Exploring mindfulness techniques at the Mindfulness in the Caring Classroom Community workshop are (from left) Tiffany Shepherd, Dorota Adamus of IS 187 in Brooklyn, Nancy Jimenez of PS 307 in Brooklyn, Zoraya Munoz of PS 148 in Queens, Gazelle DuBois-Ramos of PS /IS 171 in Manhattan and Silvia Sanchez.

The festival’s health fair provides an opportunity for Paraprofessional Elaine Gross (left) of PS 222 in Brooklyn to learn about the UFT’s health benefits and cancer-related care from the UFT Welfare Fund’s (from second left) Geof Sorkin and Marcy Miller and Sonia Sakrani of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Posing with Joe Usatch of the UFT Welfare Fund at the health fair are (from left) Naheed Kully of IS 109 in Queens, Nicole Drakontis of PS 104 in Brooklyn, Anna Gould of PS 376 in Queens and Tara Young of PS 376 in Queens.

Shelvy Abrams, the UFT paraprofessional chapter leader and architect of the event, addresses the entire group.

Mirian Landi of PS 277 in Queens takes advantage of the free blood pressure screening at the health fair.

A full room of paraprofessionals study social and emotional learning strategies at the Beyond the ABCs workshop.

Chapter Leader Paula Thomas of PS 4 in Queens asks a question at the pension and TRS workshop.

Members from District 27 gather at the luncheon.

A rousing speech from Paraprofessionals Chapter Leader Shelvy Young-Abrams brings (from left) Ivetzy Sosa of the Manhattan Academy for Arts and Language, Janet Rosario of MS 77 in Manhattan, Zina Young of Roosevelt HS and Shelvy’s niece, Michelle Rivera, to their feet at the luncheon.

President Mulgrew credits the paraprofessionals for raising education achievement in the city and encourages them to have each other’s backs in the face of the threat from the anti-union Janus case before the Supreme Court.

Assembly Member Stacey Amato from Queens warns the crowd that her “tell-it-like-it-is” opinions are her own with a “disclaimer” sign during her speech.

Public Advocate Letitia James thanks the paraprofessionals for their hard work.

The Paraprofessionals of the Year, with their awards. The honorees are Erika J. Brown, Zelideth Diaz Hatch and Iliana Guzman of the Bronx, Jacqueline Marshall and Esperanza Tong of Brooklyn, Margaret Dalton-Diakite and Kadeeja Williams of Manhattan, Dolores Balboa and Irene A. Oliva-Sutherlann of Queens, Gerri Cucuzza of Staten Island, High School paraprofessionals Shelia D. Archer and Shrella A. Henegan, and Elaine Holland and Erastus Topel K. Laster of District 75.