Primary Election Tuesday
Many of us have a primary election tomorrow, Tuesday, August 3. If you haven’t yet, please make sure you vote by the time polls close tomorrow! Not sure where your polling place is?
Check the Michigan Voter Information center at: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/
Senator Levin, Emily Tims and Mike Kerwin: We Will Miss Them All
Thanks to you, I have been fortunate to know many people whose commitment to public service, our communities and our children have been exemplary. In recent days we have lost three of these folks.
Carl Levin, Michigan’s longest serving U.S. Senator, was a giant. Agree or disagree with him on specific issues, there was no question about Carl’s commitment to public service. Carl was brilliant, caring and compassionate. He was on the forefront of so many issues and so respected by Michiganians and his colleague in Congress.
Carl will be missed.
As will Emily Tims. Emily was the past president of the Lake Shore Federation of Teachers. She had been battling health issues for the past few years and passed away at the young age of 50. An accomplished art teacher, at the funeral home there was a bulletin board filled with beautiful notes from her many students. That says it all. As union president, she led the local through negotiations and dealing with workplace issues through the transition to “right to work.” She was a strong fighter for educators and students. Emily will be missed.
Mike Kerwin was 97, and led a very full life. I mention him here because you will find no one who has been a stronger trade unionist than Mike. Out of the UAW, he was also very active with the Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO and Michigan Labor History Society, where I had the privilege of working with and befriending Mike. Like Emily, Mike was one of the many, many unsung heroes of our labor movement.
Contribute to the AFT Michigan PAC Today
AFT Michigan fights for our members, students and communities all year round and we need your help. Can you donate $52 a year to elect more candidates who share our values? Please visit https://aftmichigan.org/pac/ and set up a recurring gift. For as little as $1 a week, YOU can make a big difference in protecting public education and building a better Michigan future!
Upcoming Professional Development
Join Jennifer Lagasse and Meredith Ketchmark of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and Share My Lesson for this session on teaching students about the 9/11 attacks and how they continue to impact us as a society today.
Sign up now for this important free, for-credit session on Wednesday, Aug. 18., at 4 p.m. Eastern time. If you can’t join us that day, register anyway to access the webinar on demand as soon as it’s available!
As we approach the milestone 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, harness the power of storytelling to transform and deepen historical inquiry using “Anniversary in the Schools.” This free program, created by the 9/11 Museum education department, connects students with first responders, survivors, witnesses and 9/11 family members to help young people better understand the historical importance of the attacks and their enduring impact. Participants will get a preview of the 2021 program and an opportunity to practice strategies for integrating powerful first-person accounts of 9/11 into their classrooms during this hands-on session.
In solidarity,
David Hecker, President
