Kendall K.W. Fells grew up in Kansas City, Missouri’s 64130 zip code. Per Tony Rizzo, the 64130 zip code was then best known as the “Murder Factory” due to the extraordinarily high number of murder convictions. No other zip code in the state of Missouri even came close at the time. (American Renaissance 1/27/2009; Kansas City Star 1/24/2009). Graduate of the Kansas City Public School District.
Graduated from famed Morehouse College of Atlanta, GA. Political Science Degree. Morehouse is also alma mater of David Satcher, Spike Lee, Martin Luther King, Herman Cain and many famous others.
In 2005, recruited by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). It is the second largest union in the United States. Unionized thousands of nursing home and hospital workers fighting for higher workplace standards, affordable benefits, higher pay and a voice on the job.
- Promoted to Executive Director of “Our DC,” which was rooted in southeast Washington, DC. Mobilized thousands of residents to Capitol Hill to occupy offices of elected officials and rally for quality jobs/pay. Assisted in coordinating seven major cities and thousands of Americans’ participation in a three day national rally in Washington, DC for quality jobs. Activities included lobbying, speak outs, protest and planned civil disobedience.
- Relocated to New York City. Organized the first ever fast food strikes along with the demand for $15.00/hr and the right to form a union. Promoted to President of the Fast Food Forward Union in 2013.
- Promoted to National Organizing Director and National Spokesperson for the Fight for $15. The NYC Fast food strikes morphed into a low wage worker movement that spread across 320 US cities and to 40 countries. Homecare, childcare, and convenience store workers, along with adjunct professors and airport workers across the country, began to join the movement. Ultimately, the movement raised over $68 billion in wages for over 22 million Americans. A $15 minimum wage is now a widely accepted benchmark and a key part of the platform of one of the major political parties, making the Fight For $15 one of the most effective and powerful movements of the 21st century. (National Employment Law Project, Data Brief, 11/ 29/2018; Democracy Now, 4/15/16; Paul Davidson, USA Today, 11/ 10/2015)