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NYSUT Social Justice

Social justice lies at the heart of unionism. As we fight to protect collective bargaining rights, strike back against education privatization and defend the rights of members, unions demonstrate the power of grassroots action and show how they can be vehicles for change within communities. The goal of NYSUT's Social Justice initiative is to take our social justice mission to the next level - moving beyond simple fundraising to actions that make REAL community change on issues important to members and the communities they live in. Learn more about NYSUT Social Justice.

What's New << >>

  • NYSUT celebrates student artists at inaugural exhibition 4/3/2024
  • Challenges of teaching Black history focus of February program 2/21/2024
  • NYSUT named top fundraising company nationwide for supporting Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 2/20/2024
  • Many Threads, One Fabric: Black History Month Thought Leaders Forum 2/15/2024
  • NYSUT and partners launch One-in-Five campaign to combat cycle of childhood poverty 1/24/2024
  • Poster celebrates Native American Heritage Month 10/25/2023
  • In rural Galway, educators thwart censorship attempts 10/17/2023
  • Clyde-Savannah educators push to uphold intellectual freedom 10/6/2023
  • New poster celebrates tennis legend Billie Jean King for LGBTQ+ History Month 10/4/2023
  • Birmingham to Buffalo: Teaching Assistant Ethel Kline talks about her purpose 9/20/2023
  • Free NYSUT poster celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month 9/14/2023
  • Celebrating workers’ rights at Labor Day events 9/11/2023
  • 'Thoughts on this Labor Day.' By NYSUT President Melinda Person. 9/4/2023
  • NYSUT Members of Color Affinity and Action Project Inaugural Convening 8/31/2023
  • NYSUT Social Justice Academy graduates first cohort 7/20/2023
  • NYSUT statement on devastating Supreme Court rulings 6/30/2023
  • Celebrate Juneteenth! 6/16/2023
  • NYSUT educators are keeping books in schools, celebrating diverse and inclusive stories 6/13/2023
  • NYSUT Many Threads, One Fabric event celebrates Juneteenth 6/9/2023
  • “Many Threads, One Fabric” event celebrates Asian, Pacific Islander American Heritage Month 5/19/2023
  • SOUNDS OF WELLNESS: A Virtual Black History Month Event 2/27/2023
  • Response to Tyre Nichols' Death & Resources for Members 1/28/2023
  • NYSUT members give back for MLK Day 1/19/2023
  • New poster celebrates Native American Heritage Month 11/8/2022
  • 'Healthy School Meals for All' coalition calls for funding to end childhood hunger in schools 10/27/2022
  • Salamanca High School teachers honored for human rights education 9/14/2022
  • Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with our new Jorge Ramos poster 9/1/2022
  • At Buffalo rally, education unions stand up to hate 6/3/2022
  • ‘We need a voice’: Long Island educators form AAPI advocacy group 5/26/2022
  • NYSUT steps up support for Amazon and Starbucks workers 4/21/2022
  • NYSUT Disaster Relief Fund seeks donations to help Ukraine citizens 3/9/2022
  • NYSUT salutes Black History Month 2/19/2022
  • NYSUT Celebrates Black History Month 2022 2/18/2022
  • Free NYSUT poster celebrates HBCUs 1/20/2022
  • Event celebrates Hispanic excellence and achievement 10/14/2021
  • VIDEO: 'Celebrando Nuestra Hispanidad: A Conversation with Latino Leaders' 9/27/2021
  • Hispanic Heritage poster honors Maria Hinojosa 9/15/2021
  • Human rights conference brings together teens from three continents 7/19/2021
  • Guilderland teacher unites students and community for action and awareness 7/16/2021
  • Many Threads, One Fabric: 'How to Support Our LGBTQ and Allied Students' 6/24/2021
  • NYSUT Many Threads, One Fabric event celebrates Juneteenth 6/21/2021
  • Many Threads, One Fabric: 'Hope Gathering 2021' 6/17/2021
  • Rural local takes decisive action against anti-gay cyberbullying directed at teachers 6/11/2021
  • Empathy key to effective classroom communication, says Bigbie 5/26/2021
  • Educators discuss ways to combat anti-Asian hate 5/13/2021
  • NYSUT applauds Regents’ diversity, equity and inclusion policy statement 5/10/2021
  • 'Sticks & Stones' workshop offers support for understanding and challenging implicit bias 5/6/2021
  • RA 2021: Solidarity, now and forever 5/1/2021
  • Register for a follow-up session for our 'Courageous Conversation' webinar 4/22/2021
  • NYSUT statement on verdict in Derek Chauvin trial 4/21/2021
    • Social Justice Resources

      NYSUT, along with our partners at AFT and NEA, have compiled a number of social justice resources for educators and activists.

