March is Women’s History Month and NYSUT Women’s Committee members statewide are highlighting the many achievements of women to celebrate, including a virtual screening of the documentary "9 to 5 — The Story of a Movement" on March 18.
Unions celebrate Women's History Month
NYSUT United, March/April 2021
On Thursday, March 18, the United Federation of Teachers’ Womens Rights Committee and NYSUT’s Women’s Committee will offer a free virtual screening of the documentary “9 to 5 — The Story of a Movement.” The film chronicles the lives of working women who advocated for better pay, advancement opportunities and an end to workplace sexual harassment. Register for the Zoom event at nysut.cc/9to5.
Jolene DiBrango, NYSUT executive vice president, and Kim Cook and Lane Windham of the Worker Institute of Cornell Leadership Institute, will host a panel discussion following the film. “I look forward to discussing what we can learn from the groundbreaking efforts of these trailblazers, and to explore how we can continue that important work today,” said DiBrango. “We still have a long way to go before women have true economic justice, equity and equality in the workplace.”
Other NYSUT Women’s Committee WHM events include:
- Long Island NYSUT Women’s Committee members are creating a toolkit to help teachers and School-Related Professionals identify signs of human sex trafficking in their students.
- The Saratoga Adirondack BOCES Educators Association’s Women’s Committee hosted a Feb. 23 women’s health care forum to teach members how to self-advocate during pregnancy, while nursing and as parents. The event was led by NYSUT staffers Ross Lieblich and Kathy Kelleher.
- On Feb. 25, the Rochester Regional Women’s Chapter hosted a discussion about intersectionality: how women of color were historically silenced in the women’s movement and are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. The group also launched a virtual book study group for The Body is Not an Apology, a celebration of radical self-love, by Sonya Renee Taylor. To join the book study, email marnerb76@gmail.com.
- On March 8, at 5:30 p.m., the UCE of FIT Women’s Committee will host “Mosaics of Parenthood,” a virtual discussion about the challenges parents face while working remotely and balancing their professional and home lives. The presentation is funded by a NYSUT Mosaics of Sisterhood Grant. For more info, email amy_zaborowskismith@fitnyc.edu.
- Join ED 13 Women’s Committee members and the Red Carpet for Justice Coalition in petitioning to have International Women’s Day, March 8, declared a state holiday. The group will submit a resolution about the initiative at the NYSUT RA. Sign the petition at http://nysut.cc/womensday.
- On March 11, the Southern Tier Women’s Committee will host “Women Battle the Pandemic,” a discussion about strategies women can use to deal with pandemic-related issues. Speakers include NYS Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Jessica Janowski, a trauma-informed care specialist for Elmira City Schools. To register, visit fb.me/e/3wTRzKUuW.
- The Albany Public School Teachers Association’s Women’s Committee is sponsoring a “Purses with a Purpose” drive. They’re collecting gently used bags and purses, filling them with essential items for female victims of sex trafficking and donating them to Albany-area victim-support agencies. For info, contact Laura Franz at LFranzapsta@gmail.com.
- The NYSUT Women’s Committee and Jolene DiBrango, NYSUT executive vice president, will host a #NYSUTchat on Sunday, March 21, 7 p.m., on Twitter to explore why more schools don’t teach about women and their contributions, discuss teaching resources to highlight women’s history and learn how to advocate for incorporating more women into our teaching standards and curricula. The conversation is open to P-20 educators.