The MWRD will host an Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month lunch event on Monday, May 11, 2026, from noon – 1 p.m. in the Board room at the Barbara J. McGowan Main Office Building, 100 E. Erie St., Chicago. The guest speaker is Don Villar, Secretary-Treasurer, Chicago Federation of Labor, who will provide an engaging conversation on “Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together.” The program will also be recorded.

Don Villar was born into the labor movement and spirit of social justice. His father was on strike, fighting for better wages and benefits for bank workers in the Philippines, when Don was born. Like many seeking a better life for their children, his parents and siblings immigrated to the U.S. His mother was a proud member of UNITE-HERE, working at a flight kitchen at O’Hare Airport.

 While working an SEIU-represented security guard job at a Loop office building, Don attended UIC and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. In 1991, Don became a member of National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET-CWA) Local 41, a union representing broadcast news and TV production workers in Chicago. During his nearly 25-year broadcast journalism career at WLS-TV (ABC) Chicago, Don won an Emmy Award for breaking news coverage.

Don earned his Juris Doctorate at Loyola Law School while still working full time at WLS-TV. In 2010, Don was elected Vice President of NABET-CWA Local 41 and then President in 2015. He is also President of the CWA Illinois Unified Council, is on the Campaign Cabinet of United Way of Metropolitan Chicago and is a licensed attorney. 

Register for the event