The Regina V. Polk Women’s Labor Leadership Conference, established in 1988, honors Teamster Local 743 organizer Regina V. Polk, who died in a tragic plane crash in Southern Illinois. The Polk School, as it is fondly called, is a multi-day, participatory conference for working women, run by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Labor Education Program. It creates an open & invigorating space for rank-and-file union activists & community leaders to learn from skilled instructors, and one another.

The goal of the program is to learn the nuts and bolts of contract enforcement while also developing your skills as a leader. The curriculum is designed for women at all levels of training, from those just beginning to those with more experience; this mix allows us to learn from one another.

During the four-day conference, you will learn from over 30 women workers from Illinois and the Midwest, representing a wide range of work. Courses are taught by university labor educators, experienced labor lawyers, union and worker-organization staff members, and Polk alumnae.

At the end of the training, you will join the ranks of over 500 women workers who have attended the Polk School before you. These alumnae have gone on to elected union leadership, union staff positions, returned to school, and so much more!

2026 Polk School

Dates: April 29-May 3, 2026
Application deadline: March 6, 2026
Location: UAW Pat Greathouse Education Center, Ottawa, IL
Application: https://go.illinois.edu/Polk2026

Women and Power: Building a Toolbox for Leadership

This 6-month leadership development program is open to alumni of The Polk School. The program is run as a hybrid course, with participants meeting in person two weekends (October and March) at our Chicago Labor Education Program office and virtually twice a month via Zoom.

Topics Covered:

Labor History
Understanding the Global Economy
Communications and Public Speaking
Navigating Organizations
Defining Your Leadership Style
Skill Building – Lobbying, Roberts Rules of Order, Running a Meeting, and Creating a Curriculum

Cost: $1000

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS. APPLY TODAY.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: AUGUST 15, 2026