While our communities depend on their hospitals, schools, parks and libraries, the public doesn’t always understand the work that goes into keeping it all running.
That is where AFSCME’s Public Service Spotlights come in. The campaign began in 2022 and partners with local TV news stations across the country to highlight AFSCME members and the essential work they do. These TV interviews have helped garner public support for AFSCME members and for their union freedoms — while inspiring other public service workers to become a part of the AFSCME family.
This year, we ran Public Service Spotlights in Maryland, Michigan and Colorado — states where AFSCME is actively organizing. The segments featured members across various job classes and informed viewers of the value of public service and unions.
Lansing, Michigan
In Lansing, we partnered with WILX News 10 to feature members of AFSCME Michigan 925 and MSEA — from health care workers and state mechanics to groundskeepers and custodians.
One of those members was Kim Williams, a custodian at the University of Michigan. Kim spoke about creating safe, welcoming dorms for incoming freshmen — and how she proudly serves as a “mom away from mom” for many students. As a mother herself, she also highlighted how her union contract allows her to support her own family while supporting students.
“At Michigan 925, we have fair wages, great benefits, and a great retirement,” Williams told viewers.
We also spotlighted Andrew Skindell, a Parks and Recreation officer and proud MSEA member. Andrew explained the behind-the-scenes work that goes into keeping Michigan’s parks safe — work that is made easier thanks to his union.
“[Our union] gives us a seat at the table with management so we can educate and inform them on what we face in the field,” said Skindell. “Then we can work together to get new equipment, whether that be first aid equipment or vehicles. And that’s really helped us throughout the years, and it has really saved lives.”
Baltimore, Maryland
In Baltimore, AFSCME partnered with WMAR 2 News to spotlight Council 3 members who keep the city running — including social service workers, water treatment employees, front-line nurses and more. These segments helped build public support for both their work and their ongoing contract fights.
During the summer, Chris Heady, a Howard County Library employee, joined the program to talk about creating educational and creative opportunities for kids outside the classroom — and how AFSCME supports cultural workers like him.
“Librarians are so committed to serving the community,” Heady said. After forming a union with his co-workers, they began bringing patron feedback directly to the bargaining table and advocating for policy changes that improve library services for everyone.
For Heady, being an AFSCME member means “listening to what the community needs — and being able to respond to it.”
Denver, Colorado
The freedom to organize with a union is a relatively new one for many public service workers in Colorado, but AFSCME quickly built a strong presence in the state. Our Public Service Spotlights with KDVR’s Great Day Colorado program is bolstering our presence in Denver, the state’s largest TV market.
With well-known television personalities interviewing stars from the local library to the department of transportation, these segments introduced viewers to AFSCME and showed public service workers in the area where to turn to when they’re ready to organize.
One spotlight featured Lori Nelson-Carothers, a permanency case worker with the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services. Lori discussed her essential work supporting Colorado’s children in need — and her advocacy for these families at the bargaining table as a union member, where she sees herself “standing in the gap” between resources and families in need.
“We have over 500 members in our union,” said Nelson-Carothers. “That gives us strength in telling people the needs that we see.”
Watch all our 2025 Public Service Spotlights below: