Paraprofessionals show a problem-solving strategy chart they created during a workshop at the annual UFT Paraprofessional Festival and Luncheon on March 12.

Paraprofessionals Akeesha Alford of PS 36 in the Bronx and Ken Chin of PS 170 in Brooklyn join forces in a workshop on strategies to help students understand mathematical concepts.

Lorna Smith, a para at PS 90 in Queens, sits for a glaucoma test at the health fair, a staple of every UFT Paraprofessional Festival and Luncheon.

Paras from Edward R. Murrow HS in Brooklyn confer during The Self-Aware Educator workshop.

Andrea Diaz of PS 168 at PS 20 in the Bronx has her blood pressure taken by nurse Nicole Ramira at the health fair.

More than 1,000 people attended the annual Paraprofessional Festival and Luncheon at the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan.

Awards went to outstanding paraprofessionals, nominated by their peers.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew and Paraprofessionals Chapter Leader Shelvy Young-Abrams listen as keynote speaker Dr. Hazel Dukes, the president of the NAACP New York State conference, addresses the gathering.

Showing the little hats they wore to encourage people to step out of their comfort zone and approach them about their school are (from left) paraprofessional Margo Braxton, teacher Faiza Khalid, and paras Monique Watts-Harouna and Zelda Bails, all from PS 36 in Manhattan.