Arealaborfedhonorsfounder,JoeFox
Story and Photo structurebasedon workersforhigherleveljobsandprovide
By SHERRY HALBROOK centrallaborcouncils. educationalopportunitiesforrank-and-file
PEFVicePresidentJoeFoxwas Foxwaspraisedfor unionmembers.Foxwasthefounding
honoredinJunebytheCapitalDistrict hisskilland presidentofthisorganization,aswell.
AreaLaborFederationatitsFourth inclusivenessin InadditiontoallofhisworkforPEF,
AnnualGalainAlbany. ensuringeveryone’s theCDALF,theNYSWDC,andPEF’stwo
Foxwashonoredbeforeastanding- voiceandconcernswere internationalaffiliates,Foxwasrecognized
room-onlycrowd,includingmanyPEF heardandrespectedin forhissixyearsofleadershipinPublic
members,forhiseightyearsofserviceas theefforttocreatea ServiceInternational,a25-nation
foundingpresidentoftheCDALF.He unified,moreeffective organizationbasedinSwitzerland.
steppeddownfromthatpostthisspring organizationalstructure Mostofall,Foxwaspraisedforhis
andwasgiventhetitleof“president foralloforganizedlabor willingnesstopersonallyanddirectly
emeritus.” inthecapitalregion.As supportthestrugglesofworkingpeople,
Foxwasgiventheverychallengingtask aresult,theCDALFhas
ofestablishingtheCDALFin2000when becomeamodelfor
theconceptofregionalarealabor similarefforts FOX
participatinginpickets,strikes,and
campaignsforendorsedpolitical
candidates.
federationswasintroducedforthefirst throughouttheU.S. TheCDALFsalutedFoxwiththewords:
timebytheAFL-CIOonapilotbasisin TheCDALFnowincludesmorethan “Thankyouforfightingforworkers’rights.
NewYorkstate.Theinnovationwasnot 100unionlocalsof67differentnational Thankyouforrecognizingtheimportance
universallywelcomedandwasviewedby unions.IthasalsoestablishedtheNYS ofsolidarity.Thankyouforyourcourage,
someasathreattothelocalorganizational WorkforceDevelopmentCentertoretrain strengthandhope.”
African drumming adds new beat to upstate NY
Photos and story By withasanindividual.” whohavethisdone.Thevillagerswillplay
DEBORAH A. MILES White,whosedayjobisaninformation ‘Soli’alldayandallnight,”Whitesaid.
It’sawarm technologyspecialistatthestateInsurance Anotherexampleisasongcalled
summernight Fund,saidhehasbeenhookedon “Agrico”tocelebratelifeandharvesting.
inSaratoga drummingsince1995.Oneofhiscollege Whitesaidthevillagerstakethedrumsto
Springs. professorsheardhimtappingonalittle thefieldwhileothersdance.
Broadwayis drumandbecamehismentor. “Thedancemovementgoeswithit,”
jammedwith Sincethen,Whitehasformedagroup, Whitesaid.“Thereisonemovewhereyou
localsand teachesattheCenterforNiaYogain planttheseeds,anothertowaterthefield,
tourists AlbanyandattheSaratogaSprings andanothertoharvestthevegetables.It
enjoyingthe continuingeducationprogramavailable showshowmuchthoughtWestAfricans
shopsand throughthehighschool.Healsogives putintotheirartandculture.”
restaurants. privatelessons.
Ononecorner, Upandcoming
youcanhear Truerhythm WhitehasaCDoutcalled“Inthe
distinct “Mostdrummersinrockbandsusea Drum.”Ithas12trackswithoriginal
drumming,a drumkitwithmultipledrumsandcymbals musicandsomeclassicWestAfrican
soundnativeto andtheyplaywithsticks.We melodies.Hisco-workersinthe
Africaand justplaywithourhands.Some FiscalInformationTechnology
gaining oftheWestAfricansongsare groupsupportedhismusicby
popularityin veryold,”Whitesaid. attendingtheCD-releaseparty
theU.S. “SometimesIfindthismusic in2007inSaratoga.
Themusic tobeveryforeign-soundingto White’sWebsite,
isstreaming westerners.That’sbecausethey lovetodrum.com,hasallthe
fromaband don’tunderstandorappreciate informationabouthisclasses
calledtheAfricanExperience,foundedby it.” andgigs.Hisgoalistoexpand
PEFmemberWayneWhite.Acrowd Whitenotonlylearnsthe thesitewithacomprehensive
gathersaroundafemaledancerasthree songs,butstudiesthepeople linktoalltheAfricandrumming
youngmentapandpoundthetightly andcultureofWestAfrica. eventsinthestate.
drawngoatskinsonadrumcalleddjembe. “Iamfascinatedbythestories “Thereisnoonesourcefor
“Weplayoutalot,”Whitesaid.“You thatgoalongwitheachsong,”he thismusic.Itwillbeabig
don’tneedapermittoset-upinSaratoga. said. undertaking,butIhopetogetitgoing
It’sagreatvenueforstreetmusicians. “Someareverydistinct,suchasasong sometimethisyear.”
“I’moftenaskedhowIgotimmersedin called‘Soli.’Itisplayedwhenaboyis Inthemeantime,ifyouhappentobe
theAfricanculture.Itellpeopledrumming circumcised.InAfrica,that’snotdoneat strollingdownthestreetsinSaratoga,you
isnotamatterofethnicbackgroundbut, birth.It’swhenaboyismovingforward maybeluredtoacornerbythebeatof
rat
P
h
a
e
g
r,
e
w
14
ha
—
t
T
t
h
yp
e
e
C
o
o
f
m
m
m
u
u
s
n
i
i
c
ca
y
t
o
o
u
rJ
c
u
o
l
n
y
n
-A
e
u
c
g
t
ust2009
intomanhood.It’susuallyagroupofboys hisdjem
P
b
E
e
F
.
InformationLine:1-800-553-2445
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36