Born and raised in Boston, Brendan graduated from Harvard University and taught English in Chile before enrolling in a Ph. D. program in American Studies at Yale University. While there, Brendan became a leader in the union for graduate-student teachers and researchers, GESO, where he collaborated in campaigns for social justice with Yale’s unions of clerical, technical, maintenance, and dining hall employees. More recently, he has organized hotel and food service workers, negotiated contracts, and directed political and community programs for UNITE HERE Local 631, the hospitality workers union in Arizona. Brendan currently serves as Executive Director of the community-development and social justice non-profit CASE (Central Arizonans for a Sustainable Economy).