WYM Interview with La Paz at GLAE

Youth & Labor Workshop at GLAE by YLSN

27th Annual Great Labor Arts Exchange, 2005

The 27th annual Great Labor Arts Exchange (GLAE) occurred this year with a very unique focus compared to the past Exchanges. The Great Labor Arts Exchange is a three day national gathering of union members, union staff, union officials, artists, students, and labor educators who use music, art, poetry, theater, murals, posters, cartoons, puppets, film and websites to strengthen the labor movement.

Every year participants of the GLAE come together to share their music, art, and energy. A series of workshops that support arts and labor are available for participants to attend. This year, the GLAE was unlike any other. The focus was Hip-Hop and Labor. Artists such as Spoken Resistance, Molotov Mouths, and La Paz were invited to perform on the second night solely dedicated to Hip-Hop.

The evening was hosted by Rocky Delaplaine and two members of Spoken Resistance, Sheila Mirza and Walker “Wally” Valdez. In between each act Spoken Resistance performed skits to liven up the audience and add some performance art flavor to the mix.

The next day, members of Youth Leadership Support Network led their usual workshop on Youth and Labor. This year’s workshop included more than fifteen participants ranging from 15 to 89 years of age. After much discussion about ways to incorporate more youth in GLAE, we decided to start the Youth and Labor Culture Fund with $100 offered up on the spot!

Youth Leadership Support Network has decided to spearhead this project and get more donations in the fund to increase awareness about the labor movement to young people and bring more DC youth to the arts exchange.

The final night of GLAE ends with an late-night jam session and this year, upon the initiative of La Paz to continue the spirit of Hip-Hop and activism, GLAE participants danced all night long to the DJing skills of La Paz.

Worldyouth Media Members conducted an interview with La Paz on the messages of labor movement they put forth, their inspiration, and their drive.

For more information on La Paz, Molotov Mouths, Spoken Resistance, and other artists attending the Great Labor Arts Exchange, please contact info@worldyouth.org

To make a donation to the Youth and Labor Culture Fund, please contact info@worldyouth.org