Carving out a living behind the wheel, leaving your mark for generations, and the past and present realities of immigrant workers are among topics in this year's Untold Stories labor history series.

All events are free and open to the public. All locations are in St. Paul.

Download a pdf file of the entire series

? Tuesday, April 25, 7 p.m., Mexican and Mexican-American workers in the Upper Midwest. Riverview Branch Library, 1 E. George St. The decades-long presence of Mexican and Mexican-American workers in the upper Midwest will be the focus in the series' opening event. University of Notre Dame professor Marc Rodriguez will discuss that history ? and its connection with labor and civil rights ? based on an essay he is preparing for an encyclopedia of working-class history.

? Thursday, May 4, 7 p.m.: Taxi! with author Biju Mathew. Merriam Park Branch Library, 1831 Marshall Ave. Come along for a ride ? figuratively speaking, at least ? with Biju Mathew, author of the new book "Taxi!" Mathew, a member of the organizing committee of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, swerves through topics such as globalization, multiculturalism, urban life and other views from the rear-view mirror.

? Saturday, May 6, 2 p.m.: "If These Walls Could Talk," special guided tour of the Minnesota History Center exhibit. Minnesota History Center, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd. A more-personal look at St. Paul's immigration history will unfold with a special tour of the ongoing exhibit at the Minnesota History Center featuring the families who have lived in the same East Side St. Paul house over the past 118 years. Pre-registration is required; call 651-222-3242.

? Monday, May 8, 7 p.m.: Labor and Immigration: A Community Panel. Neighborhood House, 179 E. Robie St. The different issues entangled in the current immigration debate in Minnesota and the nation will be hashed out by a panel including Pakou Hang, a Hmong political activist; Teresa Ortiz, of the Resource Center of the Americas; Barbara Ronningen, Minnesota state demographer; and Joel Wurl, associate director of the Immigration History Research Center at the University of Minnesota.

? Thursday, May 18, 7 p.m.: Taking a Stand in History. Hamline Midway Branch Library, 1558 W. Minnehaha Ave. This program is a presentation of student entries featuring labor themes at this year?s Minnesota History Day competition. See how today's students are providing a fresh interpretation of our history.

? Saturday, May 20, 2 p.m.: Crex Carpet Co. Tour: Paul Nelson and Dave Riehle lead a North End bus and walking tour. Come along for a ride ? literally ? as the annual labor history tour drives and walks through the North End neighborhood that was home to Crex Carpet Co. ? one of St. Paul's biggest employers in the early 20th century. There, workers assembled carpets and wicker furniture from wire grass harvested from nearby bogs. Pre-registration is required; call 651-222-3242 to reserve a spot on the bus. Leaves from Rice Street Branch Library, 1011 Rice St.

? Monday, May 22, 7 p.m.: Stone Carving: Minnesota and Beyond, St. Paul Labor Center, 411 Main St. Untold Stories concludes with a reception to help kick off the "Minnesota Rocks" stone-carving symposium. The event gives the opportunity to meet carvers from around the world. It also features a short video documentary by Randy Croce on the carvers of Barre, Vt., and Dave Riehle retelling the battle between Minnesota unions and famed architect Cass Gilbert over construction of the state Capitol.

Untold Stories is organized by the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library and co-sponsored by the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly, the University of Minnesota Labor Education Service, other labor organizations, and a variety of foundations and community groups.

Adapted from The Union Advocate, the official newspaper of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. E-mail The Advocate at: advocate@stpaulunions.org