Protect Our Kids Resolution

Whereas, the federal government plays a crucial role in providing essential services, ensuring and maintaining the nation's infrastructure and public welfare; and

Whereas, recent initiatives led by President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Elon Musk’s DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), and Linda McMahon (Department of Education) and their administration, have proposed arbitrary and capricious reductions in federal spending and workforce that undermine the effectiveness of federal agencies, including those responsible for education, environmental protection, and public health; and

Whereas, The Department of Education supports 7.5 million students with disabilities—roughly 15 percent of students—with special education services and specialized teachers and therapists; and

Whereas, Title 1 helps over 25 million of our most impoverished students, many in the city of Detroit; and

Whereas, the Department of Education provides supports for lowering class size, providing mental health supports, career and technical education and financial aid; and

Whereas the Department of Education offers funding for free and reduced lunches after school, early childhood and extended year programs; and

Whereas, The Detroit Federation of Teachers participated in the National March 4 Education National Day of Action with the American Federation of Teachers by wearing “red for ed”, celebrating students by clapping students in and out of school, by providing parents and community stakeholders with important literature regarding the benefits of the Department of Education; and

Whereas, On March 4, 2025, The Detroit Federation of Teachers held a Virtual Citywide Teach-In with students, teachers, parents, legislators, and community members and provided a digital toolkit of information and actions; and

Whereas, The Detroit Federation of Teachers will continue to collaborate and organize strategically with verified community and labor allies to fight the cowardly attacks on the working- and middle-class Americans by the Trump, Vance and Elon Musk administration; and

Whereas, on January 30, 2025, AFT National held an urgent town hall, “We Protect Kids” to provide sorely needed information to members worried over immigration policy changes that are instilling fear and trauma in their schools and healthcare facilities; and

Whereas, on February 19, 2025, AFT National held an urgent town hall, “Protect Our Kids” to deliver an urgent call to action on March 4, to stand up for our schools, fight for our communities, protect our kids, in response to the Trump administration’s threat to cut the Department of Education and the funds that go with it—a move that ultimately amounts to a large-scale attack on the nearly 50 million American children who attend public schools; and

Whereas, on February 24, 2025, AFT National is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit to stop the Department of Education and the Office of Personnel Management to stop sharing private data with DOGE affiliates; and

Whereas, on February 25, 2025, AFT National held an urgent town hall “Immigration Town Hall” to discuss the latest changes in U.S. immigration policies and how we can best defend faculty and staff at colleges and universities; and

Whereas, on February 25, 2025, AFT National filed lawsuits against the new policy threatening to withhold federal funding from educational institutions that teach accurate history and lessons about slavery, diversity, and inclusion; and

Whereas, on March 4, 2025, the National Day of Action, with more than 2,000 actions across the country, to fight back against attacks on public schools by calling on lawmakers to protect our kids and take a stand against actions that will hurt millions of students to fund tax cuts for billionaires; and

Whereas, the prioritizing of billionaires over 99% of Americans continues by attacking every system we depend upon: Education, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Veterans Affairs, Immigration, National Institute of Health, along with the lies and fiscal irresponsibility due to thousands of layoffs in the Education, Veterans Affairs, Social Security, Energy, and their sub-agencies:

Now, Therefore Be It Resolved that the Detroit Federation of Teachers, along with verified community and labor allies, will fight for safe, welcoming and fully funded public schools and colleges that prepare and support our young people for college, career and life.

Be It Resolved that we will fight for a functioning government that works for Americans and that we will fight for the funding and policies that help people as we fight against cuts to Medicaid, Social Security, education and the other social service programs to subsidize tax cuts for billionaires.

Be It Further Resolved that we will fight for freedom and opportunity for all, which only comes with a real democracy, and provides vital safety net programs for people providing opportunity, dignity, respect and a better life for us all.

Therefore, be it resolved that we place a copy of this resolution in the archives of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, a digital copy shared with members and a copy published on the Detroit Federation of Teachers website.

The DFT Election Committee announces that the following members will be serving a two year term on the Election Committee-

1. Tameka Merchant
2. Jacqueline Robinson
3. Taneshe Vernon

Crystal White was nominated to fill a vacancy on the Election Committee.

Tracie Diggins was elected to the Executive Board Vacancy.

The changes for both the Constitution and the Bylaws were approved.

Mark your calendars for Wayne State University’s Giving Day on April 10, 2025. This annual day of giving provides an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on students, research, programs and projects that make a difference in our community. Giving Day is a chance to support initiatives that help accelerate student mobility, empower urban health and fuel innovation. A number of donation matches and challenges will be available to increase the impact of your gift.

There is a Detroit Federation of Teachers Endowed Memorial Scholarship that is a part of this Giving Day. Visit givingday.wayne.edu to make an early gift or become a Giving Day advocate.

Thank you! Thank you Mighty DFT!!! What all of you experienced on Tuesday across the district was a huge showing of solidarity, creativity, energy and love for our students, parents, our DFT family and our beloved profession. It is gratifying to know that we are not alone in our efforts to fight back against the dismantling of public education. The Virtual Teach-In panelists and participants from yesterday were not just DFT members but ranged from parents, both district and non-district, educators from metro Detroit, community leaders and advocates, elected officials, and DPSCD staff.

All of your zeal and more is needed for this fight we now find ourselves engaged in and yesterday was a soft launch of the war that must be waged to save public education. We appreciate your efforts to support this National Day of Action, so give yourselves a round of applause for all the hard work you put forth. We are off to a great start, however, there is more work to do to organize and mobilize this membership as our momentum grows. Moreover, our ability to communicate and engage all of you is paramount to our success.

Here is the digital toolkit that was a part of our event: March 4 Virtual Digital Toolkit.

The National Day of Action was sponsored by American Federation of Teachers. Pictures of our Day of Action will be featured in the March 2025 edition of The Detroit Teacher.

Thank you so much to Molly Sweeney and Arlyssa Heard at 482Forward who worked with us to make the webinar a success.

ELECTION of ONE (1) EXECUTIVE BOARD VACANCY:  Partial Term of Office: March 2025 – January 2027

Official Candidate List

• Tracie Diggins – UTR
• Frank Espinosa – Independent
• Meredith Summer – Independent
• Charla Times-Pinkston – Independent

ELECTION of THREE (3) ELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Term of Office: April 2025 to March 2027

Official Candidate List

• Tamika Merchant
• Jacqueline Robinson
• Taneshe Vernon

Join us for the Teach-In on Tuesday, March 4 and listen to our panel of speakers.