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LHF Brings Labor Arts to SEIU’s Dream • Rise • Organize
The Labor Heritage Foundation was invited to create a labor arts workshop and community art space during SEIU’s Dream Rise Organize convening this week in Tucson, Arizona. Throughout the gathering, LHF offered mini-art opportunities that wove culture into organizing — from music and solidarity stitching to labor history, poetry, and an evening art exchange.
The impact was clear to both participants and facilitators.
“It’s always very rewarding when you see the light come on and they get how and why the arts are so important to the movement,” said musician Lynn Marie Smith. “This conference gave me hope that our beloved labor movement is in capable hands with the next generation of union leaders.”
Kimmon “MacGyver” Williams – who led the “Labor Jeopardy” history session -- emphasized how the arts expand the reach of organizing:
“I always appreciate the opportunity to share how art and music can inspire and radicalize; how including art broadens organizing opportunities and audiences; and some historical context about where the labor movement has been, and how we got to now.”
For “Piano Man” Steve Jones, the labor arts sessions were about both creativity and connection: “It was great to be invited to raise spirits and help imagine using music and art in organizing. Add in some poetry, some video interviewing skills, Labor Jeopardy, and we had a jam-packed event. There is a world to be won. ¡Sí se puede!”
Artist Lisa Raye Garlock reminded participants of the joy art brings to struggle: “It was an honor to be invited by SEIU to bring the arts to organizing. There is much work to be done and music, art, poetry, and dance add the joy. As Emma Goldman famously said, ‘If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution!’”
And Ashley See — SEIU staffer, key organizer of the conference invitation, and president of LHF — reflected on what it meant to bridge these two communities:
“People loved what you all brought. Being able to share my LHF family with the SEIUniverse is always such a privilege. To hear lifelong organizers talk about how inspiring it is to honor arts in the labor movement reminds me why we dedicate our time to uplifting cultural work. Art has kept me in the movement this last decade, and I hope attendees now know how they too can use art to be a bright light through the dark struggles ahead.”
By the end of the Dream Rise Organize convening, it was clear: the arts don’t just decorate the labor movement — they sustain it, inspire it, and ensure its stories are carried forward.
- report by Chris Garlock; photos by Mirko Clarke and Chris Garlock
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