Chicago Teachers Union launches faith-based outreach program to address poverty, structural inequity and social issues in public education
CHICAGO –The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) recently launched a new initiative designed to foster stronger partnerships between teachers, parents and faith leaders working with neighborhood schools. Karen Lewis, CTU president unveiled the Chicago PEACE (Parents, Educators and Clergy for Education) campaign during a October 11 breakfast honoring local clergy at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza, 350 N. Orleans. Nearly 100 pastors, lay workers and educators attended the gathering.
Lewis said, Chicago PEACE is a community organizing and information exchange vehicle where clergy can join forces with nearly 30,000 education professional working in Chicago Public Schools. The initiative will offer workshops on public policy issues in public education and engage clergy, parents and teachers in a collaborative effort to address poverty, race and class issues impacting the city’s 400,000 school students.
“We know that the church is the cornerstone of the community, and that the school is its anchor. Connecting with our diverse faith community is important for the students attending Chicago’s public schools,” said CTU President Karen GJ Lewis. “Educators are natural partners with clergy who work with our families to help our youth meet the demands in an ever-changing society.”
In September more than 100 educators participated in the “Teacher in the Pulpit” initiative where they spoke at religious services throughout the city. Teachers and CPS educators shared not only their love of the profession of teaching but also used the opportunity to talk about the campaign for a better, longer school day and the need for the faith community to be included in the conversation.
“We want to foster dialog with our faith leaders, no matter what religious denomination, to be a part of real conversations about poverty, race and class issues that impact our children, our schools, our homes, and our safety,” said Audrey May, coordinator of the program. “Ministers play an important role in assisting educators as they face growing challenges of social and behavior problems in the lives of their students.
The Chicago PEACE kickoff event coincided with a special dedication to local clergy in honor of October’s National Clergy Month.
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The Chicago Teachers Union represents 30,000 teachers and educational support personnel working in the Chicago Public Schools and, by extension, the students and families they serve. CTU, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Federation of Teachers, is the third largest teachers local in the country and the largest local union in Illinois. For more information visit CTU’s website at www.ctunet.comSG:oteg-743-tr
