Dear parents, grandparents and education activists,

Happy new year to you and your family. We have new challenges ahead of us as a community and country in 2017. With that in mind, I want to reinstate my commitment — and the UFT's commitment — to work hard toward our common goal of seeing our children thrive in the classroom and providing schools with the resources they need to do their jobs.

I hope you have a great 2017, and I look forward to working with you in the coming year.

Sincerely,

Nicholas Cruz
UFT Parent-Community Liaison

Upcoming events

• Saturday, Jan. 7: The Parent Action Committee invites you to a free workshop about culturally responsive education in the age of Trump from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1514 Townsend Ave. in the Bronx. Learn about how schools can resist negative racial and ethnic stereotypes and fight for justice during a Trump presidency. Lunch, child care and Spanish interpretation will be provided. RSVP by emailing cyoung@newsettlement.org. See the flier in English and Spanish »

• Friday, Jan. 13: The weekend of Jan. 13 is the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so it's a perfect time to volunteer to fight hunger in your community. Hunger Free America invites you to participate in an MLK Weekend of Service. To find volunteer opportunities, visit HungerVolunteer.org »

• Saturday, Jan. 14: Mott Haven Library invites fathers, grandfathers, uncles, older brothers and other male role models to a Donuts With Dad event at noon. Learn about early childhood literacy, then stay for a reading circle with your little one. Donuts and coffee will be provided. See the flier »

• Saturday, Jan. 14: Join the American Federation of Teachers, Unite Here, Planned Parenthood and other sponsors in marking a national day of action to protect immigrants and refugees from criminalization, mass deportation and hatred. You can find an event near you, speak out on social media or plan your own event. Find out more »

• Monday, Jan. 16: Join families and community organizations for a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of sports and games to promote community activism. Lunch will be provided. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Frederick Samuel Community Center, 669 Lenox Ave. in Upper Manhattan. See the flier »

• Friday, Jan. 27, and Saturday, Jan. 28: Sportsnet New York, the Mets and other sponsors invite families to the annual SNY invitational high school basketball tournament on Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. and Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. at the City College of New York Nat Holman Gymnasium in Harlem. Tickets are free. Register now »

• Saturday, Feb. 4: College Goal New York invites Bronx high school seniors to a FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, completion event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Herbert H. Lehman High School, 3000 Tremont Ave. in the Bronx. Drop in and get free help completing your FAFSA application for college funding. This is just one of many FAFSA completion events that will be held throughout the Bronx and New York State until the end of February. Visit the website for details »

News you can use

• Apply for a UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship award: Every year, the UFT awards nearly $1 million in undergraduate and graduate scholarships to academically excellent and financially eligible students from New York City schools. The application deadline is Jan. 31. Find out more and download the application materials on the UFT website »

• Celebrate the diversity of the Bronx through a food photo contest: Bronx residents of all ages, nationalities, genders and abilities are invited to enter a food photo or illustration contest to celebrate the rich diversity of the borough by showcasing the many different types of cuisine in the Bronx. Pieces should be submitted by Jan. 11 to bxculturalfood@gmail.com. The winning photos and pieces of art will be displayed at a showcase on Jan. 20. See the flier »

• Get a money mentor to help finance college: NextGenVest money mentors have helped high school students access $164,000,000 to pay for college. By texting "I want help" to 646-798-1745, you can get connected with a college student who will help you find scholarships, write a budget and more. The service is free for the first three months, then $29.95 per month. Find out more »

• Invite educators to take the pledge to protect immigrant youth: Teachers, educators and service providers are invited to sign a pledge by Jan. 9 to protect immigrant, refugee and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) youth. After educators sign the pledge, they'll receive ongoing news and resources about how they can keep working to make their schools a safer place. Share the news with teachers at your child's school and any other educators you know. Take the pledge »

• Grant opportunity for mental health projects in high schools: The Mental Health by Design Schools Award invites high schools to submit proposals for projects that will enhance the mental health of students. Grants are $10,000 and proposals are due by Jan. 23. This could be a great project for a Parent-Teacher Association to undertake. Find out more »