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Meredith Elizalde Shares Poem in Honor of Son Nicolas at CeaseFirePA Vigil

On December 14th, PFT joined CeaseFirePA's vigil in honor of the tenth anniversary of the Sandy Hook mass shooting and in honor of the 15,000 lives of Pennsylvanians stolen by gun violence in the ten years since then.  Speakers at the event included: Roz Pichardo (CeaseFirePA) Chante Love (EMIR Healing Center) Dennis Carradin (The Trauma Survivors Foundation) Meredith Elizalde (mother of Nicolas, and PFT member) Rev. Tonya Waller-Waddy Dr. Dorothy Johnson-Speight (Mothers In Charge) Adam Garber (CeaseFirePA) Michael Reed At the vigil, Meredith Elizalde read a poem she authored in honor of her son Nicolas, "What Does the Green Bird See?" Meredith began by saying, "Dedicated to Nick Elizalde: The greatest honor of my life was to be your mother.  The second greatest honor of my life was to hold you as you died.  May we all be blessed to see the world and our role in it, as you did.  Rest in power." MORE

LeShawna Coleman and Gemayel Keyes featured in American Educator: Philadelphia's Paraprofessional-to-Teacher Pipeline

December 2022 In the Winter issue of American Educator, PFT staff representative LeShawna Coleman and teacher resident Gemayel Keyes delve into the PFT paraprofessionals pathway program. A must read! MORE

PFT PRESIDENT JERRY JORDAN ON SHOOTING OUTSIDE OF OVERBROOK HIGH SCHOOL

November 23, 2022 In response to the shooting outside of Overbrook High School at dismissal today, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement: PHILADELPHIA—"The ongoing scourge of gun violence continues to plague our city and our nation. I am enraged by the shooting outside of Overbrook High School this afternoon that injured four students and surely traumatized so many more students, staff, and community members. MORE

PFT PRESIDENT JERRY JORDAN ON PA HOUSE'S OUTRAGEOUS STUNT TO IMPEACH PHILADELPHIA DA LARRY KRASNER

November 16, 2022 In response to the PA House passage of HR 240, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement: PHILADELPHIA—"In a desperate maneuver in their waning days of power, the Pennsylvania House Republicans tripled down on their desire to circumvent the will of Philadelphians by voting to move forward with the impeachment of District Attorney Larry Krasner. MORE

Member Message Regarding PA House's Ongoing Outrageous Efforts to Impeach Twice-Elected DA Larry Krasner

November 15, 2022

Dear PFT Members:

Today, the PA State House Judiciary Committee furthered their efforts to impeach the twice elected District Attorney of Philadelphia Larry Krasner, passing this wrongheaded legislation through the Judiciary Committee.

I've shared our opposition to this stunt with you a number of times, and I write today to urge you to call your State Senator and State Representative to urge them to repudiate this charade and get down to the business of governing. 

Here are two of my recent statements on this effort:

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PFT PRESIDENT JERRY JORDAN ON VICTORY OF SENATOR-ELECT JOHN FETTERMAN

November 9, 2022

In response to this evening's election results, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement:

PHILADELPHIA—"Voters of Pennsylvania have made their voices heard, and John Fetterman's decisive victory leaves us confident in our optimism about our path forward for our great commonwealth. 

"Throughout a grueling campaign and a life-threatening health scare, the fortitude and determination demonstrated by John Fetterman and his family is a testament to their commitment to our collective futures. 

"John Fetterman stands for so many of the things we fight for every day. He

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