Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers gives away 40,000 books to the community

Last Saturday, with the support of AFT and Reading Opens the World, the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers gave away 40,000 books at the high school in Watsonville, California. The book giveaway was part of a broader literacy and community event the union hosted with the Pajaro Valley Unified School District and community organizations.

In addition to the free books, the event included a dental and vision clinic run by Healing California, an organization that focuses on providing free dental care to those in need, a science bus with a live snake, cooking demonstrations, dance performances, live music, and more. Additional books were distributed in the community following the event by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas’s office.

“Our community had full hearts due to the wonderful opportunity the Reading Opens the World event provided us,” says PVFT President Nelly Vaquera-Boggs, who spearheaded the event. “Everyone who participated left happy and genuinely connected to the beauty of our learning community.”

For more on the event, read this great write up from KION news, and check out this slide show on the CFT instagram account.

Great job everyone!

The March in March returns to Sacramento next Thursday, March 7

Next Thursday, March 7, hundreds of community college faculty and students will take part in a spirited march and rally in Sacramento in support of higher education. The ‘March in March’ event rekindles a series of statewide protests that took place during the Great Recession to protest cuts to education.

This year faculty and students from across the state will be calling for:

Affordability and access to higher education
Student and workforce housing
Environmental and climate justice

"With the rising costs of tuition, housing, and the cost of living, there has never been a more crucial time for students, faculty, and staff to advocate for students,” says AFT 1521 President James McKeever, whose local is coordinating the event along with several other CFT locals and other student and higher education advocates. “The March in March is part of that advocacy; students deserve a low-cost education that supports their ability to purchase affordable housing with a sustainable future. Together, we will march on Sacramento to support our students and communities.”

For details on the march, and to get involved, click here.

Together We Rise Citizenship Clinic – March 9 in Los Angeles

In coordination with the AFT, El Rancho Federation of Teachers, UTLA, El Rescate, and other community-based organizations, CFT will co-host the second Together We Rise Citizenship Clinic in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 9.

The clinic, which takes place at the LIUNA Local 300 offices (2005 W. Pico Blvd, LA) from 9:00 a.m. to noon, is free and open to the more than two million lawful permanent residents eligible for naturalization in California. These clinics are an opportunity for residents to understand the benefits of becoming a U.S. citizen and to access the resources to help them complete their application.

In addition to the citizenship clinic, the event will celebrate students, educators, and parents with free books, school supplies, resources, food, and health screenings.

Celebrate Women’s History Month!

March is Women’s History Month, which is dedicated to focusing on the amazing contributions of women who often have been only tangentially mentioned in-–or completely left out of—the history books.

As part of the month-long celebration, we will post content on our social media pages that centers women in the labor movement. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads to follow along and participate in the conversation! Additional Women’s History Month resources for the classroom, home, family, and beyond are available on the CFT website.

Only 10% of voters have cast their ballot. Don’t forget to vote!

Remember to cast your ballot on or before March 5. Before you do, check out CFT’s Educators Choice Voter Guide for recommendations on candidates and measures that support public education. The voter guide also lists your March 5 voting location. Have your ballot filled out but don’t know where to drop it off before Tuesday? Head over to the Secretary of State’s website to find ballot drop-off and early voting locations near you.