Shelvy Young-Abrams
"Not for Ourselves Alone:" The Sandy Feldman Outstanding Leadership Award
Shelvy Young-Abrams
United Federation of Teachers
BUFFALO, NY April 2, 2009 - Shelvy Young-Abrams of Brooklyn will receive New York State United Teachers' highest honor for leadership at the union's 37th Representative Assembly in Buffalo.
Young-Abrams will receive the "Not for Ourselves Alone: The Sandy Feldman Outstanding Leadership Award," named in honor of the former American Federation of Teachers and United Federation of Teachers president who succumbed to breast cancer in 2005. The award recognizes the contributions of women to the education union movement.
Young-Abrams, who serves as paraprofessional chapter leader for the UFT, has worked throughout her career to represent the interests of paraprofessionals, especially in the areas of workplace safety. Her work helped launch the UFT's Compensation Project, which helps members who have been injured on the job. She has also been a major force in the UFT's Safe Secure Schools campaign, which provides training on preventing workplace violence injuries, school safety plans, student discipline codes and procedures for reporting incidents.
"Shelvy's commitment to service and leadership embodies what is at the heart of this lifetime achievement award," said NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi. "She has dedicated her career to advocating for the interests of paraprofessionals."
"Sandy Feldman had very high standards for herself and for her service to the UFT and NYSUT and its members," added NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira. "Shelvy's lifelong commitment to improving workplace conditions for her colleagues makes her an ideal recipient of this honor."
The RA - NYSUT's policy-making convention - begins Thursday, April 2, at the Buffalo-Niagara Convention Center and continues through Saturday, April 4. More than 2,000 delegates, guests and staff are expected to attend.
NYSUT represents more than 600,000 teachers, school-related professionals, academic and professional faculty in higher education professionals in education and health care and retirees. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.