2021 Peggy Browning Fellows

2021 Peggy Browning Summer Fellows Jonah Feitelson JD’22 University of Michigan Law School Ann Arbor, MI Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Washington, DC Jonah began working in the labor movement as an organizer for UNITE HERE Local 25 in Washington, DC. He fought alongside hotel workers for fair contracts and representation at some of the largest hotels in DC. There, he gained a passion for workers’ rights and an understanding of the inequalities in our economic system which inspired him to attend law school. Jonah worked as a co-director of the Michigan Immigration and Labor Law Association and as an elected officer in the Graduate Employees Organization. Last summer, he was a Peggy Browning Fellow at the NYSUT where he worked to protect the rights and safety of New York teachers during the pandemic and helped win a back-pay award for two of their members. Jonah hopes to work toward a legal career supporting unions and workers in the fight for economic justice. Enrique Espinoza JD’21 Chicago-Kent College of Law Chicago, IL National Legal Advocacy Network Chicago, IL GraduatingfromtheUniversidadVeracruzana inMexico, with a degree in Tourism Business Administration, Enrique moved to Chicago in 2018 and has been working in the hospitality industry for over 20 years. His experience as a union steward during the Chicago hotels’ worker strike motivated him to pursue labor and employment law. Enrique’s ability to balance a full-time job and a young family, while excelling academically, shows his desire to work hard and succeed. He volunteers to serve the Latino community at his school’s Immigration Clinic, conducts citizenship workshops with Instituto del Progreso Latino, interprets for the National Immigrant Justice Center, and is a volunteer certified mediator for the Center for Conflict Resolution. Enrique continues working to support his family, preparing to transition into the legal field this year. He hopes that his Peggy Browning Fellowship will reaffirm his decision to change the course of his professional life. Cecilia Diaz JD’22 University of Nevada, Las Vegas William S. Boyd School of Law Las Vegas, NV Arriba Las Vegas Workers Center Las Vegas, NV Ceci’s interest in worker’s rights comes from her community. She thinks that workers are the driving force in this country and they should be able to have someone in their corner when they need it. Her law school has an excellent workplace law concentration and workplace law club and it has served to inspire her to pursue a career in this field. In addition, she hopes that her summer experience will prepare her to help workers who are looking to file complaints due to unfair treatment and denial of paid time off. Ceci knows that the Arriba Center is a great resource for workers to inform themselves and to have a place where they can get help filing complaints or simply find the guidance as to what steps they need to take.  Mary Kate Dugan JD’22 Indiana University School of Law Bloomington, IN Gilbert and Sackman Los Angeles, CA Mary Kate joined the labor movement, first as an activist and organizer, when she was radicalized by her own experience working as a restaurant server. She fought alongside UNITE HERE for the right to a union for Indianapolis service workers and organized to combat Right to Work legislation in Indiana. Later, she served as executive director of Central Indiana Jobs with Justice, fighting for higher wages, better working conditions, and the right to a union for low-wage workers. More recently, Mary Kate worked in nonprofit administration, spearheading efforts to change racist policies and discriminatory hiring procedures. Last year, Mary Kate was a Peggy Browning Fellow with Joel F. Dillard, PA, helping workers protect their civil rights and their livelihoods through litigation. She dedicates her work to her dad, a working-class hero and thirty- eight-year member of the National Association of Letter Carriers.