Cogen Award winner Ellie Engler made a habit of keeping UFT members safe, from her work with the union’s Safety and Health Department, where she created the Health and Cancer Helpline and the Member Assistance Program, to her early warning about the danger of COVID-19.

The courage and hard work of members during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic was recognized on Nov. 7 at the UFT's annual Teacher Union Day celebration, held in Shanker Hall at UFT headquarters in Manhattan and online via Zoom.

The UFT hosted an afternoon of food, fun and free coats for students experiencing homelessness at its Thanksgiving Luncheon on Nov. 20, when more than 130 children filled Shanker Hall at UFT headquarters in Manhattan.

Nearly 400 school psychologists attended this year’s Psychologists Appreciation Day on Nov. 12, the chapter’s first hybrid event featuring workshops on assistive technology and intelligence assessments. 

Four UFT fall parent conferences in October and November, held virtually for the second consecutive year, drew nearly 350 parents and featured workshops, speakers, resources and surprises.

Nearly two thousand educators and their students logged on for the UFT’s Future in Focus virtual college and career fair on Oct. 21 and 22, when representatives from more than 100 colleges and universities helped participants explore the opportunities available to students after high school. 

The Federation of Nurses/UFT's Professional Issues Conference, held virtually on Nov.19, gave members valuable information about COVID-19 and its psychological impact, congestive heart failure and social media as it applies to nurses.

Students from 105 schools registered for the UFT’s citywide Anti-Bullying Conference, held virtually on Oct. 28, which focused on conflict resolution strategies and how to be an upstander, or someone who intervenes or stands up for a person who is being attacked or bullied.

Teacher Union Day is back — and UFT members are invited to join the celebration remotely! The annual event takes place each year on the first Sunday of November in recognition of the first UFT strike on Nov. 7, 1960. A hybrid version — with honorees and their family attending in person in Shanker Hall and other union members joining via Zoom — will take place on Nov. 7.

Nearly two dozen UFT members participated in the union-sponsored CaringKind Alzheimer’s Walk on Oct. 10 in Central Park.