Sunday Solidarity Brunch: A Day of Thanks and Giving for the Entertainment Community

The entertainment industry has been in crisis the past several months on account of the Writers Guild Strike, which began on May 2nd and resolved on October 9th, and the Screen Actors Guild Strike, which began on July 14th and thankfully reached a temporary agreement as of November 9. These strikes, though vital for essential labor protections, have effectively shut down Hollywood, putting writers, actors, crew members, Teamsters, directors, and support staffers out of work for nearly half a year.

As we approach the season of giving, we want to empower all industry workers with resources to help them navigate these unprecedented times. Thus emerged the idea for Sunday Solidarity Brunch, a day of thanks and giving for the entertainment community, presented by @WGAStrikeUnite and the Actor Empowerment Summit. On Sunday, November 12 at Houghton Hall, located at 22 E. 30th Street in Manhattan, from 12-5pm.

In support of and in solidarity with the New York entertainment community we welcome attendees to enjoy a delicious lunch, free groceries and supplies, and grocery gift cards on a first come first served basis. Attendees will also be connected with an array of professional and financial resources. Moreover, we will celebrate the resilience and talent of this incredible community with free industry panels, headshots, one-on-one industry services and live music.

This @WGAStrikeUnite x Actor Empowerment Summit event is sponsored by the Actors Federal Credit Union and the Writers Guild of America East and is made possible with the institutional support of City Harvest, Entertainment Community Fund, Feeding America, Joelle Garfinkel’s Green Envelope Grocery Aid, Houghton Hall Arts Community, Humanitas, IATSE, Our Flag Means Strike, and local restaurants IATSE 52 member-owned Bayou UTBQE, Jack’s Wife Freda, Le Zie Trattoria, Serendipity3, The Commons Chelsea and a food spread courtesy of the series Hialeah: Dade County and White Maize.

Cash donations to support the purchase of grocery gift cards can be made to @Erica-Saleh on Venmo, the Vice President of Film/TV/Streaming of the Writers Guild of America East; all funds raised will go directly to entertainment workers in need. We also encourage supporters to drop off purchased gift cards or grocery item donations that are non-perishable, household supplies or fresh fruit and vegetables at Houghton Hall on the day of the event.

Said Saleh when speaking of the event, “The WGAE is so grateful to the support and solidarity we felt from our sister unions, and workers across the entertainment industry, throughout our strike. We know how many people were affected by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. The Sunday Solidarity Brunch is a way for us to show our gratitude, and to offer support to all the workers who have stood in support of these strikes, often at great personal cost.”

For any questions, donation inquiries or requests please email wgastrikeunite@gmail.com and follow @WGAStrikeUnite on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok for additional information and updates. @WGAStrikeUnite is a WGA member led collective fighting for the present and future of storytelling, co-founded by Monique Alvarez, Justin Carter, Victoria Pollack and Katie Tibaldi. The Actor