Dear John,

We are thrilled to highlight our first 2024 City of Justice Awards Dinner honorees, Ada F. Briceño, Susan Minato, and Kurt Petersen—the Co-Presidents of UNITE HERE! Local 11, which represents over 32,000 hotel workers across Southern California and Arizona. 

This past June, the Los Angeles Times described the UNITE HERE! Local 11 leadership as a “unique power-sharing agreement” that is “the first of its kind at a U.S. labor union.” Since the summer of 2023, UNITE HERE! Local 11 has led the largest hotel strike in U.S. history, in which they have secured major wage increases, benefits, and protections for hotel workers—thereby transforming the hotel industry. 

While they lead UNITE HERE! Local 11 as a unit, each Co-President has their own extraordinary and inspiring history of harnessing the power of coalitions, uplifting marginalized communities, and empowering workers. 

A champion for immigrants, people of color, and working families, Ada F. Briceño has spent over 25 years transforming the electoral base within Orange County and solidifying voting rights for its residents. 

Susan Minato, a 4th generation Japanese has led efforts to win numerous groundbreaking food service agreements—effectively increasing the wages and benefits of hospitality service workers across Southern California. 

Kurt Petersen is no stranger to the good fight. A lifetime of experience as an organizer prepared Petersen for his election to UNITE HERE! Local 11 leadership in 2017.

Together, the trio of Co-Presidents have helped to solidify UNITE HERE! Local 11 as a leader and innovator within the national movement to secure economic justice for workers and their families. Join us in the excitement as we honor the bold work of the UNITE HERE! Local 11 Co-Presidents at the 2024 City of Justice Awards Dinner!