National Convening Program Books 2016 YEO National Convening Program Book | Page 21

YEO NATIONAL CONVENING 2016

KARUNDI WILLIAMS SEIU
Karundi Williams is the director of state and local programs in the government relations
department for SEIU International. Williams directs the union’s national policy priorities
through robust state legislative campaigns across the country, intended to influence the
national agenda. Williams has more than 12 years of public policy experience in government
relations, executive management, legislative strategy and stakeholder advocacy. Prior to
her tenure at SEIU, she served as the director of government relations for the state of
Ohio under Governor Ted Strickland. After graduating from the Ohio State University,
Williams began her career in legislative advocacy at the Ohio General Assembly. She went
on to hold senior positions including legislative affairs director for the Ohio department
of transportation and senior policy and legislative advisor for the Ohio Civil Rights
Commission. She resides in Silver Spring, Maryland.

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Skills Workshop Series
College Affordability and Student Debt
Industry 2

A panel of local and state elected officials will look at finding creative
ways to combat the $1.3 trillion student loan debt crisis in their state
and make college more affordable. The panel will highlight innovative
ideas from Wisconsin and Connecticut, on both the state and local
levels, and how those and other ideas can be implemented in other
states and communities. The panel will also touch on how pursuing
solutions and policy at the local and state level can drive changes in
policy at the federal level.

MANDELA BARNES Wisconsin State Legislature
In 2012 Mandela Barnes was elected to serve in the Wisconsin State Legislature.
Representative Barnes graduated from Milwaukee’s John Marshall High School in 2003,
and attended Alabama A&M University, completing his education in 2008. After returning
to Milwaukee, Barnes interned in the office of Mayor Tom Barrett, eventually moving
into the position of staff assistant. After leaving the mayor’s office, Barnes began working
in the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board, and eventually became the lead
organizer and director for Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH),
a coalition of faith-based groups advocating for social justice in the greater Milwaukee
community. Barnes was sworn into office on January 7th, 2013, and currently serves on
the Committees on Corrections, Education, Jobs & the Economy, and Small Business
Development. He was also elected chairman of the legislature’s Black and Latino Caucus.

JENNI DYE Dane County Board of Supervisors
An attorney, Jenni Dye serves on the Dane County Board of Supervisors, having first
been elected in 2012. Dye is also the research director for One Wisconsin Now where she
works on issues related to economic opportunity, including student loan reform and public
education. Dye is a 2013 alumna of the Emerge program. 

DETAILED AGENDA

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