Her experience as an injured poultry worker led Donna Latimer to a lifelong commitment to organizing.

For 10 years, with the Center for Women's Economic Alternatives, she organized workers and supporters to fight for fair treatment and safer workplaces, especially for ergonomic standards for repetitive motion jobs.

In 1994, Donna co-founded the New Life Women's Leadership Project, a grassroots organization of low-income women in rural northeastern North Carolina. Responding to the lack of job opportunities in their area, New Life has organized welfare recipients to secure extended benefits and training, and is exploring ways to create sustainable economic development.