Over 40,000 books given away at Reading Opens the World event in Pico Rivera
On Saturday, December 10 the El Rancho Federation of Teachers, with the support of AFT, CFT, and First Book, distributed over 40,000 books to the families of Pico Rivera. The event was part of a national effort coordinated by the AFT called Reading Opens the World, which has surpassed their 12-month goal of distributing over 1,000,000 books nationwide.
El Rancho Federation of Teachers President Lilia Carreon coordinated the monumental effort to distribute the books with fellow union, community, and city leaders along with dozens of volunteers from her union. She was especially grateful for the contributions of Tony Hernandez of CSEA chapter 107, Belinda Larrach from ERUSD, and Lacy Barnes from CFT.
“It was a great event that brought our entire community together,” said Lilia. “And as a result of all of us coming together we brought joy to kids and families from across Pico Rivera, including many who can’t afford to buy books on their own.”
The event also included musical and dance performances by elementary and middle school students, as well as food trucks, a COVID and flu clinic, and holiday gift giving that included a special appearance by Santa.
Watch this awesome video by AFT commemorating the event.
Registration open for CFT Leadership Conference set for February 3-4 in LA
The 2023 CFT Leadership Conference will bring members together to organize around our union’s work to address ongoing challenges in public education and other key issues under the theme Unleash your JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion).
The conference will be held in person on February 3-4 at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Universal City.
Attendees will have the opportunity to sharpen leadership skills by attending useful plenaries, a legal update, and workshops on a variety of topics. There will be organizing, political, racial and social justice strands to give members the skills and knowledge to address the systemic racism in our society and in the educational community. We aim to give you the skills, tools, and knowledge to unleash your inner JEDI for our schools, and communities.
Fore more information, and to register, click here. Please note: You will be asked to confirm that your local union president has approved your attendance at the Leadership Conference.
Berkeley teacher wins inaugural Chris Kindness Award
Michele Williams, a Berkeley elementary school teacher, was awarded with the first ever Chris Kindness Award, an initiative created by a UC Berkeley professor to promote acts of kindness in the community. The award came with a $1,000 cash prize.
According to a news report on KTVU Ch.2, Williams was submitted as a nominee by a parent of a former student who wrote, "My child has special needs and, as a result, has very few friends and he’s never been invited to a birthday party nor playdate at someone’s house. But the one friend who reaches out every other month to get together is his 3rd grade teacher, from several years back, Michele Williams."
Congratulations Michelle!
Look for union-made gifts for the holidays
Still looking for that perfect holiday gift? Make sure to look for gifts that have a union label. Lots of great gift ideas made by companies that employ union workers, including apparel and accessories, books, games, and more.
Free COVID tests available via USPS
This week the Biden administration announced that once again four free COVID tests are available for all households, available via the USPS. Order here.
With COVID, flu, and RSV cases continuing to rise, now is a great time get your flu shot and COVID booster if you haven’t done so already.
Help is there if you need it
As we enter the holiday season, we know this can be a very difficult time for some. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can reach out for help by simply calling or texting 988 or by chat at 988lifeline.org. The hotline provides 24/7, free, and confidential support for people in distress, and prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
