On Tuesday, April 23rd, members of the community came together to celebrate two women who have dedicated their lives to service and advocacy in their community.
Guests mingle at the retirement party for Gaby Gross and Sheila Payne.
Family and friends brought food and festive attitudes to the Spacebar in Gainesville. People of all ages who have been impacted by Gaby Gross and Sheila Payne conversed and danced in commemoration of their decades of work in Alachua County and the surrounding area. We want to thank them once more for the work they have done in the fight for worker’s rights. Sheila and Gaby both received beautiful pieces of protest art (If anybody has pictures of Gaby and Sheila receiving them, send them to us!) and we want to thank Melissa Hawthorne for securing the art and getting it framed.
Sheila and Gaby strike a triumphant pose
Sheila became active with the Labor Coalition immediately after retiring from the post office, where she was a member of the American Postal Workers Union. Sheila’s dedication and passion is extraordinary- today the Pine Ridge community in northwest Gainesville would not be habitable without her the work and advocacy of Sheila Payne, and she played a crucial leadership role in securing free phone calls for inmates in the Alachua County Jail. These are just a couple of the numerous accomplishments and victories that Sheila has helped secure for working people in Alachua County. We wish her well as she continues her journey in New York.
Sheila and Zefnia Durham, president of ATU Local 1579, grab some food.
Gaby, who has been active with the Labor Coalition for many years, has announced that she will be retiring. We want to thank her once more for the decades of hard work and accomplishments that she has committed to this community. Without Gaby, the work that we have done on the Just Health Care Committee would not be possible. She has also been our “petitioner-in-chief” and has played absolutely critical roles in petition-gathering campaigns. Gaby’s unrelenting willingness to do what’s right and consistently show up and work for just causes is an inspiration to future generations.
Gaby receives a round of applause.
We want to also thank Jackie Bets and Jason Fults for playing a pivotal role in organizing and cleaning up the event, as well as all of those who showed up to support Gaby and Sheila and brought food for this event!
ACLC supporters have a chat outside of the party venue.
THANK YOU GABY AND SHEILA
