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Right now, the systems and structures meant to serve workers in our country are
old and exclusive; they were never designed with all workers in mind.
From labor laws to technology, workers are often treated as a means to an end for
profit, leading to their labor being exploited and their contributions devalued.
That is why we invest in, learn from, and scale worker-centered innovations that
help shape modern and inclusive systems for all workers.
We live out our purpose through worker-centered investment, research, and technology.
Along the way, we use our learnings to inform leaders, locally and federally, who make decisions about workers and work.
We provide mentorship, training, and up to $200,000 in funding for worker-centered ideas led by underrepresented innovators, especially entrepreneurs of color and women.
states reached
entrepreneurs of color
women
We cultivate worker-centered knowledge by engaging workers in participatory action research, equipping and empowering them to be researchers of their own conditions.
paid participant-researchers
people of color
young people (under age of 25)
We co-build and test proprietary worker-centered technology solutions, and convene Design Sprints to advance workers' rights and labor infrastructure.
workers engaged
client partnerships
organizers and worker leaders
As a majority person of color, queer, and first-generation team, our staff, founders, and board of directors reflect the communities and workers we serve.
We believe that diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging make us stronger as a country.
Adrian joined The Workers Lab in 2017 overseeing the formation of The Workers Lab nonprofit corporation, doubling the budget and staff. Before his promotion to CEO, Adrian served as our interim leader to oversee a critical transition period. Before joining The Workers Lab, Adrian built a career in progressive politics, government, and public affairs. He started as a field organizer on Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, served as a Confidential Assistant at the U.S. Department of Education, and then served as the speechwriter to United States Secretary of Labor, Hilda L. Solis. He then spent four years at Civitas Public Affairs Group, a leading national public affairs firm where he worked for a variety of clients developing and implementing strategic plans for a range of issues, and serving as a key advisor to top nonprofit executives. Adrian had a brief but beloved stint in Hollywood working under the mentorship of acclaimed Latino entertainment executive, activist, and entrepreneur, Moctesuma Esparza. Adrian holds a degree in rhetorical studies and political science from California State University, Long Beach, and grew up in East Los Angeles.
Antonella started managing the hostess counter at her immigrant parents’ Italian restaurant at the young age of twelve. By the time she was twenty, she had done just about every job there was in the restaurant business. Antonella supports executive leadership by managing strategic planning, coordinating projects, and ensuring alignment across departments. She streamlines communications and oversees internal operations to enhance organizational efficiency. Antonella has a B.A. in sociology and behavioral science from San Jose State University.
Jeshua left home at 18 and worked in the service industry for over seven years while he paid his way through college. His mother is a teacher from a rural Wisconsin dairy farming family and his father is a political writer and Malaysian government servant of 33 years. Jeshua leads the strategy, design, and implementation of all strategic functions at The Workers Lab. He believes, deeply, that most Americans just want to live dignified lives, not become millionaires or billionaires. Jeshua has a B.S. in business administration from the University of California, Berkeley, and a minor in global poverty from the Blum Center for Developing Economies.
Amanda Vega grew up inspired by her grandma, who has a long history of serving excluded and underrepresented communities. She spent her childhood in San Francisco, California, with her two sisters, brother, and parents, leading to her passion for basketball and attending Giants baseball games with her dad. Amanda provides executive support to the Chief Executive Officer. She serves as the primary point of contact for internal and external constituencies on all matters pertaining to executive leadership at The Workers Lab.
Cat is from a working-class immigrant family. Her dad started out as a dishwasher in restaurants and her mom was a housekeeper in hotels. She benefited directly from opportunity ladders not available to workers with low wages today. Now, she supports workers, organizers, and worker centers to create better, safer, and more equitable work. She has over a decade of experience working at the intersection of labor, race, and economic equity, developing technological solutions that amplify worker voices and address pressing workplace issues. Cat has a B.A. in psychology from Oberlin College; M.S. in computer science from Mills College.
