About the Shirley Ware Education Center
Shirley Ware dedicated her life to supporting workers and their unions, serving as Secretary-Treasurer of the Health Care Workers Union SEIU Local 250 from 1988 until her passing from cancer at age 57 in 1998. In her honor, the Shirley Ware Education Center (SWEC) was established in 1998 by SEIU-UHW West, initially funded by the City of Oakland. Since its inception, SWEC has been committed to providing education and training to community members and healthcare workers, seamlessly integrating its efforts with the SEIU-UHW West & Joint Employer Education Fund. From its founding to the present day, SWEC continues to secure grants from various public and private foundations to advance its mission.
