Union members support their communities, each other

ocial justice work — having tough conversations, standing in the gap and supporting our communities wherever the need may be — is exhausting work.

“This is not an assignment that we take lightly,” said NYSUT Secretary-Treasurer J. Philippe Abraham, whose office coordinates the union’s social justice agenda. “Those of us who believe in the power of collective action understand this is not easy work, but it is necessary. We are fortunate at NYSUT to have thousands of members who are committed to uplifting our union, our community and each other.”

To that end, five local unions completed the summer session of the union’s Social Justice Academy; more than 100 members were trained to facilitate workshops through the Many Threads, One Fabric initiative.

The yearlong Social Justice Academy brings together locals and members over two sessions to engage in conversation, community building, and reflection that shifts power and promotes social and racial justice within our schools, locals and communities.

This is work that does not exist in a vacuum.

Educators with the academy actively collaborate on making change in their communities. “We’re better together because we can’t do this alone,” said Sophie Adam, a school counselor and member of the Batavia Teachers Association. The Batavia TA’s team plans to implement social justice activities in two schools in the district.

In addition to their workshops on racial justice, human rights, equity and more, Social Justice Academy participants spent a day working at the South End Children’s Cafe, an Albany-area nonprofit after-school program that helps students with homework and serves dinner to children each day. NYSUT members helped the organization prepare to open its doors for families for the fall, including cleaning and organizing donations for the community kitchen.

The union’s Many Threads, One Fabric effort includes workshops on pretty heavy topics — implicit bias, economic justice, and creating safe and brave spaces. In the train-the-trainer sessions, the tables are turned and educators become the students.

Kristal Aliyas, a fifth-grade math and science teacher and member of the United Federation of Teachers, completed several online MTOF trainings and wanted to get involved in a deeper way. “I want to represent the next generation of teachers, be a different face for them and hopefully be an advocate,” Aliyas said, adding that the training will impact her teaching moving forward.

For Cypress Schobey, a teaching assistant and member of the Brighton Educational Paraprofessional Association, the training reinforced the bottom line of social justice work: community.

“Caring about everyone in society, caring about yourself, caring about your neighbors and other people surrounding you,” Schobey said. “Together is how we create society.”

Applications for the 2027 Social Justice Academy open in October. Interested in joining? Sign up to be alerted when applications are live by completing the form at bit.ly/SJA2027. For more info on Many Threads, One Fabric or the Social Justice Academy, visit nysut.org/socialjustice.