The History of Female Leadership in the NALC
This podcast’s purpose is to give a history of women who have stepped into leadership roles within the National Association of Letter Carriers, and discuss the leaders of now and into the future.
The History of Female Leadership in the NALC
Ciana Duran
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This episode features Ciana Duran, member of Branch 226, Ft. Worth, Texas.
Welcome to the History of Female Leadership in the NALC podcast. I'm Craig Schaefer. I'm a city carrier in Cape Girardo, Missouri, branch 1015. Today I'm so lucky to have one of my sisters from now, Texas. If you don't mind, go ahead and introduce yourself.
SPEAKER_01Hi, my name is Deliciana Duran. I prefer Shauna. Um, I am a very new member of Fort Worth, Texas, branch 226. And I have been a member of the NELC for 22 years.
SPEAKER_00All right. And you said you're a new member of branch uh 226. Where were you at before then?
SPEAKER_01Uh Toledo, Ohio, branch 100.
SPEAKER_00Wow, that's quite a move. All right. Well, um, let's see. Uh, why don't we go back right to the beginning of all this? Uh, what brought you to the postal service in the first place?
SPEAKER_01I started at the postal service at like an early age. Uh I had graduated high school and did a bit of uh college. And then honestly, I was seeking like stability, the stability that at least at that time the postal service offered.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Well, I mean, that's that's solid. That's what I I mean, that's what everybody I think, you know, at the some point, you know, everybody is looking for someplace that they know that it's going to be there tomorrow and everything, and and you know, good good pay, good benefits, can't beat it. I, you know, and that's the way I see it anyway. I'm very, very happy to be here. Um, so what uh, you know, obviously you've kind of taken on leadership roles. Uh, was there anything that kind of sparked you to pursue that leadership role in the NALC?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, the um mistreatment of CCAs. I myself was not a CCA, but I couldn't stand around and and witness that and us ADHDers uh have to act on any injustice. So I ran for steward.
SPEAKER_00Nice. Okay. And uh what positions have you held within the NALC?
SPEAKER_01Um, I was a union steward for going on 10 years, uh sergeant at arms for a short time, recording secretary, full-time formally designee for about eight years. Um I advocated some cases and uh just last November I became DRT certified.
SPEAKER_00All right. Okay, well that's awesome because I would like to know in this position that you're in, this DRT, what are what are your uh what are your duties in DRT?
SPEAKER_01Well, I actually have not served on a uh I'm not on a team yet. So I just kind of did a couple shadows, kind of shadow days, but the job of a DRT member is first and foremost to educate. Um but then yeah, I mean, you know, the importance of the DRT decisions is I think it carries, you know, so much weight. I mean, as we all know, so we could be responsibility.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and we could use a few more uh helping out because my gosh, the backlog right now is killer. And uh I know that the NALC is like, let's do it, and the postal service is not that excited to do anything, but yeah, it is. And so I I can't wait for you to get in there and get going on it because uh I have no doubt that you'll you'll smoke them. So that's that's why I appreciate that. Um so um this next couple questions are a little bit more uh sometimes a little harder to answer, um, but I think it's very important. Um, have you personally dealt with any kind of discrimination, whether it be from the Postal Service or even worse, in my opinion, in within the NALC? And if so, uh how did you deal with it? And do you feel like it was resolved?
SPEAKER_01Uh yeah, much like many people, especially women in leadership spaces, uh, I've encountered moments where I was underestimated or not taken as seriously, at least initially. Um, I dealt with those situations kind of by trying to remain professional, standing firm in my knowledge, uh, utilizing the proper channels, but then also continuing to advocate for myself and others, you know, you know, despite the mistreatment. Um, some situations were resolved like directly, but uh, you know, others simply just reinforce the importance of strong representation and supportive leadership.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. Well, uh I that's something that we've dealt with over and over that I've heard over and over on the podcast is where you know, if you and I walked into a room together, a lot of times someone would walk over to me to ask me the question, and I'd be like, uh, you need to ask her because I don't have any clue what you're even talking about, you know, and it's just unfortunate that that's the way it is. And I'm not saying that's all the time, but it happens more than it should, in my opinion, anyway.
SPEAKER_01Um yeah, yeah, more than we realize. And honestly, I it's like it's almost like we're conditioned. You know, if you think of a doctor, you think of a male, you know, think of a nurse, you think of a female, which you know, it shouldn't be that way.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01But you know, we're here to make those changes.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, well, and and that's the cool thing about all the ladies that I've talked to already, you included, and then anyone that I speak to in the future, I feel like every one of you are just busting through that glass ceiling and just saying, nope, this is not where we're stopping. We're continuing on up the line. And I am uh I'm re I'm here for it. I am, I love it. I love seeing the ladies taking over. It's really good.
