A strong contingent of UFT members joined the New York City Pride March on June 26 to show support for LGBTQ+ rights and celebrate the community.

High school educators and school-related professionals gathered in Shanker Hall at UFT headquarters on April 8 to honor the achievements of exemplary educators, union activists and unified school communities at the 2022 Academic High Schools Awards Celebration.

Educators gathered in person on April 9 for the first time in two years for the UFT Middle Schools Conference in Shanker Hall at UFT headquarters in Manhattan. They attended workshops on topics including wellness, social studies projects with Google Earth, integrated co-teaching and culturally responsive STEAM curriculum at the conference.

The UFT selected eight teachers from hundreds of applicants to serve on its “Listen Up: The reality is…” panel on April 14 at union headquarters in Manhattan. The panelist were invited to tell education policymakers what their students – and public schools – need to recover and thrive after teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Almost 350 school psychologists gathered in-person at Shanker Hall and virtually on Nov. 8 for their chapter’s 8th annual Psychologists Appreciation Day and professional development. Coming together under the theme “Wellness: Make It a Priority,” the psychologists learned about strategies to support students utilizing an integrative approach — physical and mental health.

The UFT Middle Schools Division hosted its annual Thanksgiving Luncheon and winter coat giveaway on Nov. 23 for nearly 180 students living in temporary housing throughout New York City. Students explored a variety of arts and crafts activities, enjoyed an early holiday lunch and received brand-new coats, hats, gloves and socks donated by UFT members and staff.

About 185 nurses spent Nov. 15 at union headquarters in Manhattan networking with colleagues and taking continuing education classes on wound care, medical emergencies and other topics. They also heard a keynote address about “moral injury,” a phenomenon that occurs when nurses are unable to put their patients’ needs first in the corporatized health care environments in which many work.

Tikkun olam — Hebrew for “repairing the world” — was the theme for the UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Awards dinner for a second straight year. The event, which was held at Russo’s on the Bay in Queens on Dec. 5, was “joyous and festive, with the spirit of unionism and repair of the world infused throughout,” said Jason Goldberg, the committee chair.

About 1,500 UFT members, families and friends gathered at the New York Hilton Midtown on Nov. 3 to celebrate the organizers, activists and leaders who advanced the union’s mission over the past year. The annual fall event, which commemorates the 1960 strike that won collective bargaining rights for the UFT, honored 179 in-service and retired members.

The UFT, in partnership with Coalition for the Homeless, hosted its annual holiday toy drive and celebration on Dec. 7 for students living in temporary housing in New York City. UFT members donated over 1,000 toys and more than $2,200 to the effort to bring holiday joy to the students, who enjoyed a variety of crafts and games as well as face-painting, a magic show and a visit from Santa.