The 19th Ward Community Association (19WCA) Annual Convention took place in mid-November.

Zola Brown, a well-known SEIU activist and longtime resident of the 19th Ward Neighborhood will be installed as the incoming president, along with newly elected board members.

Brown will officially start her 2-year tenure in January of 2019

Feature Profile of Incoming President

Zola Brown entered the union movement over 36 years ago when she joined Local 1199, now 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, while working as a patient unit secretary at Strong Memorial Hospital. She was subsequently elected to be a delegate, executive board member, and vice president of the Rochester local chapter.

Brown is a second-generation union activist. Her mother, mentored by Mattie Best, often referred to as Mother of the Union is a founding member of Local 1199 in Rochester. These women empowered Zola to continue to fight.

Brown’s activism isn’t limited to the union movement. She’s a past member of the Metro Justice Council and has served as a board member on the Rochester Council on Occupational Safety and Health.

In 2012, Brown created the political activist group Sisters for Obama, who were successful in getting out the vote to win local and national seats. She continues to volunteer in political campaigns, voter registration drives, and many marches against senseless acts of violence in Rochester’s communities.

For many years, she has coordinated the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at the University of Rochester Medical Center and the 19th Ward Neighborhood. As founder of the local Union’s Black History Month Observances, she has been active organizing and participating in the Rochester Labor Day Parade, Clarissa Street Reunion, Caribbean Parade, 19WCA Square Fair Parade and as an adviser to the Puerto Rican Parade Executive Board.

She currently heads the field operation of the 1199 SEIU National Benefit Fund, a large provider of health insurance and other complimentary benefits. Her duties also include managing the Union’s Earned Income Tax program and Creating Assets Savings and Hope (CASH) coalition, led by the Empire Justice Center and the United Way of Greater Rochester.

When she’s not mentoring or working on behalf of the community, she enjoys creating crafts or travelling with her daughter, as well as spending time with her mother and worshiping at Aenon Baptist Church.

Brown has been serving the 19th Ward Community in various roles including as a delegate, committee member and most recently vice president.