OUR CONVENER

Salandra currently serves as the Executive Director for the Florida
Coalition on Black Civic Participation.  Salandra’s community work involves educating our youth in churches and on college campuses about why civic engagement is important and vital to all people. She 
educates them on why they need to become an activist for their family and community.  Salandra serves as a Board Member and State of Florida Convener for the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and which works with other coalitions to turn out the women and youth to 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. To name a few; she was a recipient of the NAACP Benjamin L Hooks, NCBCP Spirit of Democracy Award;  Asa Philip Randolph Institute(APRI State of  Florida),  Davis Productivity  Award,  Metropolitan Life Foundation, United States Department of Agriculture and she received the late great labor leader Jerry Wurf’s scholarship. She has been covered by every type of media outlet. Salandra’s work also includes working with women in Colombia, Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya, and other East Africa countries around the globe on women empowerment. Salandra has been quoted saying, “As a Community Leader it is my right and duty to protect civil rights and be a voice for the voiceless until they recognize the power of their own voice ''.

Salandra served as State Community Organizer and State Field Director for Florida AFL-CIO. Before joining the AFL-CIO staff, she served as the Organizing Director for American Federation State 
County Municipal Employees(AFSCME Council 79) in Florida. She has led and participated in some hard, but successful organizing campaigns in Florida and around the country to bring justice to 
working people and women. She served in various capacities of the labor movement, President of Local 3040; Secretary-Treasurer of Local 2866; Executive Board Member for AFSCME Florida Council 79; 
Trustee for Space Coast AFL-CIO; Vice President for Space Coast APRI; President of The Coalition of Black Trade Unionist Central Florida Chapter. Consultant for the Solidarity Center.

Salandra has a degree in Business Administration. She was elected by her peers at Harvard to be the class speaker for Harvard Trade Union Program in 2008.

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.