February was Black History Month, and every year we celebrate and uplift not just Black history but also those making a difference for their communities in the present day. These are just some of the incredible providers who make up our union:
Meet Precious Henley. Precious lives in Bakersfield and became a caregiver over 20 years ago! She joined UDW in 2008, early on in her career as a caregiver. Before she became a caregiver, Precious worked in communications at a call center.
You can find her spending time caring for her two clients, as well as being an active speaker calling for a fair contract at the Kern County Board of Supervisors meetings. She also recently graduated from UDW’s Leadership Academy and continues to learn more about labor history.
Thank you, Precious, for everything you do for your community!
Meet Charlotte Neal. Charlotte lives in Sacramento and became a family child care provider more than 20 years ago when she first opened her center, and she joined UDW nearly 4 years ago. Charlotte is a second-generation Family Child Care Provider and got into this work with her mom! Before becoming a Family Child Care Provider, she worked in behavioral studies helping troubled youth.
You can find her serving on our negotiations team and our retirement board fighting for better benefits. Charlotte provides 24 hour care to her kids, including some who arrive at 10:30pm and stay overnight to her first kids who arrive as early as 4:00am!
Thank you, Charlotte, for everything you do for your community!
Meet Horace Turner. Horace became a Family Child Care Provider over 10 years ago with his former partner, before he opened his own facility in 2018 and joined UDW. He was also a part of our big fight in 2019 when we won our first child care bargaining contract with the state! Before becoming a Family Child Care Provider, he worked various jobs in construction and financial advising.
You can find Horace spending time as an assistant coach to his local JV basketball team in Stanislaus, and he is currently a part of the Child Care negotiating team and the rate reform council. Currently, Horace provides child care 7 days a week to his families, some children arriving as early as 4:00am!
Thank you, Horace, for everything you do in your community!
Meet Delnita Brown. Delnita became a caregiver nearly 18 years ago and has been a longtime member of UDW. Before becoming a caregiver, Delnita worked as a Human Resources Director in a Drug/Alcohol Recovery Program.
You can find Delnita at her local UDW Political Council and participating in various neighborhood groups throughout her community in Riverside. Her nephew has also followed in her footsteps and has started the process to become a caregiver.
Currently, she cares for her sister and two other clients. She also provides emergency care to those in need and has provided long-term care to clients through this program. Thank you, Delnita, for everything you do in your community!
Meet Monique Noble. She became a caregiver over seven years ago and joined UDW soon after. She followed in the footsteps of her mom, who had been a caregiver for many years. Before becoming a caregiver, Monique worked in various warehouse jobs.
Since then, Monique graduated from our Leadership Academy in October 2023 and has continued to be an active member of UDW and her local community in Merced. She enjoys traveling with her nieces and nephews and spending quality time with her grandmother and the whole family.
Currently, she provides care for her grandmother while also attending her local Civil & Human Rights Council meetings. Thank you, Monique, for everything you do in your community!
