Colleen Sullivan joined the Michigan AFL-CIO Workforce Development Institute (WDI) 2 years ago as their Development Director. During that time, she was excited to collaborate on a variety of grants ushering in a multi-million-dollar expansion of WDI’s equity-focused apprenticeship readiness training program, Access for All. Colleen worked to cultivate relationships across emerging and in-demand sectors to ensure new and equitable workforce development pipelines are being built in industries such as energy, electric vehicles, childcare, cannabis, and broadband.
Before joining WDI, Colleen served as the AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison to labor for the United Way of Jackson County. There she played a key role in mounting a comprehensive response to residents’ essential needs during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was able to facilitate the distribution of millions of basic needs items and food to non-profits and grassroots organizations as well as assist with unemployment claims, launch a dislocated worker fund, and create a Labor food pantry.
Colleen has given to her community of Jackson, MI in a number of ways including her service as a Councilwoman, a Planning Commissioner, a member of the Public Arts Commission, the Skilled Trades Task Force, a Parks and Recreation Commissioner, and a member of the Ella Sharp Park Board. She now serves as a Board Member for the United Ways of Southeast Michigan and Open Door Family Services.
After receiving her BA in Psychology, as well as Sociology & Anthropology, she began work in an Adolescent Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility. It was there that she learned the powerful connection between having a voice on the job and outcomes for not only workers but recipients of critical services. Since that time she became a Union Organizer and has dedicated her professional life to raising up all working people to ensure dignity, respect, and fair wages.
In her new role as WDI’s Deputy Executive Director, Colleen will focus on program expansion as well as the performance on several Federal, State, and Local grants. She is excited to join the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s Registered Apprenticeship Advisory Board where she will work with partners across the State to continue to expand awareness and access to Registered Apprenticeships. Colleen is committed to seeing all Michiganders have equitable access to thriving wage careers and is excited to develop new components of the workforce development pipeline to remove barriers and reach more communities.
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