January 2024 Student Spotlight
MPA student Khalia Kweli talks about her interest in labor unions, her induction into Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society, and more in this month’s spotlight.
Can you talk about your work in District Council 37’s Political Action & Legislation Department?
Everyday has been an adventure. I feel really blessed to be part of the Political Action team at DC 37. We represent over 150,000 city employees, some of whom are the lowest paid members of the city workforce. When you’re working long hours and attending to the needs of your family it’s hard to keep track of what’s going on in City Hall or in Albany. We try to make the political process more accessible to these everyday New Yorkers – give them the information they need to fight back against legislative proposals that may be harmful to them. It’s also been exciting to participate in some really important fights – like pushing for hospital pricing transparency and criminal justice reform.
At this moment one of the biggest challenges we face is engaging our younger members. We’re working hard to try to fold more young members into our political activities. For them there’s a lot more distance between their lives and the labor struggles of the 20th century. Many young workers don’t understand that people literally died to make it possible for them to have the rights and protections they have in the workplace today. One bright spot is that 2023 has been a powerful year for union organizing. I think that has been helpful in encouraging young people to explore their identities as workers and union members.
How did you become interested in advocacy and organizing with labor unions?
It’s genetic. My mother was a union shop steward, so I spent a lot of time going to union protests and rallies as a child. The importance of equality and standing up to assert your rights was also a big part of the culture of my family. My father always had lots of books on historical movements and power struggles. And I’ve always been drawn to the idea that marginalized people – the people who are discarded in society – can join forces to overcome a challenge – even in David and Goliath level battles.
What was it like getting inducted into the Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society?
Pi Alpha Alpha is a global honor society for public affairs professionals. This spring I had the privilege of being an inductee. It means the world to me to be recognized in this way. I’m really looking forward to being able to network and exchange ideas with others in the organization. A few weeks ago they hosted their annual summit. It was incredible to hear discussions on policy matters from people across the country and as far away as Egypt and China.
What has your MPA experience been like at Marxe thus far?
I’m nearing the end of my MPA program and I’m confident that enrolling in Baruch has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve had such a rich array of coursework – data analysis, communication strategy, management techniques – I definitely feel like I look at the world through a different lens now. And if you sit in any class and look at who’s next to you – it’s quite impressive. In our cohort we have people from very influential nonprofits, every kind of government agency, even a currently serving elected official. I’ve already been able to apply what I’ve learned into my work. I’m extremely grateful for all the resources I’ve had access to throughout the program. The quantitative and writing workshops have been amazing. Marxe does a phenomenal job of nurturing its students.
