| Dear Parent / Caregiver, On this last day of Women’s History Month, let’s pause and celebrate the countless women who give their all, often without fame or recognition, to keep our families and communities strong. You fight tirelessly and courageously for equality, justice and opportunities for all students. I want to take the opportunity of Women’s History Month to spotlight one such woman from among the ranks of parent advocates. Zakiyah Ansari, the advocacy director at the Alliance for Quality Education and a grandmother of a public school student, has been a friend to the UFT and to me for many years. She’s always been a fighter for equity and justice, willing to speak truth to power, as she did when she led a large group of parents and caregivers in a chant during a rally at Gov. Hochul’s office on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Together with her fellow parent advocates, she called for full funding of public schools and a halt to the expansion of charter schools. I thank Zakiyah and all the women like her who stand with their children and with public school educators. I affirm the UFT’s commitment to advancing women’s rights and opportunities for girls as we strive for a better tomorrow. Happy Women’s History Month! Sincerely, Nicholas Cruz UFT Director of Community and Parent Engagement ncruz@uft.org |