DC LaborFest Today: Cesar Chavez, Poetry at Work, Iron Workers & More

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Cesar Chavez & Poetry at Work: Busboys & Poets hosts two free DC LaborFest events tonight at their 5th Street location (5th & K NW), beginning with the free 6p screening of The Fight in the Fields: Cesar Chavez and the Farmworkers' Struggle. More than two years in the making, this film covers the full arc of Cesar Chávez’ life, using archival footage, newsreel, and present-day interviews with Ethel Kennedy, California Governor Jerry Brown, Dolores Huerta, and Chávez’ brother, sister, son and daughter, among others to trace the remarkable contributions of Chávez and others involved in this epic struggle.

Then at 9p tonight, area poets -- and maybe you?! -- tackle the workplace, from drudgery to dignity and even beauty in our first-ever Poetry at Work (free). With featured poets Kenneth Carroll, Laini Mataka, Sarah Browning and Bomani Armah as well as an Open Mic opportunity for audience members. Carroll is the author of the poetry collection So What! For the White Dude Who Said This Ain’t Poetry; Mataka's books include Being a Strong Black Woman Can Getchu Killed; Armah is best known for his internet smash hit Read a Book, and Browning, who organized Poetry at Work for the LaborFest, co-edited DC Poets Against the War and is Executive Director of Split This Rock, which co-sponsors the evening. Busboys & Poets’ great food and drink will be available for purchase at both shows.

RSVP Now for Iron Workers History Tour: there are still spaces available for this Friday’s exclusive guided tour of the Iron Workers headquarters, featuring handmade motorcycles, a wall mural, historic tools, photos, convention paraphernalia, World Trade Center mementos and more! Free but must RSVP here.

Last Chance for Brother Hal: Tickets are sold out for the May 9 special labor performance of Brother Hal with AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka and Metro Washington Council president Jos Williams, but you can still get tickets for the play's final performances on Saturday and Sunday.

Coming Up This Week:
The American Nurse (starts Tues May 6) 
Labor Heritage Foundation's Solidarity Forever Awards (Thu, May 8)
Iron Workers history tour (Fri, May 9)

Union Voice/Readers Write: Re-Discovering Ralph Fasanella; “Man at the Crossroads” Update
Re-Discovering Ralph Fasanella: “I have a print of Ralph Fasanella’s ‘The Great Strike – Lawrence, 1912’ in my office, but don’t know that I’ve paid much attention to it,” says Rosanna Farley at the Utility Workers Union of America. “Thank you for organizing the May screening of ‘Fasanella” and exposing me to Mr. Fasanella and his love of working people and the labor movement.” 
Check out Fasanella’s work – including paintings and sketches – at two shows in DC now, one at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and one at the AFL-CIO. Read about Fasanella here The Art of Ralph Fasanella Comes to the AFL-CIO and check out a slideshow of Fasanella's art on the AFL-CIO's @Work site.
"Man at the Crossroads" Update: “’Man at the Crossroads’ is NOT open ‘daily through 5/17’ as you reported,” writes Mike Lewis, “nor was it open yesterday (Sunday, May 4), as your earlier column said. I found out the hard way.  It’s open Saturdays 12-4.”
Our sincere apologies for the error; the hours – M-F 10-6 and Saturdays 10-4 – are correct on our calendar. Do try to get to the show before it closes on May 17, however; it’s terrific!