Just in time for Pride Month, this episode of the Brewing Wellness podcast features a conversation with UFT educator Rashad Brown, co-chair of the UFT’s Pride Committee. He joins Mindy Rosier of the UFT Teacher Center for a discussion of the committee’s advocacy and goals, which include creating safe spaces within school communities. The committee also hosts the Daniel Dromm Scholarship Brunch and participates in an annual AIDS walk and a Pride March, which this year will be Sunday, June 30.

The union’s signature education conference of the year was a fun and inspiring day for more than 1,000  UFT members. The event featured a morning town hall on the new phonics-based literacy curricula, a CTLE exhibit fair, workshops, entertainment by hip-hop legend Grandmaster Dee of Whodini fame and a gala luncheon headlined by First Lady Jill Biden.

The artwork of 23 UFT members — both active and retired — were on display at the New York City Art Teachers Association/UFT’s Dreams Art Show on May 10 at the Bernie Wohl Center in Manhattan.

More than 500 family child care providers and their guests filled Shanker Hall at union headquarters for the 11th annual Provider Appreciation Awards Ceremony on May 10. During the ceremony, more than 50 members were honored for providing exemplary service to the young children and families of New York City.

At the Federation of Nurses/UFT’s annual awards dinner on May 9, more than 200 nurses and their guests celebrated 21 honorees for their exemplary dedication to patient care and union service. The Federation of Nurses/UFT has chalked up some hard-fought contract and arbitration wins in recent months, and members took the opportunity to cheer those colleagues who have been instrumental in protecting patient safety and labor rights.

The UFT School Nurses Chapter celebrated its members at the union’s annual School Nurses Appreciation Dinner at UFT headquarters on May 8, National School Nurse Day. “I make it my business to go all out on National School Nurse Day,” said School Nurses Chapter Leader Cynthia Bennett, who organizes the dinner every year. “The nurses are hidden figures in our schools.”

The UFT organized a social event in each borough this spring to welcome its newest members, foster connections and build community. New members took part in bowling, crafts, painting, nature walks and scavenger hunts across the five boroughs.

Grief is a universal experience that can stem from all types of loss. Grief is a response to a death, but it’s also common to feel grief after a breakup, while dealing with infertility or in the aftermath of the pandemic or any other traumatic experience. In this episode of the Brewing Wellness podcast, Gina Moffa, a licensed clinical social worker and the author of "Moving On Doesn’t Mean Letting Go," shares what she has learned about navigating and healing from all kinds of loss at any age.

Members of the UFT Jewish Heritage Committee gathered with family and friends on April 18 at the UFT Brooklyn borough office to celebrate Passover with a labor-rights-themed seder.

The NYC Association of Foreign Language Teachers/UFT held its annual spring professional development conference — titled “Our New World Language Standards: Supporting All Learners’ Language Skills and Cultural Competency in a Can-Do World” — on April 13 at UFT headquarters in Manhattan.

Students featured in Students of NYC, the UFT’s special Instagram account, during its first year gathered to be celebrated with their educators and families at UFT headquarters on April 11.