Leila Khader: Union Organizer Bridging Labor Rights and Gaza Solidarity

Leila Khader, a 30-year-old political organizer for the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) based in San Diego, California, advocates for over 120,000 healthcare workers and patients. She has been nominated for CULTURED magazine's 2026 Young Activists list by Chris Smalls, co-founder of the Amazon Labor Union. Growing up as the daughter of Iranian and Palestinian immigrants, Khader frequently visited the West Bank, where she learned resilience from her mother, who bravely defended Palestinian rights. She emphasizes the need for unconditional solidarity that transcends local issues, leading initiatives like a resolution to support healthcare workers in Gaza. Her strategy involves both engaging with institutions and challenging them, focusing on political education and collective leadership to foster unity amidst challenges.