More on Campaign Pillar #2: Foster connected and collaborative leadership
I am a firm believer that our union’s strength comes from our members. It lives in our workplaces, in our communities, and in the everyday actions of activists across the Prairies.
Across this campaign, I’ve been clear about what I think effective leadership looks like: it’s collaborative, grounded in members’ realities, and creates space for people to step up, get involved, and lead.
This pillar is about putting that into practice.
We have strong locals, dedicated components, and passionate activists across our region. But too often, that strength is disconnected. When we work in silos, we limit our ability to learn from each other, respond quickly, and build the kind of momentum that drives real change.
Strengthening connections across our union is how we move from good work happening in pockets to coordinated, collective action across the Prairies.
That means creating better pathways for communication and collaboration between Locals, Components, committees, and activists. It means ensuring that leadership is not just something that happens at the top, but something that is shared, supported, and built across our entire network.
A key part of this work is expanding the Prairie Activist Map. Many of you will remember me getting excited about the “Great Mapping of 2025”, now it’s time to build on that foundation.
This is more than tracking names or creating lists. It’s about understanding our strengths as a region: who is active, where they are, what skills and experience they bring, and how we can better support them. And, at its core, this is about building meaningful relationships.
With a stronger, more intentional network, we can:
Mobilize faster when members need support
Share resources and strategies across Locals
Connect emerging activists with mentorship and opportunities
Strengthen campaigns by building on what’s already working
This directly supports the broader goals of this campaign: building leadership capacity, increasing member engagement, and ensuring our union is ready to act when it matters most. I am committed to making sure this work is actively maintained, updated, and used to support real organizing on the ground.
Here is a depiction of Prairies Activist Map.
Above is an example of what the map could look like: red dots representing our Prairie Locals, and blue dots representing what I call our “spark plugs”, you know, the people who energize and activate those around them.
By mapping this out, we can better engage members in real time and, just as importantly, identify where we may be missing those key connectors and leaders.
Connection drives engagement.
Engagement builds leadership.
And leadership is what allows us to win.
Most importantly, this ensures that no member feels isolated. Whether you’re in a large Local or a smaller, rural workplace, you should feel seen, supported, and connected to something bigger than yourself.
When we strengthen those connections, we don’t just build a better network, we build a stronger, more unified union.
Solidarity,
Krysty
