AFSA leaders, members and staff used the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago as a powerful platform to champion public education, unions and the rights of workers to engage in collective bargaining. As special guests of the convention, AFSA’s team was able to attend key discussions on labor and education, participate in delegate meetings and witness influential speeches that highlighted the significance of these issues in the upcoming election.

During the convention, AFSA Executive Vice President Lauran Waters-Cherry and General Executive Board member Carver Farrow brought AFSA’s message to political leaders and convention delegates, underscoring the vital role that public education plays in shaping the future of the nation. They also emphasized the importance of unions in protecting the rights of school administrators.

Waters-Cherry spoke passionately about the need to defend public education and the rights of workers.

“Public education is the foundation of our democracy," she asserted. "It’s about ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has access to a quality education. But it’s also about standing up for the people who make our schools work—the teachers, the administrators, the support staff. Unions are the voice of these workers, and collective bargaining is their tool for securing fair wages and safe working conditions. We cannot afford to let that voice be silenced.”

The convention also provided an opportunity for AFSA members to network with other labor leaders, forging alliances that will be crucial in the months and years ahead.

Photo: From left: AFSA Executive Vice President Lauran Waters-Cherry, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, AFSA Local 2 President Troy LaRaviere, Local 2 Chief of Staff Kia Banks and AFSA GEB member Carver Farrow at the Democratic National Convention.