SPEAKER_01So yeah, I appreciate that. And and don't discredit like the importance of people like you giving giving us this voice to this, you know, this platform. Yeah, not everybody does that.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, well, uh this is this is uh this is a a kind of a special project for me, not only because there are a lot of ladies, one that you live with that I absolutely love. And um, you know, and then the people in my own house that are I'm I live in a household full of ladies, and um I just think it's very important to spotlight how a lot of times women kind of get forgotten in the mix, and so it's just it's something I enjoy doing. So thank you for being on here. Um another question I have that's kind of a little bit more personal is um, you know, with all of the different things that you've done within the union and uh the traveling that you've had to do, has that caused you any issues with uh family or friends as far as time lost?
SPEAKER_01Uh honestly, no. Um, I mean, yeah, being a union activist, some sacrifices have to be made, especially when you're an officer or a steward, uh, mostly at the time. Um, but I've been fortunate to have family and friends that understand and who can relate to the sacrifices that we make. So it really hasn't been an issue for me.
SPEAKER_00That's awesome. That that's that's really good. Well, okay. So now um, you know, you you do all these other gigs that you have. Um when you finally decide to, you know, kind of put it down for the evening or the weekend, what do you like to do to unwind and relax? And uh do you have hobbies or what do you like to do on your time off?
SPEAKER_01Oh, yeah. As I mentioned, I have ADHD and a touch of the chism. So unwinding is not only important, but it's necessary. Like overstimulation is real. Um, but like being outside will always do the trick. You know, it always helps. In addition to that, I create stained glass pieces, I do pottery puzzles, uh dabble in film photography. I have a pretty sick uh Lego collection going on. Um, but really anything that I can kind of gut my brain off and hyper focus on.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. I this uh that is one of my favorite questions because I hadn't as much as I've talked to you and know you, I didn't know that you did all that other stuff. So that's awesome. I mean, I see your pictures on Facebook and everything, and you guys out hiking and stuff, and all I'm looking for is where the snakes, where are the snakes? I don't know how you I don't know how you guys do it, but uh that's that's my only fear. I I like going out and walking. I just don't like the snakes out there. But uh yeah, that's awesome. That is awesome. Okay, well, um you you've been around a while, you've seen some stuff, you've you've done some stuff. Um if there's someone listening to this podcast and they're uh kind of thinking about, you know, I might be interested in stepping up into the union. Um what would be a piece of advice that you would give that person?
SPEAKER_01Oh, there are so many. Um ask questions, take notes, volunteer even before like you feel like you're ready. Um protect your integrity, like it's contract language. I think that's you know super important. Um do not drink yourself to become easier for leadership spaces. Um you don't have to be like, you know, become cold or or you know, more like I guess like male adjacent, you know, you don't have to like be hardened just to be effective. Some of the strongest union leaders are people who could hold the line and hold humil humility at the same time. Um I think it's important to always remember that leadership is not about collecting tiles like uh Pokemon cards. It's about whether people feel safer, stronger, more informed after interacting with you.
SPEAKER_00Exactly. That's perfect. That's exactly right. I mean, uh a lot of people I think get wrapped up in titles, and I don't think that that really matters. I think we're all in this together and we're all fighting together. And so yeah, that what you said was spot on, spot on. Um, well, I'll be honest, you ran through my questions pretty quick. You you had the answers ready to roll. So now I'm just gonna turn it around to you and ask you do you have anything you'd like to add? Anybody you'd like to shout out, anything at all? It's this the floor is yours.
SPEAKER_01Uh for sure, I'd like to shout out uh my baby Tamar twins, uh, but also um branch 100 back home. They um they gave me opportunities, uh, you know, and and different people from Toledo, uh, even some people in management, honestly, which is which is you know shocking to admit. Um helped encourage me to you know continue on and to run for steward or become a delegate even and then run for steward and you know say yes when they ask me to be a formally designee. Um you know, like when I said earlier about you know volunteering even before you're ready, like you know, people will see it in you, that's why they'll ask you, you know, to you know to pull you up, I guess. But also I think it's super important to to hold tight to the belief, um, or I guess the mindset that good leaders are remembered not because they are the loudest person in the room, um, most or the most feared person in the room, but because people trusted them when things got hard.
SPEAKER_00That is you're coming strong. I love it. Things are great. Well, um, I just I appreciate you jumping on here with me. Um, I know that you're busy. I know that uh you got family there, and uh I I appreciate you jumping on here with me tonight. And I you're another reason that I love Tamara so much because Tamara introduced me to you and I just love seeing you guys together because you guys just are awesome. And so I I I appreciate you guys. Um, I appreciate all you do for the union. Um, you you're gonna, you know, I'm sure you're gonna slide back into stuff right when your new spot. So you're it's just a matter of time. So, oh yeah, I'm sure they're they're not gonna waste you. I mean, look, look at all that stuff you got going on. Why would they waste that? There's no way. So anyway, well, thank you so much for joining with me tonight. And uh, I hope you have a great evening. And thank you everyone for listening. Be safe and be kind.