Justice Favor received a 2018 Student Service Award at the college’s Student Wellness Retreat, April 5-7, in Albany, N.Y.

Favor, a union organizer for Local 79, is determined to get other workers to see the value of being unionized. As a union organizer, “I strive every day to improve working conditions for construction workers across New York City and the state,” he said. Mentor Jim McMahon said “Justice is at the forefront in the battle of fairness. He wages his fight to assist students, the poor, people of color and the undocumented … He has been properly named Justice …”

Favor is pursuing his associate degree in labor studies.

He volunteers with Community Voices Heard, whose latest project is opposing President Trump’s proposed cuts to HUD, which will affect New York City Housing Authority residents. He also works with New York Community for Change, lately to oppose giving a private developer the right to build an armory in Crown Heights.

He is not averse to acts of civil disobedience to sway elected officials, including a massive march and flash mobs.

In addition, Favor is on the steering committee for Community Action for Safe Apartments for rezoning issues.

“I learned that the labor movement will not progress if it doesn’t have a partnership with the community,” Favor said.

Favor is in the forefront of the fight for worker’s rights to a living wage and safe workplace. He fights alongside women, undocumented immigrants and formerly incarcerated people for their rights in the workplace daily.

Favor says his biggest resistance comes from trying to educate nonunion workers, who know they are being exploited, but for many reasons –  including being formerly incarcerated –  they do not want to rock the boat. Yet, Favor has helped several nonunion workers get into Local 79 via the apprenticeship program. He utilized these workers to approach other nonunionized workers to show them the benefits of unionizing.

Recipients of the Service Award must be a matriculated student at the college and must have a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA. They also must list up to three organizations with which they have significant service and involvement.