February 15, 2006

JoAnn Johntony Davida Russell

Each of the two women will pursue undergraduate degrees at the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Md.

Johntony, who is OAPSE's state president, has worked in organizing campaigns in Ohio and Kentucky, walking picket lines, making house calls and helping to settle strikes. In addition, she has fought attacks on members' retirement security. She is a member of Local 425.

Russell's organizing work has encompassed Michigan and Illinois as well as Ohio. She is an OAPSE executive board member and the president of Local 744. She has been active in Cleveland-area politics.

The Parisi scholarship honors the late Joey Parisi, a legendary AFSCME organizer. It is targeted to the needs of full-time, local, council, and International union staff and local union officers who have substantial organizing responsibilities.