Lizzy Prichard is currently an organizer with the Office & Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 792 in Toledo, Ohio. OPEIU represents and advocates for over 100,000 members in the US and Canada, ensuring that they are afforded dignity in their workplace.

   Prichard first gained experience organizing while working in the service industry. An assistant manager at the Strongsville, Ohio, Starbucks, she was alarmed when a District Manager instructed her to write a final warning to an employee for trivial reasons. She refused. Prichard later discovered that the worker the District Manager wanted her to reprimand was involved in union activities. Wanting better for her coworkers and inspired by the Starbucks workers organizing in Buffalo, NY, Prichard stepped down from her position as Assistant Manager and moved to the Mansfield, Ohio location to organize. At the same time, she helped workers in Strongsville create their organizing committee.

        Prichard wanted to get more involved in the labor movement, and encouraged by MC Floreani, staff organizer at Starbucks Workers United, Prichard applied to be an apprentice with WILL Empower. She was placed with OPEIU local 792, where she has since transitioned into a full-time organizer role. Prichard organized the first coffee shops for OPEIU by using her experience at Starbucks to help unionize 7 Rising Star Coffee Roasters locations across Cleveland, Ohio.

Prichard describes her favorite aspect of organizing as the moment when something clicks for a worker — when they go from being curious and maybe a little hesitant to becoming the worker-leader you hoped they would be. Prichard sees unions and organizing as the only form of protection for working class people. She believes all workers deserve dignity and says that her involvement with unions has been life changing, and she’s better off for it. She encourages anyone who wants to get involved in the labor movement or WILL Empower to “just do it.” She appreciates the agency she is offered, the friendship she has gained, and the support from WILL Empower.

Applications are now open for the 2026 class of WILL Empower apprentices, and the deadline for applications is April 10th. We encourage you to apply and look forward to reviewing your application.By Kanmani Duraikkannan, Kalmanovitz Initiative and WILL Empower Intern