Read through our workshop options and please sign-up for your selections.

Thursday, March 14, 2024: Workshops at 1:15pm

1. Lobbying 101                                                                                       

Time: 1:15pm – 2:30pm
Room: Bataglieri

Best practices and a tutorial on advocating to your elected officials. Learn how to schedule meetings, what topics to cover, and how to integrate with the CFT Legislative Department.

Presenters: Tristan Brown, Legislative Director and Tiffany Mok, Legislative Representative and Mitch Steiger, Legislative Representative

2. Melanie’s Law & the Opioid Crisis    

Time: 1:15pm – 2:30pm
Room: Compagno

In this workshop participants will learn about Melanie’s Law which is aimed at combating the opioid crisis. The law focuses on implementing measures to improve access to treatment for opioid addiction, enhancing prescription monitoring programs to prevent overprescribing, and increasing education and awareness efforts to curb opioid misuse and overdose deaths. Also, participants will learn to use naloxone, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses.

Presenter: Keith Wrightson, Assistant Director of Health and Safety, AFT

3. AFT Member Benefits for You and Your Local Union                    

Time: 1:15pm – 2:30pm
Room: Beavis

The AFT + Member Benefit programs add value to members in your local union. Whether it is free therapy in the aftermath of a traumatic incident or skilled guidance after ID theft, the AFT + benefits give you a reason to reach out and talk with your members in a meaningful way. This workshop will give you concise information on the benefit programs, show you how to get additional information and spark ideas on how to use the benefits in your local.

Presenter: Mary Pascale is the Associate Director of AFT + Member Benefits.

4. Tools for Taking Action: Gripes or Grievances    

Time: 1:15pm – 2:30pm
Room: Falor   

Participants will discuss ways we can solve problems on the job by engaging members in coordinated actions and using the grievance procedure. This workshop introduces participants to basic grievance handling. We will cover the definition of a grievance, how to write an effective grievance, how to process and investigate a grievance, tips for meeting with management, and various other problem-solving scenarios.

Presenter: Erica Williams, Field Representative and Sarah Henne, Field Representative

Thursday, March 14, 2024: Workshops at 2:45pm

The Campaign Workshop                                                                       
Time: 2:45pm – 4:00pm
Room: Bataglieri

We need our voices represented in public office! Are you interested in running for office? Is your local union planning to run a candidate? Learn how to identify and recruit candidates, create personal stories that resonate, and raise the necessary funds to elect our members and advocates into office. Martín Diego Garcia from The Campaign Workshop will share the skills you need to successfully run for office and how to identify and support strong pro-public education and pro-labor candidates at the local level.

Presenter: Martin Diego Garcia, Vice President of Training and Strategic Planning, The Campaign Workshop

Crash Course for New Presidents & Leaders                                   
Time: 2:45pm – 4:00pm
Room: Compagno

We will cover the basic knowledge you need as an CFT Local President, provide participatory training on useful leadership skills, and allow you to share best practices and challenges leader-to-leader. 

Presenters: Kassi Harris, Field Representative and Martha Figueroa, Field Representative

No Time to Waste                                                                                      
Time: 2:45pm – 4:00pm
Room: Beavis

Today’s world presents many challenges to our members and our communities. In order to win against our foes, we must seek solutions and implement strategies as equal partners by making connections and investing in authentic relationships. Establishing shared values and goals is fundamental in building power to make impact and change. Come and learn how investing in coalition work can lead to a journey toward achieving our organizing goals. 

Presenters: Rafael Morataya, Community Coordinator for the Western Region Human Rights and Community Relationship and Lilia Carreon, President of El Rancho Federation of teachers and CFT VP

Getting the Most out of Social Media with Limited Time             
Time: 2:45pm – 4:00pm
Room: Falor

Learn how you can get the most out of social media, despite limited time and resources, and how to best integrate social media into the work of the union. Includes tips on how to effectively use video in social media.

Presenters: Mathew Hardy, Communications Director and Nason McCarthy, Communications Specialist

Friday, March 15, 2024: Workshops at 10:15am

Engaging Members and 1-1 Conversations                                      
Time: 10:15am – 11:30am 
Room: Bataglieri

Are you confused by how to talk to your coworkers about your union? Are you struggling to bring new members into your local? Have you ever wondered why existing members aren’t participating in events? One-on-one organizing conversations are the backbone of every successful union. Learn how to hold intentional conversations that produce real results at the bargaining table and beyond. This workshop and practicum will prepare leaders to recruit new members to your local and activate existing members to build union power!

