Evelyn DeJesus, Executive Vice President for American Federation of Teachers

Evelyn DeJesus, Executive Vice President for American Federation of Teachers https://www.aft.org/about/leadership/evelyn-dejesus

08/20/2026

🚨 After clearing the mayor’s desk, the Respect Check is now law.

NYC paraprofessionals will receive an additional $10,000 in 2027, with the first installment in January – because you fought for it.

Thank you to our champions in New York City Council – especially Speaker Julie Menin and Council Member Carmen De La Rosa – for rallying behind something both obvious and long overdue: paraprofessionals should be able to afford to live in the city they serve.

Paraprofessionals drove this campaign from day one. Their win is a win for every educator, and every public sector worker in this city.

But this is not the end of our fight. If the city tries anything in court, we're ready. We won't stop until this is permanent and pensionable. Our paras deserve more base pay and stronger benefits that we will continue to push for through collective bargaining in our next contract.

For our members, be on the lookout for an email from UFT on what comes next for paraprofessionals.

But in the meantime, this milestone is worth celebrating! 🥳🎉

UFT Paraprofessional Chapter

Happening Now: at Rutgers University Labor Education Center attending the Protecting Our Schools, Campuses, and Communit...
08/12/2026

Happening Now: at Rutgers University Labor Education Center attending the Protecting Our Schools, Campuses, and Communities training: Immigration Preparedness for K-12 & Higher Education

Immigration enforcement is a classroom issue.

What happens when that child walks into your classroom?

Our students deserve to walk into school feeling safe, supported, and ready to learn—not afraid of being separated from their families or targeted because of where they were born.

And this doesn’t stop at grade 12. Last year, the Trump administration revoked the visas of more than 1,800 international students overnight, including students at Rutgers.

No warning. No explanation.

Thanks to the outcry from the higher education community—including a lawsuit brought by Rutgers students—the administration backed down.

But the message was clear: International students should be afraid.

We cannot accept fear as part of the educational experience. Every student deserves the freedom to learn, dream, and build a future without intimidation.

Our classrooms are communities.
Our students are our students.
We will stand with them and their families.
We care, we fight, we show up no matter what AFT AFT New Jersey


There was no better place to be than with the dedicated union leaders and activists at the UTD Steward Retreat.It was an...
08/06/2026

There was no better place to be than with the dedicated union leaders and activists at the UTD Steward Retreat.

It was an honor to speak with the stewards who are on the front lines every day—advocating for educators, protecting our rights, and strengthening our union from the ground up.

Our movement has always been built on one simple truth: “United we stand, divided we fall”. When we stand together, we are unstoppable. Together, we organize, we advocate, and we win—for our members, our students, and our communities.

Thank you, United Teachers of Dade, for the warm welcome and for your unwavering commitment to solidarity. The future of our union is stronger because of leaders like you.

AFT Fedrick Ingram

This morning, I had the privilege of attending the AFT Women’s Rights Breakfast & Living Legacy Awards during the 89th B...
07/19/2026

This morning, I had the privilege of attending the AFT Women’s Rights Breakfast & Living Legacy Awards during the 89th Biennial Convention.

It was an inspiring celebration of extraordinary women whose leadership, courage, and unwavering commitment have strengthened our union and advanced justice, equity, and opportunity for all. Their stories remind us that progress is built by those who choose to lead with conviction, lift others as they rise, and never stop fighting for what is right.

Grateful to stand alongside so many incredible advocates as we honor the living legacies that continue to shape our movement and inspire the next generation of leaders.

Throughout our history, the labor movement has been shaped by courageous leaders who refused to accept exploitation and ...
07/18/2026

Throughout our history, the labor movement has been shaped by courageous leaders who refused to accept exploitation and injustice. They understood that when ordinary people stand together in solidarity, they have the power to change the world.

Few embody that spirit more than Dolores Huerta.

For more than seven decades, Dolores has dedicated her life to advancing the rights and dignity of working people. As co-founder of the United Farm Workers she helped organize some of our nation’s most vulnerable workers, proving that collective action can transform workplaces, communities, and lives.

Her legacy reaches far beyond the fields of California. She has been a fearless advocate for civil rights, immigrant rights, women’s equality, voting rights, and educational opportunity—always reminding us that the fight for workers’ rights is inseparable from the fight for human rights.

Her organizing has inspired generations, and the words she coined more than 50 years ago—”¡Sí, se puede!”—continue to inspire movements around the world. Those three words remind us that lasting change is never given; it is earned through courage, persistence, and solidarity.

Today, we honor Dolores Huerta for a lifetime of unwavering leadership and for showing us that when we stand together, sí, se puede. ✊🏽❤️ AFT Dolores Huerta

It was an honor to join Illinois Federation of Teachers - IFT AFT convention delegates as we reflected on the challenges...
07/18/2026

It was an honor to join Illinois Federation of Teachers - IFT AFT convention delegates as we reflected on the challenges and opportunities ahead for our union and our nation.

At such a pivotal moment, one thing is clear: the strength of our movement has always come from our unity, our solidarity, and our willingness to organize for a better future.

Another unforgettable event with our international delegates at the 2026 AFTConvention! 🌎❤️The love, solidarity, and sha...
07/18/2026

Another unforgettable event with our international delegates at the 2026 AFTConvention! 🌎❤️

The love, solidarity, and shared commitment to public education and workers’ rights transcend borders. It is truly inspiring to stand together with union leaders and educators from around the world, united by our belief that when we lift each other up, we all rise.

Thank you to our international family and our shero Dolores Huerta for reminding us that solidarity and Si Se Puede… knows no boundaries. Together, we are stronger. ✊📚

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555 New Jersey Avenue NW
Washington D.C., DC

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