UFT members, families and friends celebrated Dominican culture and community on Aug. 13 by marching up Sixth Avenue or waving from the UFT’s blue-and-white float in the Dominican Day Parade. Thousands of revelers lined the parade route through midtown Manhattan for the 41st annual event. Maria Francisco, a Dominican paraprofessional at MS 287 in the Bronx, said she is proud that the union participates in the parade. “It’s a great way to share our culture and traditions,” she said. “It’s just wonderful to see that as the UFT, we include everybody.” Nicholas Cruz, the UFT’s director of community and parent engagement, organizes the UFT contingent each year. “The Dominican Day Parade always brings out the absolute best from all our UFT members, parents, community and faith-based families from all over the city, representing culture, diversity and independence,” he said.