SEIU is hosting the Change That Works open art exhibit at its International headquarters in Washington, DC from January 19 through January 22. The works of art to be displayed were commissioned by acclaimed street artist Shepard Fairey, who created the iconic Obama "HOPE" image.

The exhibit shines a spotlight on artists across the country who use their voices to amplify and motivate the grass roots movement for social justice and political action--many of whom were the winners and finalists of MANIFEST HOPE's previous contest during the Democratic National Convention that helped spread the word about Barack Obama and the inspirational themes of his candidacy. (You can view artwork of the Denver contest finalists--previewed below--at MoveOn.org)

To celebrate the unveiling of the Change That Works art exhibit, SEIU will host a special reception in the exhibit space at 1800 Mass Ave from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, January 19th . This reception is open to all SEIU staff, leaders and community political partners (RSVP to seiu-change@seiu.org if you'd like to attend).

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On a sidenote: A limited-edition print designed by Shepard Fairey in honor of President-elect Obama's Inauguration is now available for purchase on the Presidential Inaugural Committee's website for $100.00. A run of only 10,000 numbered prints have been made of this special illustration commemorating the Inaugural occasion. Fairey's new design can be viewed and purchased by visiting the PIC online store here.

Nationwide Call for Artwork Submissions Highlighting Heath Care Reform, the Green Economy and Workers' Rights.

SEIU, MoveOn PAC, and Obey Giant are partnering with Manifest Hope:DC in launching a nationwide contest to gather the best work celebrating the grass roots campaign that helped elect Barack Obama as president. The contest is calling for entries of visual artwork that use positive messaging to convey the importance of encouraging a national dialogue focused on heathcare reform, the green economy and workers' rights. Five pieces in each of the three categories will be selected and reviewed by a panel of judges to include famed artist Shepard Fairey, film director Spike Lee, SEIU 775NW Healthcare President David Rolf and many more.

Entries for submission to this inspiring visual call-to-action are due by January 9. The artwork of the fifteen contest winners will be publicly displayed to DC area residents and the 2 million people expected to gather in Washington for Barack Obama's upcoming inauguration from Friday, January 16th, 2009 through Monday, January 19th, 2009. The exhibit will be showcased at Manifest Hope:DC (3333 M Street N.W., Washington, DC).

Art played an unprecedented role in this election--most of us will never forget many of the arresting visual images created by artists who dedicated themselves to helping spread Obama's prevailing message of Hope everywhere in our country and abroad. Help to capture and maintain the energy we have experienced in Barack Obama's momentous climb to the White House by spreading the word about this contest or submitting an entry.

This online contest offers artists the opportunity to make one submission per category, totaling a maximum of three submissions:

* Manifest Opportunity - Stimulating The Green Economy
* Manifest Change - Health Care Reform
* Manifest Unity - Protecting Workers' Rights

This will be the second art contest for Manifest Destiny in the last year, building on the success of the gallery showcase at the Democratic National Convention that helped spread the word about Barack Obama and the inspirational themes of his candidacy. (You can view artwork of the Denver contest finalists at MoveOn.org)

For more information, visit Manifest Hope:DC online at http://www.ManifestHope.com

Provides View to Next Chapter of Immigrant Workers' Struggle for Justice

Today, the Santa Fe Film Festival will screen Tribute to Eliseo Medina, a short film documenting SEIU Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina's remarkable career. From a 19-year-old grape picker to his leadership today as one of the most important labor and immigrant rights leaders in the country, Medina's story shows us the power of "yes we can" thinking and reminds us how grassroots campaigns can change the course of history.

Watch the film:

Starting with Medina's early work alongside Cesar Chavez in the historic United Farm Workers (UFW) strike and ending with his leadership in the immigrant rights marches of 2006, the film documents the growth of unionization among Latino workers and the evolution of the immigrant rights movement.

Rooted in the struggle for workers' rights, the immigrant workers' movement began with pockets of activism in California and the southwest. Under leaders like Medina and through commitment by SEIU, other unions and immigrant rights groups, the movement stretched across the nation. Over the past 40 years, unionization rates among immigrant workers have soared. At the same time, citizenship and voter registration rates have jumped by historic numbers.

Today--as demonstrated during the 2008 election--the immigrant rights movement has transformed its strength and numbers into unprecedented political power.

In this way, Tribute to Eliseo Medina is the perfect prologue to our current moment. Thanks in large part to the record turnout of Latino and other immigrant voters in this election, a new progressive Administration and Congress stand to move the policies that Eliseo Medina has been fighting for over decades. Comprehensive immigration reform, health care reform, and expansion of worker protections are all hanging in the balance.

• More about Eliseo Medina.
• Background on SEIU's work to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
• Learn more about Latinos in the labor movement and the role Latino voters played in the 2008 Election.
• More information on SEIU's two-year campaign to help millions of immigrants become U.S. citizens and vote in time for the 2008 election
• Watch SEIU immigrant members talk about their fight for justice and share personal stories (Digital stories)

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About the film: This film was produced by Lucia Duncan for SEIU to commemorate Eliseo's 40 years of work in the labor movement.

*** For those of you reading this at SEIU HQ in Washington, DC, please join us for a special lunch-hour screening of the 13-minute film tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 5, promptly at 12:30 p.m. EST in Room 1026/28. ***