The interview with Austin Arminio discusses his participation in the American University (AU) Staff Union Strike in August 2022. In the interview he discusses his understanding of labor movements coming from a labor sympathetic family before participating in one. He also discusses his education and career in history as a processing archivist at American. Finally, he mentions his role during the strike, as well as an overwhelming feeling of community support during the movement. Austin also references the larger collection of AU Staff Union Strike ephemera in the American University Archives and Special Collections and materials he intends to submit to be included.
The interview with David Kaib discusses his participation in the American University (AU) Staff Union since 2019 and their Strike in August 2022. In the interview he discusses his understanding of labor movements, his political beliefs and background as a Ph.D. in political science, and his involvement. He also discusses his role on campus conducting institutional research and the dynamics between various groups at American University. Finally, he mentions his role during the strike. David’s thoughtful perspective is incredibly informative.
LaShawn Lewis, born and raised Washingtonian, discusses her experience volunteering for a variety of gardening and food justice organizations, including DC Green and Friends of Aquatic Gardens. She mentions her neighborhood in Ward 7 represents a food desert, with only a single grocery store in the community and many residents struggling to access quality food sources. LaShawn expresses the desire of many individuals in her community to have greater control over their food supply and more choice in the food that they put in their bodies. She credits programs like DC Produce Plus and Produce RX for providing educational resources and access to quality, locally-grown food, to DC residents with preexisting conditions. Farmers Markets, like the market at Deanwood, provide further opportunities for DC residents within food-scare neighborhoods to access quality local produce. More than merely a market, however, LaShawn remembers being comforted by the broader market community when she lost her brother. Having gone without food and other necessities during periods of her childhood, LaShawn is committed to volunteering to help her local community take control of their food systems and is inspired by the many Black women in her community who have successfully begun gardening within their own homes.
Nathaniel Hvisdos, in town visiting from Florida, participates in the Rooting DC conference because of a lifelong commitment to sustainability. He recalls growing up in Reston, Virginia, and visiting DC regularly. Nathaniel lists a number of favorite restaurants in the District, including a long-time favorite, Ben's Chili Bowl. On the topic of food justice, Nathaniel is encouraged by calls to develop small-subsistence farming within Washington, DC, and believes it could be really successful if the government is willing to make land available and subsidize efforts to start urban farms. He ends the interview stating, "keep the chemicals out, keep the fresh food in."