for Rock The Vote, back when it was still cool. When he wore a younger man’s clothes, Mike was a labor lawyer in Omaha, Nebraska.
Ako Abdul-Samad
Ako Abdul-Samad is CEO/Founder of Creative Visions Human Development Center, Des Moines Iowa. Creative Visions provides employment assistance & support services, healthcare management, community development & advocacy, and consultancy on culture & diversity education as well as other aspects of personal development. Under his direction Creative Visions seeks to improve the quality of life for at-risk youth.
Ako is a member of the Black Panther Party and the International Civil Rights Solidarity Movement, as well as the founder and President of National African-American Islamic Association. He is Co-Founder and Coordinator of the YMCA Downtown Teen Program; Vice-President, KUCB Radio; writer, producer and co-director of local cable access television shows “Understanding Islam” and “Teen Talk.” He has been awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award and he received the 2002 Citizen Diplomat Award from Iowa Council for International Understanding. In 2003 Ako was elected to Des Moines Public School Board.
Carolyn Castore
Carolyn Castore is the Program Director for Wisconsin Citizen Action, Wisconsin’s largest citizen advocacy organization. Currently she is focusing on tax and budget policy, voter reform issues, and the 2004 election. She is the organization’s primary lobbyist.
Prior to moving to Wisconsin in 1996, she helped found and operate a precision measurement equipment company in Minnesota. Ms. Castore has also worked for the National Research Council in Washington D.C. She worked for the U.S. General Accounting Office. Carolyn has a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Texas and a B.A. in history from Swarthmore College. She is also a member of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin and has served on the Milwaukee Board of Directors from 1997 to 2003. She grew up in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.
Hannah Lehman
Hannah Lehman has worked at ICAN for the past two and a half years. Currently, she directs ICAN Education Foundation’s Medicare Education Project. This statewide campaign, designed to increase understanding and stimulate discussion on the new Medicare prescription drug law, has reached over 700 seniors and people with disabilities since its launch in March. Hannah received her B.A. in Political Science and Communication Studies from the University of Iowa in December 2001.
John Campbell
John Campbell has been very involved with the Iowa Citizen Action Network as a board member and ally for over a decade. He serves on the Board of Directors for ICAN and the Midwest States Center. He is an executive board member of USWA Local 310, is a member of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, and has over 15 years of service in the Firestone plant in Des Moines. During the 2002 & 2003 Iowa Legislative session he served as the Steelworkers lobbyist.
His previous electoral experience includes highly successful Des Moines based organizing: “Operation Big Vote” in 2000 and “Every Vote Counts” in 2002. John has taken a leave from his employment with Bridgestone/Firestone to allow him to serve as Civic Engagement Director for Iowa Citizen Action Network (ICAN) and ICAN Education Foundation during this most important of elections.
Matt Russell
Matt Russell joined the staff of ICAN as an organizer in July 2003. Matt's organizing responsibilities include health care and fair tax policies. He finished an M.S. in rural sociology from Iowa State University in December 2003. Previously he worked as a national organizer for the National Catholic Rural Life Conference.
AWARD RECIPIENTS
Iowa Trial Lawyers Association
AFFILIATES HONORED FOR SENDING FULL DELEGATIONS
ICAN presented certificates of appreciation to six affiliates for sending their full delegations to the Leadership Assembly. Thank you! Affiliate participation in the Leadership Assembly is vital to our success!
South Central Iowa Federation of Labor
Iowa Trial Lawyers Association
SPEAKERS