Presenters: Vincent Mellies, Project Organizer and Pablo Acosta, Project Organizer

Community Schools 101                                                                         
10:15am – 11:30am
Room: Compagno

The community schools’ strategy is evidence based, but not cookie cutter. Community schools foster collaboration among stakeholders to ensure greater equity in policies and partnerships while seeking to honor the culture and lived experiences of students, families, and staff. They do this while maintaining a high academic standard that promotes student wellbeing and powerful learning. The Community Schools 101 Workshop is designed to equip participants with an understanding of community schools, what makes them successful, and opportunities for implementation in and outside of K-12. It will also delve into the ways that the community school’s strategy supports students, families, and staff by fostering collaboration, building community, and creating a safer, and more welcoming environment that leads to greater opportunity. Participants will explore how community schools as a strategy relates to their work and has the potential to impact those they serve. They will come away with resources and connections to help them take the next steps to implement the community schools’ strategy with their own school-community.

Presenter: Dena Donaldson, Assistant Director | Educational Issues

Keeping it Legal for COPE                                                                     
Time: 10:15am – 11:30am
Room: Beavis

Come learn and discuss COPE compliance and campaign finance laws and answer your questions about starting and operating a COPE account.

Presenters: Lacy Barnes, CFT Secretary-Treasurer, Leticia Castro, Administrative Coordinator, and Jessica Ulstad, Political Director

Teaching for the Future Now: Labor Education and Climate Justice              Time: 10:15am – 11:30am 
Falor

This workshop will share insights and innovative projects for teaching about labor and climate justice, work that is especially vital in the wake of AB 800, labor uprisings, and cataclysmic climate change.

Panelists: Kelly Mayhew, Nicolle Fefferman, and Fred Glass from the CFT Labor and Climate Justice Education Committee

Better Together                                                                                         
Time: 10:15am – 11:30am 
Room: Camelia

Do you live or work in communities that experience challenges of serious and immediate danger? Have you ever witnessed or had to navigate situations that could lead to workplace violence? Have you personally felt triggered when the “isms” show up at work, inside of the union or at home? Join Dr. Leven “Chuck” Wilson for this workshop focused on the power and impact that courageous conversations offer. Learn more about the root causes of these challenging situations and winning strategies that make a difference. 

In addition to exploring the value of listening with warmth, empathy, and genuineness, you will gain with a deeper understanding about the value of acknowledging, listening, giving, and encouraging.  Leave equipped with basic tools to manage your mental and emotional health when encountering moments that may trigger raw emotions as you build a lasting foundation to engage in courageous conversations that result in positive change for you, others, and the union.

Presenter: Dr. Leven “Chuck” Wilson, Assistant Director of Health and Safety, AFT

Friday, March 15, 2024: Workshops at 12:45pm

Layoff Preparation                                                                                    
Time: 12:45pm – 2:00pm
Room: Bataglieri           

This presentation will review the entire layoff process, including the proceedings set forth in the Education Code and important dates and actions for employees noticed for layoff.                                   

Presenter: Hannah Weinstein

Mental Health Awareness                                                                       
Time: 12:45pm – 2:00pm
Room: Compagno

This workshop will help you, Understand the impact of mental health and wellness in the workplace, recognize common mental health challenges, Support and engage in practices that support emotional wellbeing, and help you speak more openly about mental health and reduce mental health stigma within the workplace.

Presenters: Alicia Loncar, Labor Liaison, National Well-being Lead, SCE/WFH Liaison, and John Tillar, Labor Liaison with Kaiser Permanente

Treasurer Training: Financial Stewardship for a Strong Local Union             
Time: 12:45pm – 2:00pm
Room: Beavis

This refresher workshop will give participants an opportunity to reinforce and deepen their understanding of the responsibilities of a local union treasurer. We’ll briefly cover the best practices essential in union administration, financial record-keeping and reporting. Participants are encouraged to come with specific questions. This workshop is open to all local executive leaders, and will be especially helpful for union presidents, treasurers and executive directors who carry out the fiduciary responsibilities of the union.

Presenters: Lacy Barnes, CFT Secretary-Treasurer and Leticia Castro, Administrative Coordinator

Foundations and Futures                                                                                   
Room Time: 12:45pm – 2:00pm
Room: Falor

A Multimedia Textbook on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Asian American and Pacific Islander histories and experiences have been absent from our history books and core education.  Foundations and Futures will change that as the most comprehensive curriculum free and online for high school and early college students that includes teacher training support and lesson plans to launch in 2025.

This workshop will introduce this groundbreaking resource that features 50 chapters and 200 accompanying teacher guides which meets the Ethnic Studies graduation requirements in California. There will be a demonstration of the Japanese Incarceration lesson, which will be piloted in 2024.

Presenter: Arlene Inouye, Asian American Pacific Islander MMT Senior Outreach Advisor

The Legal Responsibilities of the Site Representative: DFR                12:45pm – 2:00pm, Camelia           
DFR and Weingarten Rights
Participants will discuss and practice exercising the legal rights and responsibilities of union representatives. Participants will be introduced to the concept of Just Cause, Duty of Fair Representation, Weingarten Rights & role of worksite leaders

Presenters: Jason Elias, Field Representative and Ed Wang, Field Representative