Nearly 1,100 paraprofessionals and other members gathered at the New York Hilton Midtown on March 22 to celebrate the outstanding work of their colleagues, attend professional learning sessions and have fun at a carnival. City Council Education Committee Chair Rita Joseph, a key supporter of the RESPECT check legislation, was the keynote speaker.

School counselors gathered at UFT headquarters eager to connect and network with their colleagues under the theme, “Unlocking Potential — One Student at a Time.” School counselors enjoyed breakfast and lunch and a full day of professional development workshops.

Women supporting and empowering other women was a key theme of the UFT’s seventh annual HERstory brunch that brought together about 175 members and guests to celebrate women’s role in the UFT and the broader labor movement.

About 1,000 UFT members and parents spent March 10 in Albany, lobbying legislators and hearing from Gov. Kathy Hochul and other state officials on key issues for the union. They spoke with lawmakers about fixing Tier 6, banning cellphones in schools, providing adequate state aid to schools, protecting students and school communities from cuts to federal aid, and maintaining vital UFT programs like United Community Schools and the UFT Teacher Center.

The UFT Muslim Educators Committee celebrated its second annual Iftar dinner on March 7 at UFT headquarters. About 75 people broke their Ramadan fast by drinking milk and water and eating dates and then enjoying a hearty dinner. They prayed, spoke about the pillars of Ramadan and the purpose of fasting, and held a Q&A session for guests to learn about other aspects of Islam.

March can feel like the longest month of the school year for educators. That’s why we’re taking a moment to revisit our August conversation with Carleton Archer, the vice president of operations at Vibrant Emotional Health, to discuss the UFT’s partnership with Vibrant to launch the union’s 24/7, year-round mental health support line for UFT members at 866-UFT-FOR-U. Tune in as we discuss the importance of this initiative and answer frequently asked questions about the helpline. Plus, exciting news: The helpline is now available via chat and text!

Nearly 300 UFT members and friends packed a restaurant in Manhattan’s Chinatown on Feb. 28 to celebrate the Year of the Snake at the UFT Asian American Heritage Committee’s annual Lunar New Year Banquet.

The UFT commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Success Via Apprenticeship program at the 2025 Career and Technical Education Awards Recognition Ceremony, which was held at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel on Feb. 26. The UFT and the CTE industry gave out about 130 awards to union members and community partners and recognized 45 K-12 educators who have brought CTE into their classrooms. Many of the honorees trained under SVA, a program begun in 1984 to stave off a shortage of CTE educators.