NEWSLETTER

Cuba Returns to Harlem to Honor Malcolm X

Our Youth Must Challenge Student Loan

Repayments That Begin in October!

More than 43 million Americans, mostly our youth, have federal student loan debt. They also have low-wage jobs with no health benefits or paid sick leave when they are ill.

And with loan repayments scheduled to start next month, we must all join in our social movement efforts like the FruitOfLabor World Cultural Center /FOLWCC. We are joining others who are still working hard to advance the critical relief our communities need.

Already, many families are struggling to make ends meet. It's unconscionable to put millions of people in the position of choosing whether to pay their student loans, live in substandard expensive housing, ride the bus to get to work 2-3 low-wage jobs...just to put food on the table.

That is why it is more urgent than ever that we do everything that we can to join in social justice efforts like the FOL WCC. We all need to join in the movement that can build the community and world...that working-class people need and deserve. 

If you stand with us, please add your name to our petition and fight for student loan relief.

This current student loan crisis is a policy choice. It's not only an economic issue, but an issue of racial, disability, and gender justice as well — and we have the power to end it. This crisis has disproportionately impacted Blacks, people of color, women, and people from low-wage working-class backgrounds, preventing them from planning for the future they deserve.

By providing widespread student loan relief, we have the ability to help families today, invest in the future of our working-class communities, and challenge the wealthy financial institutions and capitalist class who receive all the wealth and elitist privileges. JOIN US YOUTH and young workers AT THE FRUIT OF LABOR WORLD CULTURAL CENTER

Together we can do great things to make a better community and world!

FOLWCC Youth volunteers

OCTOBER 2023 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Friday – Sunday, October 6-8; National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL) 2023 National Conference in Washington, DC. Contact Greg Moss at (704) 773-7388 for information.

Wednesday, October 10; 6:00– 7:00 PM; Diabetes Prevention Program at the Southeast Raleigh YMCA! Explore how healthy eating, physical activity, and behavior changes can reduce the risk of diabetes and benefit your overall health; pursuing health equity for all. Call (919) 582-9396 for more information and to register.

Saturday, October 14; 6:30 PM; World Cultural Cinema Under the Stars; Featured film and discussion of Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing”. Free film, snacks, and drinks for sale. RSVP to FOLWCC at (919) 876-7187 (If the weather outside is bad, the film screening will be moved inside to the big screen.)

Friday & Saturday, October 20-21; NC Environmental Justice Network Annual Summit – False Solutions, Honest Repair in Whitakers, NC; Contact summit@ncejn.org for more information and to register.



Saturday, October 28; NC People's Power Coalition Strategic Planning Retreat in Greensboro, NC. Major statewide coalition building to put more pressure on the State Legislature; for those in Raleigh/Wake Co. who are interested in participating, contact Angaza at (919) 876-7187 for more info. Please leave a message if no immediate answer.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW!

Friday & Saturday, Nov 10-12; Southern Workers Assembly Workers School in Charlotte, NC. This will be another training, strategy, and educational gathering of the SWA. There will be industrial caucus meetings. Contact Ben at info@southernworkers.org.

Note: You asked and we listened! There is interest in our Quilting Classes, but requests have been made for them to be later in the year or in the beginning of 2024. Therefore we are rescheduling this series of Quilting Classes to be held in January 2024. The new schedule will be posted in November's Calendar of Events and on the FOLWCC social media sites.

Mark your calendar for our 2023 Annual Community Kwanzaa Celebration & Karamu Feast. This year it will take place on Saturday, December 30th; 3:00-7:00 PM. If you are interested in helping plan another great celebration, call Nathanette at (919) 876-7187 or email fruitoflaborwcc@netscape.com.

Reserve the Fruit of Labor World Cultural Center for your Special Event!



The Fruit of Labor World Cultural Center is the perfect beautiful venue for your special event. Contact us today for information about our very reasonable rates and availability. Call (919) 876-7187, 919-231-2660 or email fruitoflaborwcc@netscape.com.

How NC Labor Unions Matter

Some people may wonder why we should nurture a culture...a way of life that cares about unions. A few reasons:

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates North Carolina's unions have 125,000 members, ranking 29th among the 50 states plus the District of Columbia. In unions, "member" means a dues-paying member -- not just somebody on an email list. No other sector of our broad movement approaches that level of membership.
• North Carolina's union members have substantial power if we use it. We could stop mail delivery; much package delivery; a substantial portion of telecommunications; air travel; civilian work at military bases, several large manufacturing operations (including an enormous hog-killing plant); a noticeable portion of agriculture; possibly a few schools, hospitals, and grocery stores; and possibly water, garbage, fire, and police services in some cities.
• Unions resemble North Carolina by race, gender, and age better than governmental bodies.
• Our unions operate substantial get-out-the-vote campaigns.
• Even if you don't care about systemic change and only care about helping individuals, unions have improved more North Carolina lives than any other kind of movement organization.

We have serious union strength. We can grow far larger and stronger.

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What might success look like?

Please invite people interested in organizing a strong movement to join. 

AVAILABLE NOW!

Music and songs that inspire, engage, and liberate our spirit!

Enjoy Fruit of Labor Singing Ensemble’s Album: State of Emergency

The album is available on

Amazon, Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, iHeart Radio 

and many more streaming services and retailers. 

Every year since 2003, the Virginia Defenders have held a Gabriel Gathering on Oct. 10 at the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground, where the great slave rebellion leader Gabriel is believed to have been executed on that date in 1800. The event is hosted by the Defenders’ Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project, which has played a leading role in the reclamation and memorialization of Shockoe Bottom, the Richmond district that for 30 years before Emancipation was the epicenter of the U.S. domestic slave trade.

Please plan to join them as the honor the ancestors who sacrificed their lives for Freedom, Justice and Equality. There will be presentations on Gabriel’s Rebellion, the ongoing struggle to properly memorialize Shockoe Bottom and, as always, an Open Mic.

Updates will be posted at https://sacredgroundproject.net.

Click on the photo below to watch on TikTok.