Salandra Benton, FL Convener for Nt'l. Coalition on Black Civic Participation

Salandra’s community work involves educating our youth in churches and on college campuses why civic engagement and the labor movement is important and vital to all people. She educates them on why they need to become an activist in their workplace, union or non-union shops.  Salandra serves as a Board Member and State of Florida Convener for National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and which works with other coalitions to turn out the youth vote and to encourage them to engage in civic participation; in 2004 and 2008 she was recognized by the Ford Foundation for her successful work.  Over four decades, Salandra has served on many committees and boards.  She has received many awards for her hard work such as recipient of the 2013  NAACP Benjamin L Hooks, NCBCP Spirit of Democracy Award; 2010 Asa Philip Randolph Institute of  Florida,  Davis Productivity Award, Metropolitan Life Foundation, United States Department of Agriculture, and in 2007  she received the late great labor leader Jerry Wurf’s scholarship. She has been covered by every type of media outlet. Salandra has been quoted saying, “As a Labor and Community Leader it is my right and duty to protect civil rights and be a voice for the voiceless”.  

Salandra currently lives in Titusville, Florida, and served as the State Community Organizer for Florida AFL-CIO. Before joining the AFL-CIO staff served as Organizing Director for American Federation State County Municipal Employees Council 79 in Florida. She has lead and participated in some hard, but successful organizing campaigns in Florida and around the country to bring justice to working people and women.

Salandra’s passion is for the younger generation because they can carry the vision and her commitment is to the older generation because they have seen the vision. Her love is her family that keeps her lifted up.