Each morning I confirm my purpose as a writer with a ritual: My perpetually open bedroom blinds serve as a visual alarm. Checking the weather and tides app on my phone help me determine if the day’s exercise will be rowing or hiking. Reviewing news alerts confirm that life still exists outside of my door. […]
Writers Attend White House Summit
The White House Summit on Worker Voice on October 7 brought together workers, including writers, labor leaders, business owners, government officials, and advocates. President Obama told those gathered in the East Room: “We should be making it easier, not harder, for folks to join a union.” Yet he cautioned that those who would […]
Litquake, NWU Partner at SF Fest
On October 11, the Northern California NWU Chapter made its first appearance at San Francisco’s Litquake Festival. We set up our table in the main room, which was nicely situated to observe the main event: “The Bridge Between Fiction and Non: Adam Johnson and T.J. Stiles in Conversation.” Johnson, author of The Orphan Master’s Son, […]
Raising Our Voices at UAW Women’s Conference
Autoworkers joined librarians, submarine builders, casino workers, clerical, craft and line workers from across the country for the 39th International United Auto Workers (UAW) Women’s Conference at the Walter and May Reuther Family Education Center in Black Lake, Michigan. I was delighted to come together with more than 300 UAW sisters—and some brothers—August 9-14, immediately […]
The Passions of Eleanor: NWU member book and chapter-hosted play spotlight Eleanor Roosevelt
From 1933 to 1945, labor supporter Eleanor Roosevelt was First Lady of the United States. A recent book by NWU Member, Brigid O’Farrell, and an upcoming play hosted by SoCal NWU members explore the longest-serving First Lady’s passions. On the Stage: On Saturday, Nov. 22, SoCal NWU and & SoCal Arbeter Ring present the […]
The UAW and the Women’s Movement
In a September, 2014, keynote address, Brigid O’Farrell of the NWU Bay Area celebrated union women who were active in both the labor movement, and the second wave feminist movement of the 1960’s and 70’s. “To say the movement was all elite white women is to silence the voices of working class women and women […]
A writer’s prolific residency at Virginia Center for Creative Arts
I’m re-entering civilization after a fertile six-week residency at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts. During my stay, I completed both a short-fiction collection, Gelatin Prints, and 75 percent of a series of lyrical essays called Jaywalking. I also read two poetry books and a fiction collection by Ha Jing, whose work has proved catalytic […]
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