Building Rep Toolkit Reminder

Hello BTU Building Reps! This week we will be mailing out the back to school packet to assist you with the first 30-minute union meting of the school year. It will provide resources and flyers with important information for you and the members at your school as well as a link to a PowerPoint presentation and video link that we are asking you to share with your members. You can also find resources on our new website.

Please remember to distribute, display and collect the information within the packet. If you have questions, please contact Shanika at shoulder@btu.org.

Defend DACA TODAY: Join Unafraid Educators at the Bolling Building at 2:30 PM

Today, August 15 marks five years since 800,000 immigrant youth have been able to get legal protection, go to college, and support their families because of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). But some right-wing Republicans have threatened to take it away as early as September 5, so we have to mobilize now.

Please join the BTU Unafraid Educators at 2:30 PM TODAY at the Bolling Building. You’ll be standing in solidarity with thousands of people taking action today in Washington, DC and around the country. Ending DACA and a program called Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 300,000 immigrants from Africa, Haiti, central America and other countries means the lives of over a million immigrants are in danger.

VOTE for BOSTON in the JetBlue Book Drive!

Please take two seconds to vote for Boston in the JetBlue Book Drive Battle!

Last Chance to Help Reach Scholarship Goal

This year, the BTU Unafraid Educators partnered with Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) to start a new scholarship to help undocumented students attend college. If you know a BPS student who would be eligible, please encourage them to apply! The review committee will be reading applications on August 21, and they hope to reach their goal of raising $10,000 by then! Please consider making a contribution. One of our members is matching donations up to $3,000 to help reach their goal!

Our Candidates Need your Help! Get Involved in Candidate Campaigns

The BTU has endorsed State Senate candidate Paul Feeney (Bristol/Norfolk) and City Council District 1 candidate Lydia Edwards (East Boston/Charlestown/North End). Support candidates who will fight for public education and our values! If you are able to canvass or phonebank for either candidate, please contact BTU Political Director Johnny Mcinnis at jmcinnis@btu.org or at 617-433-0488.

Have You Joined Yet?! Please Sign Up for FirstBook!

It’s that time of year! Please sign up for FirstBook at firstbook.org/AFT. Registration is free and it will give you access to free and discounted books. It will also help us to bring free books to our annual Back to School Fair! Thank you.

Save the Date: Back to School Fair on September 23

Please plan to join us from 1-3 PM on Saturday, September 23 for our Back to School Fair! We have flyers available in six languages on our website. We will need volunteers September 20-22 to get the books ready for the fair. Get details, sign up to help, or reserve a community resource table at btu.org/back-to-school.

Help Save Lives: Making Strides Walk

Brenda Chaney shares this message with us: BTU members are walking in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event. I’m hoping you’ll support us with a donation to help the American Cancer Society save lives from breast cancer. And yes, your donation really can help save lives. The bigger your gift, the more of an impact we can make.

Make your donation today! See Brenda’s personal page, and see the BTU Walkers Team Page.