Local 420 Head Gets North Star Fund Award

District Council 37 Local 420 President Carmen Charles received the inaugural North Star Fund Award at a gala ceremony last week.

The award honors individuals who are "committed to social change in the service of equality, economic justice and peace." The North Star Fund also gave the award to one if its founders, Toby D'Oench.

'Connected to Members'

"Carmen represented a labor leader who was connected to the rank and file," said North Star executive director Hugh Hogan. "As an emerging labor leader who is also a woman of color, she is reflective of the demographics within the city, and we wanted everyone to know about her."

The awards ceremony held at Tribeca Rooftop raised $285,000 for North Star's grants programs, which include a focus on social equity, civil rights, economic justice and union democracy.

"It meant lot to me," said Ms. Charles, "because of the work that they're doing as far as immigrant groups are concerned, and the fight for justice and human rights."

Mr. Hogan said that Ms. Charles's life story is an example of the importance of immigrants in American society and noted her rise to leadership in the midst of the corruption scandal that brought down former Local 420 President James Butler. "Being in the union gave her a way to be part of society and active in creating opportunities for herself and other people in her community," Mr. Hogan said. "She moved up through the rank and file. Carmen represents the democratic spirit within movements."