More than 1,100 UFT members filled the New York Hilton Midtown on May 16 for the UFT’s annual Spring Education Conference, where attendees enjoyed a day of professional development, a town hall on class size, speeches by local and state officials and a gala luncheon.

More than 300 high school educators and their guests gathered at UFT headquarters to honor the achievements of two dozen members and schools during a celebration that heralded the ties that bind us.

About 300 nurses and their guests attended the Federation of Nurses/UFT’s annual Nurse Recognition Day dinner at UFT headquarters in Manhattan. Twenty-five nurses were honored for their outstanding contributions in advocacy, union service, performance and leadership.

About 400 members of the UFT Family Child Care Providers Chapter and their guests filled Shanker Hall at union headquarters for the 13th annual Provider Appreciation Awards ceremony on May 8. More than 40 members were honored for providing exemplary service to young children and their families.

Over 200 honorees and guests attended the inaugural Middle Schools Awards at UFT headquarters in Manhattan, where some 40 members were honored for excellence in education, collaboration and union activism.

School nurses gathered at UFT headquarters for the annual School Nurses Appreciation Dinner in celebration of National School Nurse Day. School nurses in attendance had the opportunity to network and hear from union leadership.

About 200 members, students and their guests gathered at UFT headquarters for the 20th annual celebration of National Speech-Language-Hearing Month (formerly known as Better Speech and Hearing Month). The UFT Speech Improvement Chapter recognized speech teachers and their students for exceptional projects that showcased the breadth and depth of therapies that speech teachers provide.

Women's health is often discussed as separate symptoms, but the lived experience — hormonal shifts, misunderstood conditions and the emotional weight of postpartum life — deserves deeper attention. In this episode of the Brewing Wellness podcast, Dr. Pina LoGiudice, naturopathic doctor and owner of InnerSource Wellness, joins us to discuss concerns women bring into care and issues that often go unspoken. Together, we explore hormonal impacts on mental health, misdiagnosis, and how women can become more empowered in seeking support.

Hundreds of early childhood educators packed Shanker Hall for the UFT’s 18th annual Early Childhood Conference to address a serious topic: the power of play. From powerful presentations to CTLE-credit-bearing workshops and even a group karaoke sing-along, attendees were informed about “learning through play” is a key component of instruction that needs to happen in every classroom, every day.

A crowd of some 550 members and guests turned out at a Bronx banquet hall for the eighth annual District 11 Scholarship Dinner, a night of celebration recognizing the achievements of members, students and school staff in the district.