David Elsila

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David Elsila

David "Dave" Elsila has been a labor journalist and activist most of his adult life, first for the American Federation of Teachers, where he edited The American Teacher, and subsequently for the United Auto Workers, where he served as editor of Solidarity magazine from 1976 to 1998. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, David Elsila helped found Detroit Labor History Tours in the 1980s with Steve Babson, Ron Alpern and John Revitte. He is also the producer of the jazz opera Forgotten: The Murder at the Ford Rouge Plant, set in 1930s Detroit. ^[1]

DSA picket

On Tuesday, December 4th, 2001, at the request of the United Steel Workers-Region 2, members of Detroit Democratic Socialists of America joined an informational picket at Hospice of Michigan in Farmington Hills. Approximately seventy-five people representing DSA, Gray Panthers, Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO, Jobs with Justice, Alliance for Democracy, and Michigan Universal Health Care Access Network picketed in order to show community and labor support for the nurses aides, cooks, and other ancillary personnel at Hospice of Michigan who were attempting to organize a union.

Eleven D.S.A. members marched in the picket line, including Earl Mandel, Eric Ebel, David Elsila, Maurice Geary, Helen Samberg, Lon Herman, Ed Nol, Linda Housch-Collins, Brandon Moss, Larry Schwarczynski, and David Green.^[2]

Democratic Socialists of America Member

In 2006 David Elsila, Michigan, donated $250 to the Democratic Socialists of America Political Action Committee. According to DSA's Democratic Left Spring 2006,^[3]

"DSA has formed a Political Action Committee—Democratic Socialists of America PAC (DSA PAC), which will raise funds to enable activity that supports or opposes candidates for federal office. By law, DSA is not permitted to expend its resources in support of or against candidates in partisan elections; however, DSA is permitted to form a PAC for this purpose...

...Only DSA members in good standing may contribute to the PAC. Because the law is so specific, all contributions are carefully screened to make sure that they are from members."^[4]

DSA electoral work

In 2008 Greater Detroit Democratic Socialists of Americaendorsed state representative candidates Sarah Roberts (St. Clair Shores-Harrison Township), Vicki Barnett (Farmington-Farmington Hills), Lisa Brown (West Bloomfield-Harrison Township), and Jonathan Switalski (Warren-Sterling Heights). As a result, DSA members have been canvassing, phone banking, and stuffing envelopes for one of these four candidates almost every weekend since the late summer. To date, the following members have participated in at least one (and usually several) campaign dates: Brandon Moss, Selma Goode, Michelle Fecteau, Bob Alpert, Lon Herman, Maurice Geary, Helen Samberg, Bob Frumkin, Charlie Rooney, Julie Barton, David Elsila, David Green, Dave Ivers, Michael Dover, Bill Helwig, Bob Denoweth, and Marilyn Schmidt.^[5]

Ernie Goodman bio

In the late 2000s, Dave Riddle, Steve Babson and David Elsila co-wrote "The Color of Law:Ernie Goodman, Detroit, and the Struggle for Labor and Civil Rights".^[6]

Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center

Essential: Advocacy for Workplace Justice

In 2007, David Elsila was a member of the Honorary Host Committee for the Essential: Advocacy for Workplace Justice Reception & Silent Auction. The reception, which was held on Nov. 14, 2007 is the annual fundraising event to benefit the far left National Lawyers Guild-affiliated Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice. The guest of honor at the reception was Andy Levin, son of Congressman Sander Levin, and Deputy Director at the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth.^[7]

In 2008, David Elsila was present at the Essential: Advocacy for Workplace Justice Reception & Silent Auction at Detroit Public Library’s Skillman branch. The reception, which was held on Nov. 14, 2008 is the annual fundraising event to benefit the far left National Lawyers Guild-affiliated Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice. The guest of honor at the reception was Andy Levin, son of Congressman Sander Levin, and Deputy Director at the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth.^[8]

In 2009, David Elsila was a member of the Host Committee for the Essential: Advocacy for Community Justice Reception & Silent Auction which was held at the Atlas Global Bistro, Detroit. The reception, which was held on Nov. 18, 2009 is the annual fundraising event to benefit the far left National Lawyers Guild-affiliated Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice. Remarks were made by Steve Tobocman and the Maurice Sugar Voice for Justice Award was presented to Marilyn Mullane, Executive Director, Michigan Legal Services.^[9]

Van Jones award host committee

Screenshot of Essential: Advocacy for Community Justice reception (click image to enlarge)

On November 18, 2010, the far left Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice presented "The Maurice Sugar Voice for Justice Award" to Van Jones "Human Rights Activists and Green-Jobs Advocate", at the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, 660 Woodward Ave, Suite 300.

Members of the Honorary Host Committee were;^[10]

• Jeffrey Breslin, RN, President, Michigan Nurses Association
• Hon. Hansen Clarke, Michigan Senate
• Hon. Kenneth V. Cockrel, Jr., Detroit City Council
• Diana Copeland, Executive Director, East Michigan Environmental Action Council
• David Elsila, Retired Editor, UAW Solidarity Magazine
• Leslie Fields, National Director of Environmental Justice, Sierra Club
• Michael Garfield, Director, The Ecology Center
• Ponsella Hardaway, Executive Director, MOSES
• W. Kim Heron, Editor, Metro Times
• Charity Hicks, Detroit Black Community Food Security Network
• Hon. Brenda Jones, Detroit City Council
• Bob King, President, UAW International
• Chris Kolb, President, Michigan Environmental Council
• Andy Levin, Acting Director, Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth
• Hon. Claudia Morcom, Retired Wayne County Circuit Court Judge
• Kary Moss, Executive Director, ACLU of Michigan
• Hasan Newash, Palestine Office of Michigan
• Fred Redmond, International Vice President, United Steelworkers
• Hon. JoAnn Watson, Detroit City Council
• Ed Wendel, General Counsel, United Food & Commercial Workers
• Saundra Williams, President, Metro Detroit AFL-CIO
• Diann Woodard, President, American Federation of School Administrators

DSA official

Greater Detroit Democratic Socialists of America's by-laws require biannual election of officers and executive board. "We will hold elections at our general membership meeting on September 11th (2010)... The executive board recommended the following slate:"

• Chair: David Green
• Vice-Chair: Catherine Hoffman
• Secretary: Selma Goode
• Treasurer: Dave Ivers
• At Large Executive Board Members: Ken Jenkins, Lon Herman, Reg McGhee, Phil Schloop, David Elsila

References