    • About NYSUT Social Justice

      Social justice lies at the heart of unionism, demonstrating the power of grassroots action and effecting change within our communities.
    • Implicit Bias Workshop

      Learn how to promote social unity and increase cultural awareness in your school and community by attending this new NYSUT workshop for members and local affiliates.
    • Members of Color

      Embracing our Diversity, Celebrating our Unity.
    • Pathways to Leadership

      NYSUT Pathways to Leadership, a project to support NYSUT BIPOC members who strive to own their power and strengthen their skills to take on leadership roles within their union, workplace, or community.
    • Civil and Human Rights Committee

      A committee to advance the union’s efforts to promote equity and social justice.

    • LGBTQ Resources

      Educating peers and advocating for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning/Queer colleagues.
    • Women's Committee

      Learn more about the NYSUT Women's Committee.
    • Many Threads, One Fabric

      Launched in the summer of 2020, “Many Threads, One Fabric” is a series of NYSUT and AFT virtual town halls exploring racial justice, diversity and equity issues.
    • AAPI Heritage

      NYSUT members celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by sharing their stories.
    • Black History

      NYSUT members and leaders are telling their stories in video testimonials as part of our Black History Month celebration. More to come!
    • Hispanic Heritage: Rita Moreno

      NYSUT celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with a new poster honoring Rita Moreno, an actress, dancer, and singer whose stage and screen career spans over seven decades. Moreno is one of only 18 EGOT award winners — performers who have received Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards — and one of only 24 to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting, winning Academy, Emmy and Tony Awards.

    • Social Justice Organizations

      Organizations around the world to help advance your social justice agenda.

    News

    Filter NYSUT News

    labor day

    Understanding Labor Day's deeper meaning

    Labor Day has a deeper meaning. In 1894, the first Monday in September became a federal holiday to acknowledge the long and difficult struggle workers endured for fairness and recognition in the workplace. And it's these principles that fuel unions to fight for fair pay, pensions, health care, workplace safety, weekends off and an eight-hour day. This struggle - led by unions - made it possible for a strong middle class to thrive and created the greatest workforce in the world.
    Day 1 Campaign

    BACK TO SCHOOL: Stand against bullying with the Upstander Pledge

    With another school year underway, educators might want to consider asking their students to take The Upstander Pledge - a pledge in which they commit to taking a personal stand to intervene or report bullying and other acts of cruelty whenever and wherever they are witnessed.

    Have you taken the LGBTQ Educator Task Force survey?

    NYSUT is conducting a survey of member educators who self-identify as members of the LGBTQ community.
    voting rights

    On 50th anniversary of Voting Rights Act, a call for urgent action

    This summer's 50th anniversary of the passage of the hard-won Voting Rights Act of 1965 is providing opportunities for urgent action, rather than celebration, to restore the honor of the original act.

    NYSUT applauds wage board decision

    “We applaud the wage board for taking this important step to recognize the dignity of the work that fast food workers perform each day,” said NYSUT President Karen E. Magee.

    Happy Anniversary! Celebrating decades of Social Justice legislation

    Happy Anniversary! Celebrating decades of Social Justice legislation
    teen summit

    At human rights summit, teens gear up to make change

    Leading the teens in the first-ever Capital Region Institute for Human Rights 2015 Teen Summer Symposium are a group of motivated teachers and a school librarian who have dedicated months of research and planning to fashion the program.

    'The Red Suitcase'

    Debate and action, even if uncomfortable, is the only way to unlock the safe that guards these deep and dangerous prejudices.

    NYSUT applauds marriage equality ruling

    “NYSUT applauds today’s Supreme Court ruling in favor of marriage equality nationwide, a decision that is the culmination of a fight for justice over several decades by brave lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocates and their allies.
    fight for 15

    Fight for 15: Activists push for increase in minimum wage

    “It is an everyday struggle to provide for our family’s basic needs,” Cheryl Rockhill, a school and bus monitor at Brushton-Moira and a part-time short order cook, testified this week before New York’s Wage Board.

    Social Justice all year round

    Social Justice all year round
    Susan Butler, center, with two families from Detroit who  attended the 50th anniversary of the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala.

    Selma march relived for students

    Selma march relived for students
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