The Sound Of Solidarity: Labor’s Family-friendly Music Festival Returns

Fellow ULI graduates,

As the weather warms and Covid-19 restrictions loosen, I hope you will join Suffolk AME, the Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, and more than 20 other Labor unions from throughout New York as we band together in solidarity to bring the charitable Mayday Music Festival back to Southaven County Park on Long Island this May 14th.

Picture this: the smell of festival food lingering in the air, a craft beer or award winning wine in your hand, and the thumping sound of a live band echoing as you make your way through an exciting array of local craft vendors, family-friendly activities, thousands of fellow union members, and dozens of union tents as you make your way to the Main Stage of one of the region’s first music festival since the pandemic began more than two years ago.

That’s the Mayday Music Festival, and in addition to being a celebration of union solidarity, it is a wholly charitable endeavor with all net proceeds going to benefit scholarships for union members and their families and to Long Island Cares: The Harry Chapin Food Bank.

As a fellow ULI graduate, I encourage you, your union, and your families to join us for a great day of live music and to help put food on our neighbors’ tables through our support of Long Island Cares: The Harry Chapin Food Bank. More than just giving back, the Mayday Music Festival also offers an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the dedicated men and women of Organize Labor and the greater Labor Movement as we seek to raise awareness of the issues facing working people today.

This year’s festival will bring the best of the 90s to our own backyard, with headlining acts by:

The Spin Doctors, Deer Tick, The Smithereens with guest vocalist Marshall Crenshaw, Crash Test Dummies, Dave Hause and the Mermaid, and Sahara Moon, plus regional favorites you won’t want to miss.

With these efforts in mind, I want to offer my fellow ULI grads a 30% Union Discount to National Labor Leadership Initiative Graduates! Please use code ULI2022 to purchase tickets at a discounted price of $34.99.

In addition to three stages of live music, family-friendly activities, a food truck food court, and award winning craft beers and wines, the Mayday Music Festival will also feature an on-site food drive benefitting Long Island Cares. In 2019, we were able to gather 800 lbs of food to donate to Long Island families in need. This year, we’re shooting for the stars and hoping to break the half ton mark by collecting 1,000 lbs of donated food for our friends and neighbors. While it is not required for entry, we ask that all attendees bring one or more non-perishable food items for donation.

Brothers and sisters, I hope to see you at Southaven Park on May 14th for a celebration of Labor and an unofficial ULI reunion!

If you would like to get your organization involved with the Mayday Music Festival, purchase tickets, or learn more about union discounts and sponsorship opportunities, please visit our website: https://www.maydaymusicfestival.com/

I sincerely thank you for your time, attention, and consideration.

Yours in solidarity,

Nicholas DeBello

Vice President Suffolk AME

ULI Graduate, Class of 2020 (the greatest class to ever do it!)