Building the Public Purpose University: Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Kenneth Brook

On October 15th, the Office for Community Engagement and Partnerships and the AFT Local 1904 will be co-hosting: Building the Public Purpose University: Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Kenneth Brook (see flyers below for the morning and afternoon events).

As you may know, Ken was a leader on our campus for nearly 50 years. He came to Montclair in 1970, signed a union card and quickly rose to a leadership position as an Officer and ultimately became our Chief Negotiator, a position he kept for 35 years over 10 master contract cycles.  Ken was a pioneer, along with colleagues, in promoting civic and community-engaged learning through the creation of the Service-learning program designing what is now the Community Engaged Teaching and Learning Fellows Program.

Ken Brook’s  commitment to social justice and equity has had a transformative impact on the University, its faculty, students, and neighboring communities. His legacy is truly worthy of celebration. We invite you to join our campus community as we gather to honor and remember Ken’s lasting and significant contributions.

AFT Local 1904 Represents at the 33rd Annual Celebration of Labor Parade

Members of our AFT Local 1904 proudly represented at Friday’s (September 6th, 2024) 33rd Annual Celebration of Labor Parade sponsored by Essex West Hudson Labor Council AFL-CIO. The celebration commenced with a pre-parade program of speakers at Newark City Hall, followed by a march from City Hall to Harriet Tubman Square/Washington Park. The 2024 Grand Marshal was Anthony Abrantes, MSU Trustee, Assistant Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Eastern Atlantic State Regional Council of Carpenters, and Founder/President Emeritus of the Northwest Jersey Central Labor Council.

AFT Local 1904 Leadership (marching, carrying Essex West Hudson Central Labor Council AFL-CIO banner), Left to Right: Rich Wolfson, Immediate Past President; Laura Field, President; Bill Sullivan, Vice President for External Affairs

Left to Right: US Representative Andy Kim; Rich Wolfson; Laura Field; Bill Sullivan

Congratulations to the 2024 AFT Local 1904 Scholarship Recipients!

The AFT Local 1904 is very pleased to have awarded eleven scholarships in 2023! Recipients were acknowledged both in person (CELS Building, 120) and virtually (via Zoom) at our Membership Meeting on Wednesday, May 1st, 2024.

Pictured above (top seven then bottom four, left to right) are our Scholarship recipients Jeffrey Yumbla, Melanie Betances, Bayron Herrera, Jordan Egerton, Carolyn Cook, Jacob Roby, Omayma Jabara, Joely DeMonte, Assata DeLoach, Yaritza Lopez, and Daisha Robinson. Recipients are all undergraduate students in various majors, in good academic standing, with strong scholastic aspirations, and who have demonstrated that they would substantively benefit from the support of the scholarship as a resource. 

Our heartfelt thanks to members of the 2024 Scholarship Committee: Catherine Baird, Lisa Garrity, Karen Mingo, Carmen Reyes-Cuevas, and Celeste Walden-Kelley. Also, sincere thanks to: All those who provided recipients letters of recommendation for our students; Local Office Manager, Deb Corasio, for helping to manage the scholarship applications; and the Officers of the Local 1904, for supporting the Scholarship Committee's award recommendations. 

The BKMBUW/Yovnello/Nunn/BCMSU Scholarship Fund was originally established in 1997. The Scholarship currently honors Catherine A. Becker, James P. Keenen III, Joseph T. Moore, Kenneth H. Brook, Anita E. Uhia, and Connie Waller, all former faculty and active union members, as well as Nicholas C. Yovnello and Ellen Kearns Nunn, all of whom were deeply committed to the principles of collective bargaining and to helping our students who demonstrate a significant economic need. The Nunn award is reserved specifically for students who are single parents. The Bloomfield College of Montclair State University (BCMSU), based upon a generous 2023 gift from the BCMSU labor community to the AFT Local 1904's scholarship fund, is reserved specifically for a BCMSU student who meets certain specific criteria.

Please consider contributing to the fund, including in another's name (loved one, etc.). To give to the Fund, please do so via this link (select designation of “other,” and indicate that the donation is for “AFT Local 1904 BKMBUW/Yovnello/Nunn/BCMSU Scholarship Fund”).

Congratulations to all eleven 2024 recipients!

The AFT Local 1904 Community Mourns the Death of Dr. Kenneth Brook

It is with immense sadness that AFT Local 1904 shares news of the death of Dr. Kenneth Brook, Professor of Anthropology Emeritus. 

Ken was Faculty in the Department of Anthropology for 49 years, starting in September 1970 and retiring in February of 2019. He was active in all aspects of our community, serving as a Faculty member, Department Chair, and University Senator in each of the last 5 decades. In addition, Ken was one of the original members of the American Federation of Teachers Local 1904, holding the position of Chief Negotiator for over 35 years. In all of these endeavors, he left a lasting legacy for the Faculty, Staff, Librarians, and Specialists. He was devoted to our students, and to strengthening their education and sense of self through civically engaged learning. He was resolute in his passion for social justice, steadfast advocacy for the underdog, and unwavering commitment to a diverse student body through affordable education.  Ken was an outstanding leader whose vision touched all areas of the University.

On Wednesday, February 7th, at 11:30am, there will be a public memorial service at the Cedar Park Cemetery Chapel followed by a short graveside service and internment. Directions | Cedar Park and Beth El Cemeteries

It would have been Ken’s desire, should you wish to honor his legacy, that you make a donation to the Union Scholarship that bears his name. To donate to Becker-Keenen-Moore-Brook-Uhia-Waller Scholarship, go to the Montclair State Giving Website, and when it asks for a “Designation" choose “Other" and enter "Local 1904 Union Scholarship”—then follow the prompts in Memory of Ken Brook.