Valerie was honored for her tireless efforts on behalf of workers’ rights in North Carolina by the North Carolina A. Philip Randolph Institute at its 40th Annual Awards Banquet and Birthday Celebration. She also spoke at the banquet on the topic of labor and the changing political climate impacting injured workers in the state. Clayola Brown, the national president of APRI, was the keynote speaker.
Valerie was honored for her many years of successful representation of employees in workers’ compensation cases, and because of her advocacy on behalf of people injured at work.
Working with fellow supporters of labor rights, Valerie is fighting against changes to legislation that would put workers at a greater disadvantage when they seek compensation for injuries from their jobs. Currently, Valerie serves on an advisory committee that is negotiating several changes to the workers’ compensation rules of the North Carolina Industrial Commission.
APRI also recognized Valerie for her work every year as a teacher at the Labor School put on by the North Carolina AFL-CIO for NC union leaders.
The A. Philip Randolph Institute is the brainchild of its namesake, renowned labor leader A. Philip Randolph, and civil rights activist and strategist Bayard Rustin. Inspired by the successful passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the two men founded APRI in an effort to continue their work towards national social, economic and political justice by supporting labor unions, advocating for equality and promoting education.
APRI is headquartered in Washington, DC but has chapters in approximately 30 states.