Member engagement is key to a successful union and we want all members of SEIU Local 721 to feel welcome. To help foster a culture of inclusion, we host an array of Caucuses and Committees. They improve communication and understanding between various cultures and socioeconomic groups, which solidifies our union’s cohesiveness and increases our strength. Together, we win!
721 Retirees Committee
Mission: The 721 Retirees Committee works across generations to ensure that of all our members’ retirement and benefit plans are safe and sound. At our monthly meetings, we hear from speakers who provide information of concerned to retired members – then we strategize on next steps our union can take to ensure retirement security for all.
Chair: Charley Mims, cmmims@pacbell.net
Staff: Gloria Aguilar, (213) 738-8428
Meetings: 10 AM on the second Tuesday of every month
Location: SEIU Local 721, 1545 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017
African American Caucus
Mission: The African American Caucus is committed to enhancing education, training, mentorship, leadership development and networking opportunities for SEIU Local 721 members and staff of African descent.
Chair: Simboa Wright, Simboa.Wright@seiu721.org
Meetings: 6 PM on the first Thursday of every month
Location: SEIU Local 721, 1545 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Caucus
Mission: The mission of SEIU 721 ADA Caucus is to increase participation among the diverse membership within each region by addressing social economic justice issues, developing leadership, promoting respect, improving communication, fostering understanding and creating a culture of inclusion to strengthen our union thereby uniting and improving the lives of the working men and women of SEIU 721. The ADA Caucus is committed to serve union members with disabilities and their families through education and outreach to increase visibility and improve the working lives of union members. Our goal is to provide a forum to address the concerns of people with disabilities. We advocate for implementation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – particularly Title VII – as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to the fullest extent of the law, in both letter and spirit.
Chair: Glenn D. Stephens II
Staff: Anthony Navarrete, Anthony.Navarrete@seiu721.org
Meetings: 6 PM on the second Monday of every month
Location: SEIU Local 721, 1545 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017
Armenian Caucus
Mission: The Armenian Caucus is committed to organizing, educating and developing leadership among the Armenian members of SEIU Local 721 as well as the Armenian community at large.
Chair: Rita Josephbek – ritajosephbek@yahoo.com
Vicechair: Silva Kechechian
Secretary: Ellen Martirosian
Treasurer: John Balta
Advisor: Steve Gimian
Staff: Shoushan Baghboudarian, (213) 368-8685
Meetings: 6 PM on the second Tuesday of every month
Location: Our meeting locations vary. Please contact 818-317-8744 for information on upcoming meetings.
Asian/Pacific Islander Caucus
Mission: The Asian Pacific Islander Caucus collaborates with community organizations to address social, economic, housing, health and working condition issues. We also nurture emerging activists and leaders both within the labor movements and among the broader community.
Chair: Kelly Zhou, 818-723-3222
Meetings: To be determined, working to relaunch. For anyone interested in helping with the relaunch of our 721 API caucus, please contact Susan.Li@seiu721.org
Location: SEIU Local 721, 1545 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017
Committee on Political Education (COPE)
Mission: COPE is a voluntary, bipartisan Political Action Committee for political and legislative activities at SEIU Local 721. Through COPE, we hold elected officials accountable to working families. COPE also makes it possible for our union to build the political power necessary to win strong contracts and to pass laws protecting both our jobs and the services we provide.
Chair: Lydia Cabral, (323)356-2637, lcabral@seiu721.org
Meetings: 6 PM on the third Thursday of every month.
Location: SEIU Local 721, 1545 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017
Filipino Caucus
Mission: The Filipino Caucus is committed to advancing organizing, educating and leadership opportunities among the Filipino members of SEIU Local 721. Our goal is to provide a forum to address the concerns of Filipino members of our union.
Chair: Tony Mendoza, (323) 257-4521
Meetings: 6 PM on the second Friday of every month
Location: SEIU Local 721, 1545 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017
Latino Caucus
Mission: Mission: The Latino Caucus is committed to organizing, educating and developing the Latino people in order to achieve power, respect and social justice for the working class.
Co-Chair: Grace Santillano, Grace.Santillano@seiu721.org
Co-Chair: Grace Sepulveda
Meetings: 6 PM on the third Wednesday of every month
Location: Virtually via Zoom. For more information and to RSVP, email Ignacio.Garcia@seiu721.org. Links will be send out to those who RSVP by the Monday before each meeting.
Lavender Caucus
Mission: The Lavender Caucus is committed to serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) members of SEIU Local 721 – and their families – by increasing our visibility and by improving the working lives of our community through education and outreach.
Chair: Mario Alvarez, seiu721LGBTQcaucus@gmail.com
Meetings: The first Monday of every month via Zoom
Location: SEIU Local 721, 1545 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017
Native American Caucus
Mission: The Native American Caucus is committed to educating everyone by sharing the experiences, cultures and practices of indigenous people. Utilizing a conciliatory perspective, we increase participation regionally among the diverse SEIU Local 721 membership by addressing social, economic and justice issues – and by developing leadership, promoting respect, improving communication, fostering understanding and creating a culture of inclusion.
Chair: Roselyn Smith
Staff: Shauna Janeway, Shauna.Janeway@seiu721.org
Meetings: 6:30 PM on the second Thursday of every month
Location: SEIU Local 721, 1545 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017
Social and Economic Justice Caucus
Mission: The Social and Economic Justice Caucus supports the diversity of SEIU Local 721 by promoting unionism, inclusiveness, empowerment, self-determination, human rights, civil rights and a collective voice that encourages unity and leadership in the community and at the workplace.
Chair: Adolfo Granados, agranados66@yahoo.com
Meetings: 6 PM on the fourth Wednesday of every month
Location: SEIU Local 721, 1545 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017
Veterans Caucus
Mission: The Veterans Caucus is committed to strong advocacy for Veterans of the Armed Forces who are members of SEIU Local 721 – and we promote a culture that both values and supports Veterans of all eras, branches and components. The Veterans Caucus focuses on developing a forum for Veterans issues and concerns both within our union and among the community of Veterans at large.
Chair: Irene Cruz, (323) 977-9838
Meetings: 6 PM on the second Wednesday of every month
Location: SEIU Local 721, 1545 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017
Women’s Caucus
Mission: The Women’s Caucus provides a forum for union women’s issues. We promote equal treatment, leadership opportunities and mentorship – and we offer support and resources to endeavors and initiatives that improve working conditions for women.
Chair: Theresa Velasco, theresa.velasco721eboard@gmail.com
Staff: Carolina Arguello & Iris Lomeli
Meetings: The fourth Thursday of every month. The meetings start at 5:30 PM in person & 6 PM when on Zoom.
Location: SEIU Local 721, 1545 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017 or via Zoom