A 21st Century WPA: Back from Halimuhfack Artwork

Essential Work: Exploring the Past, Present and Future of Jobs

Brought to you by the Battle of Homestead Foundation. Bringing you stories and struggles, people and perspectives, interviews and commentaries, all on the world of work yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The program explores a wide range of social and economic topics impacting the way we work, presented through a unique historical perspective. Interviews feature local and national guests -- change agents, activists, experts, workers, researchers, and more. | Website: essentialworkpodcast.org | Listener line: 412-326-9435 | Contact us with comments, questions, & suggestions: https://bit.ly/35nMSAd | Sign up for Listener Alerts: https://bit.ly/3tZTMWn | Please support this podcast and the organization: battleofhomestead.org | Host, Producer, Program Manager: Nathan Ruggles (nathanruggles.org) | Host, Pathways to a New Economy that Works for All of Us (addressing labor, environment and health): Dr. Patricia DeMarco (patriciademarco.com) | Feature commentators: Rosemary Trump, Dr. Charles McCollester. | Production advisor: Angela Baughman (thatsoundgirl.com) | Logo design: Brittany Sheets (bsheetscreative.com) | Original Music by Jason Kendall (Jasonkendallproductions.com) | Essential Work is available on popular podcast platforms and apps.

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Essential Work: Exploring the Past, Present and Future of Jobs

A 21st Century WPA: Back from Halimuhfack

October 24, 2020 • Season 1 • Episode 8

Episode 8 of Essential Work: Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of Jobs, brought to you by the Battle of Homestead Foundation:

A 21st Century WPA: Back from Halimuhfack

Taking a look at the most impactful and ambitious employment program in American history: the Works Progress Administration, or WPA

Includes:

1. Nathan Ruggles talks with Max Page of the University of Massachusetts Amherst about his recent piece in Labor Notes entitled “In the Face of Mass Unemployment, We Need a 21st Century WPA.” Page is Professor of Architecture and a Director of Historic Preservation Initiatives and Vice President of the Massachusetts Teachers Association. They review the powerful past legacy of the WPA, his proposal for a WPA for today, and a vision for what such a program could mean for the future.

The Living New Deal: https://livingnewdeal.org

2. Larry McCullough follows up with a song recording that directly resulted from WPA initiatives: “Halimuhfack” by Zora Neale Hurston. Nathan and Larry also discuss the latest news from the Battle of Homestead Foundation.

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Dr. Patricia DeMarco

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Nathan Ruggles

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