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THE PESA POST
The latest news, views and announcements from
Parents, Educators/Teachers & Students in Action

September 1, 2022
NICE WORK, AMERICA
On the cusp of the national holiday, PESA has created an educational program to teach students about the significance of Labor Day
It seems we Americans can’t agree on much these days about ourselves and our country, but one thing’s a pretty safe bet we can all universally concur on: We're a hardworking bunch of people. A quick survey of this land of ours makes that highly apparent: From public works initiatives to mega cities to massive infrastructure and transportation projects to the development of agriculture and industry, we’ve come a long way in a short 246 years, and it’s thanks to the sweat of everyday working folks.

With Labor Day just ahead, PESA has developed an interactive and educational presentation on the history of this national holiday, the importance of labor to our society and the significance of the labor movement and its inspiring leaders. 
The person credited with the formation of Labor Day is somewhat in dispute. Peter J. McGuire, a labor organizer who co-founded the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and the American Federation of Labor, is acknowledged by some, while others say it was Matthew Maguire, secretary of the Central Labor Union. What is agreed upon is that proposal of a national day of recognition of workers came on the heels of a large protest march of 200,000 in New York City in 1882 that both men played a part in organizing.

Many other notables have contributed to labor union advocacy, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was a firm believer in the potential of unions, and Dolores Huerta, an activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez in 1962. These are just a few of the numerous people who have contributed to the protection, success and representation of labor throughout history.
Through the presentation, students will learn about these people and the history of labor in the United States, how workers came to be honored with a national holiday and how it was celebrated then and now. Throughout, students are encouraged to engage in discussion questions designed to prompt critical thinking about labor and today's environment.

If you’re an educator interested in having this topic or any of our other suite of presentations given to your class, please contact us. 

And speaking of hard work, as we head into this year's Labor Day, we want to thank our PESA staff, interns and volunteers who help PESA achieve a greater good. We’re proud of the numerous contributions they have made to the strength and well-being of the communities we serve. 

If you’d like to support PESA’s many social and educational initiatives, please contact us.