LAS VEGAS - nvtip -- A. Philip Randolph Institute, Las Vegas (APRI) recently elected Guy Dawson as its president.

The social and economic justice non-profit focuses on community outreach, minority unionism, and voter registration among many other community engagement opportunities. As a second-generation union member and black man in the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada (IATSE) Local 720 union, APRI is close to Dawsons' heart.

"Representing the legacy of A. Philip Randolph and all he contributed to unionism and civil rights is an absolute honor," says Dawson.

At the age of 19, Dawson joined his first union: UPS Teamsters. Later, completed an apprenticeship in Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA). Dawson got his start as a stagehand in 1996 but didn't join the union until Aug 2004. He has been an active member of the IATSE Local 720 union for the past 20 years.

Phil Jaynes, IATSE Local 720 president says of Dawson being elected, "It's great. We always want our members to go out and help their community. This will be another organization the union will have a link to."

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Elected in April 2024, Dawson hopes to bring a fresh mind to APRI's only Nevada Chapter during his three-year term. Post-COVID, the APRI Las Vegas Chapter dissolved and all but disappeared. Dawson, along with a group of union members, reignited the group in the Las Vegas Valley in the summer of 2023. The board restructured and brought the institute back to Nevada.

Jaynes says, "I'm not surprised. It just makes sense (for Dawson to become president). He is very insightful and does not shy away from a debate."

APRI is one of seven constituency groups chartered and funded by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organization (AFL-CIO), the largest federation of unions in the United States. To be on the executive board of APRI Las Vegas, union membership is required.

Dawson is also the founder of many businesses and charitable organizations such as Classy Communications, PRConnectionsradio.com and the Cause Marketing Chamber of Commerce. When asked why he decided to accept the role of president on top of his numerous responsibilities, he simply said, "I love the challenge of building businesses and organizations."

"Being a member of IATSE has been an incredible experience for me. and now having the opportunity to serve the community with APRI Las Vegas is even more rewarding."

For more information about the A Philip Randolph Institute, visit https://www.apri.org/.