On Wednesday, October 21, at NJ Communities United’s annual Solidarity Awards, Nicole Iles-Lancaster, 1037 member and Shop Steward at The Leaguers, was celebrated as the Revolutionary of the Year. Nicole galvanizing members during a late-summer union meeting, and has been a leading voice on the bargaining committee which recently secured a tentative agreement on a new union contract. Members will vote on whether to ratify the contract next week.

“It’s an honor to be considered a revolutionary and supported in the fight for early child educators, our community and friends,” said Nicole, a long-time teacher who has helped win fair contracts for over 10 years. “Those of us fighting for fairness at work are going to continue to fight for what’s right for working people.”

 

Shante McGee, an Associate Teacher who worked at the same site as Nicole for 12 years said “Nicole was absolutely fantastic as our site’s Shop Steward. She makes herself available to coworkers, she’s knowledgeable, and she comes up with great solutions. She’s also just a lovely person. We started out as coworkers but quickly became friends. That’s my girl, and I’m happy she’s getting this recognition.”

The first Solidarity Awards gala was held in 2017, with community leaders being recognized for their pro-worker efforts. In addition to Nicole, the 2026 Solidarity Awards honorees are:

Comrade of the Year: Yarrow Willman-Cole, New Jersey Citizen Action Workplace Justice Program Director.

Solidarity Honoree: Senator Angela V. McKnight.

Movement of the Year: Make the Road New Jersey.

These honorees embody resilience, courage, and solidarity, inspiring all of us to stand up for justice in our communities.

NJ Communities United is CWA 1037’s long-time community organizing partner focused on using collective action to build and sustain worker power in the early childhood education sector.