Our History

 

A. Phillip Randolph

A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin, APRl's co-founders, the fight for workers' rights and civil rights were inseparable.

Randolph (1889-1979) was the greatest black labor leader in American history and the father of the modern American civil rights movement.

Rustin (1912-1987), leading civil rights and labor activist and strategist, was the chief organizer of the historic 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and Randolph's greatest protege.

Randolph and Rustin forged an alliance between the civil rights movement and the labor movement. They recognized that blacks and working people of all colors share the same goals: political and social freedom and economic justice.

This Black-Labor Alliance helped the civil rights movement achieve one of its greatest victories - the passage of the Voting Rights Act, which removed the last remaining legal barriers to broad black political participation.

​Inspired by this success, Randolph and Rustin founded A. Philip Randolph Institute in 1965 to continue the struggle for social, political, and economic justice for all working Americans. 

APRI is an Organization of Black Trade Unionists to Fight for Racial Equality and Economic Justice. Today, APRI is led by President Clayola Brown, whose vision and energy has sparked a new beginning for our organization and for the movement as a whole

In 2003  the non-profit Chapter of A. Philip Randolph Institute APRI-Tacoma begins in the city of Tacoma. Created to Educate Empower & Enlighten.

 Our values and principles include:

  • Supporting the labor movement’s ongoing struggle for economic justice

  • Fighting for Civil rights, strong anti-discrimination measures, affirmative action, and diversity in the workplace

  • Supporting the fight  for decent minimum living standards for all

  • Setting up voters education events, voters registration, and get out to vote programs

  • Setup food drives and Community based feeding events for the unhoused communities

 

 

We need your help

Fund Raising

APRI-Tacoma raises funds to support the activities of the chapter. Several different events throughout the year.  Please check our site to stay current on the different opportunities to support the work of our chapter. Also, visit our donation section for options to support the work

 

 

Working together

Serving our community

APRI Tacoma has served our community by Helping people get VOTE READY. We also provide information on the voting process and upcoming pending legislation.   Provide hot meals and other resources to the homeless on the streets of downtown Tacoma.   Together with several community partners, we co-host African American Legislative Day Workshop every year.

 
 

investing in our future

Making an  Impact in the lives of  children

Every year APRI Tacoma sends youth to our National Convention to learn leadership skills and gain another tool to empower them to work in our community. In Tacoma, we educate and pre-register our youth in high school stressing how important it is to vote and have your vote be heard. We also connect them to Apprenticeships programs and provide a pathway to continue their education beyond high school.