Public Employee Press

North Star Fund honors Carmen Charles

The North Star Fund honored Municipal Hospital Employees Local 420 President Carmen Charles April 24 at its annual awards gala.

North Star is a community foundation that advances the collective good by funding projects that fight for social justice.

The fund recognizes grassroots leaders who strive for equality, economic justice and peace — the values at the heart of its mission. Every year at the gala, North Star celebrates New Yorkers who stand for these values and work to create a better city for everyone.

In addition to Carmen Charles, the fund honored Esperanza del Barrio for organizing street vendors to provide a better life for themselves and their children.

Since Charles was elected president of Local 420 in 2002, she has successfully negotiated upgrades for her members and returned the local to sound financial footing. The North Star award cited her efforts toward building a labor movement that stands for justice and immigrant rights.

Since it was founded in 1979, the North Star Fund has distributed more than $23.5 million dollars to more than 1,500 groups working to ensure a fairer and more democratic city for all New Yorkers.