Dear parents, grandparents and education activists,

We at the UFT Brooklyn parent outreach committee hope you are enjoying a warm and peaceful holiday season.

We want to thank the 50 participants in our Culturally Responsive Education workshop that we held at the Dec. 12 meeting of the Brooklyn parent outreach committee. We explored both the conscious and subconscious ways that racism and prejudice have an impact on students’ lives every day and how schools can become more responsive to those issues. Natasha Capers, the coordinator of the New York City Coalition for Educational Justice, led the discussion about the topic of Culturally Responsive Education 101 and how to connect curriculum to students’ experiences and culture. 

Come to an advocacy day and rally in Albany on Tuesday, Jan. 10 to demand the $3.9 billion still owed to public schools statewide under the Campaign for Fiscal Equity decision. This is an event sponsored by the Alliance for Quality Education. Transportation and lunch will be provided. For more information and to register, contact Maria Bautista at maria@aqeny.org. See the flier »

We'd also like you to send a letter to Gov. Cuomo telling him to fully fund public schools. You can send your letter by email to Maria Bautista at maria@aqeny.org or Zakiyah Ansari at zakiyah@aqeny.org. The Alliance for Quality Education will deliver the letters to Gov. Cuomo in person. Download a letter template in English » or in Spanish »

Sincerely,

Betty Zohar
UFT Parent-Community Liaison

Upcoming events

• Saturday, Dec. 17: The New York City Council will host a resource day for immigrant families from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pathways to Graduation, 198 Forsyth St. There will be a "Know Your Rights" workshop, legal consultations and more. See the flier in English, Spanish and Chinese »

• Saturday, Dec. 17: Brooklyn's Acting District Attorney Eric Gonzalez invites families to a free immigration forum from 10 a.m. to noon at the Brooklyn Children's Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave. There will be panel discussions on immigration, real estate fraud and hate crimes as well as community resources. Refreshments will be served. See the flier »

• Saturday, Dec. 17: Come to an Arabic conference about STEM — Science, Technology, Engineering and Math — programs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at PS/IS 30, 7002 4th Ave. in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. This conference will be held in Arabic for Arabic-speaking families interested in learning about STEM programs offered by the Department of Education. Register online now »

• Saturday, Jan. 21: The New York Hall of Science invites children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families to a free sensory-friendly science workshop from 10:30 a.m. to noon about wheels and vehicles. This is the first of a series of four free workshops the museum will offer between January and February. Workshops are held at the museum at 47-01 111th St. in Queens. Find out more »

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 »

• Learn how to prevent food waste in your home: Forty percent of food in America is wasted, and an average four-person family loses $1,500 a year on wasted food. There are things you can do to prevent food waste in your home. Learn more at SaveTheFood.com »

• Black History Month essay contest for students in grades 2 through 10: The Association of Black Educators of New York invites New York City public school students to enter its Black History Month essay contest. This year's topic is "The Civil Rights Movement and Its Impact on American Life." Winners will receive a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card and will be awarded a certificate at a celebration in Brooklyn on Feb. 4. The deadline for entries is Jan. 6. For full instructions, download an information sheet »

• Holiday safety tips: The New York City Poison Control Center has published a list of safety tips and resources for the holiday season. Read it now »

• Free hotline and online support for parents of English language learners: New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development offers a hotline and website to support parents of English language learners. Both services are available in 20 languages. Find out more »

• Parenting classes in Brooklyn: Boys Town invites parents to join "Common Sense Parenting" classes starting in January and running until March. These classes are offered weekly and run for six or seven consecutive weeks out of the Boys Town Preventative Services Office at 1368 Fulton St. Registration fees are charged on a sliding scale. See the flier »

• Schedule a free self-esteem seminar for women and girls: The Hance Family Foundation offers free "Beautiful Me!" seminars designed to build self-esteem in women and girls. You can book a free seminar for your group or organization. Find out more »