thedailybeast.com/iowa-official-…
apnews.com/c7ae931fae0f4b…
Standby I have received the original Tupac emails from Iowa's Department of Human Services after requesting them through FOIA
The AP had not posted source docs so I wanted to see them for myself
"Hello Jerry, I'm Kathy a psychologist [on staff]... thank you for the inspiration quote from 2PAC"
"Thanks, and thanks for all you do for us and for the people we serve," he wrote in response to that psychologist.
The Tupac quote started a dialogue!
"You are such a breath of fresh air Jerry!" writes Lila. "Thanks for all you do, to lift us up and help us feel better about what we do than we have felt in a long time!"
Staff: "I love your 2PAC messages... that you still send them (despite the haters) makes me appreciate them even more."
He responds: "I am going to hang in there on him -- despite all the naysayers."
He tells his 4,000 employees that Fridays are designated as 'Tupac Friday' in his office, and they always try to play some of his songs
"99% [enjoy your messages], not like the 1 who your Tupac email to the legislators," one supporter wrote Jerry last year
-dozens and dozens of staff loved Jerry's Tupac emails
-1 person complained to the state legislature about his Tupac emails
-Jerry mentored subordinates, cared about his staff
-He was courteous, positive and lifted morale
We know that:
-He was appreciated by his staff
-He was fired the first work day after his all staff Tupac email
-Someone complained to the state legislature about the Tupac emails
-Governor's office refuses to deny firing is Tupac related
and public records indicate that one of his emails has the username is thuglife13*@****.com
I have gotten in touch with and interviewed Jerry Foxhoven about the Tupac emails.
Story TK shortly
My first story for @nprmusic: the rap-loving head of Iowa's Dept of Human Services, who was fired after quoting Tupac in an all-staff, four-thousand-person email blast:
I present to you, our interview with Jerry Foxhoven:
npr.org/2019/07/17/742…
He wasn't told the reason, and was made to immediately surrender his phone/ID; ordered not to go to his office
He wasn't even granted a meeting with the governor
npr.org/2019/07/17/742…

"I'm a 66-year-old white guy from the Midwest who likes rap music, who likes Tupac!" he says.
npr.org/2019/07/17/742…
Here's what he said next:
npr.org/2019/07/17/742…

Foxhoven was in his 30s then -- he started lecturing me on East Coast v West Coast rap, almost apologetically
npr.org/2019/07/17/742…

"I will be listening to some Tupac on my birthday. That's totally true."
npr.org/2019/07/17/742…
Not least because I was FLOODED by emails and DMs from people who somehow knew Jerry; whether colleagues or former students --
all of them attesting to what a great guy he was, and how they loved learning from him
npr.org/2019/07/17/742…
... and a lot of people of character who are doing work that's being recognized in their communities /end
He said he is bumpin' "California Love" right now