Shelly grew up in rural Oregon, surrounded by farmers, loggers, and lots of goats. She was raised by her mom, who to this day spends long hours working in the woods. Shelly leads our research and evaluation. She applies participatory methods to generate worker-centered knowledge and designs evaluations that measure the scale, impact, and equity of our efforts. As someone who is queer and autistic, she strives to make research an accessible and empowering practice for everyone involved. Shelly has a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley; A.B. from Harvard University.
Seph was raised by his grandparents, who immigrated from the Philippines, while his parents worked rotating shifts in the Silicon Valley semiconductor industry. For over 15 years, Seph worked in various roles ranging from sales associate to assistant general manager in high-volume flagship stores. At The Workers Lab, he is responsible for implementing and managing the organization's finances and day-to-day operations.
Growing up in the heart of Silicon Valley, Madeleine witnessed the rise of big tech and the resulting crises of housing affordability, economic instability, and quality of life deterioration for everyday working people. She oversees day-to-day technology operations, focusing on product strategy and roadmapping, partnerships, and organizational growth. Madeleine strives to create technology that helps fight back against systemic power imbalances in an otherwise male-dominated field. She enjoys dancing salsa and exploring the great outdoors. Madeleine has a B.A. in history with a minor in Latin American studies from Swarthmore College.
Ever since our nation's founding, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQ+ people, women, people with disabilities, gig/nonstandard workers, immigrants and undocumented workers, and young people have and continue to be disproportionately excluded from labor laws, rights, and protections in this country.
Founded in 2014, The Worker Lab started as an idea to address the gaps in our labor movement by giving life to new ideas for and with workers.
Carmen co-founded The Workers Lab and served as its first CEO. She defined the organization as an innovation lab investing in entrepreneurs, community organizers, and government leaders to create replicable and revenue-generating solutions that improve conditions for workers with low wages. Carmen has a Ph.D. in city and regional planning from the University of California, Berkeley. She was awarded as a Fulbright Scholar in 2007.
David co-founded The Workers Lab and is the President Emeritus of SEIU 775. He works as a labor leader, organizer, author, and strategist to build the next American labor movement. David led campaigns that helped organize hundreds of thousands of workers with low wages and spearheaded successful $15 minimum wage campaigns. David is a native of Cincinnati and a graduate of Bard College.
Our board is made up of experienced organizers, lawyers, investors, and philanthropists who are committed to advancing the rights and well-being of all workers.
Keesha is a seasoned organizer, lobbyist, and trial attorney. She is passionate about redistricting reform, voting rights, and elections, with a particular focus on combating voter suppression. Keesha is a frequent commentator on these issues, appearing on numerous news and public affairs programs. She has a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School and a B.A. from Hamline University.
Ian is the CEO and Co-Founder of Westfuller, a values-driven investment advisory and wealth management firm. Ian is an active angel investor in high-growth, BIPOC-led businesses. He specializes in evidence-driven, global wealth advisory and planning, strategic investment management, and philanthropic giving. Ian has an M.S. in International Affairs from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and a Global Finance degree from New York University.
Margot is a leader in impact investing and resilience finance. She is the founder and former CEO of MyStrongHome, a benefit corporation providing resilience finance services to homeowners. Margot co-authored the book "The Power of Impact Investing" with Judith Rodin. She has an M.P.A. from the Princeton Woodrow Wilson School and a B.A. from Stanford University.
Luz is the founding President of the Marguerite Casey Foundation (MCF). Under Luz’s leadership, MCF has invested more than $450 million in organizations. More than 85 percent of MCF grantees are organizations led by people of color. She is a champion for movement building and lifting the voices of families with low income. Luz is the founder of Hispanics in Philanthropy. She has a M.A. in Latin American Studies from Stanford University and a B.A. in Modern Languages from the University of San Francisco.
Erica is the Executive Director of Jobs With Justice. She is a seasoned organizer and movement leader, dedicated to building power for working people through collective bargaining and addressing inequality. Erica co-authored the book "The Future We Need: Organizing for Economic Democracy in the Twenty-First Century" with Sarita Gupta. She has a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
