Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee Forums

The MTA Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee invites all MTA members to participate in free forums during March and April to discuss, “What It Means to Decolonize the Curriculum.”

Minority Committee Banner

This is a great opportuniity to exchange ideas and formulate next steps with fellow MTA members — and earn professional development points. Participants may earn up to 2.5 hours toward PDPs. All attendees will receive a certificate of attendance.

The forums will center around these topics:

What does a colonized curriculum and/or structure look like? (Create a working definition of colonized curriculum/structure.)
How has colonized curriculum shaped your education/work environment?
How would your education/work environment have been changed if you had been taught a decolonized curriculum?
Is decolonizing necessary?
Decolonizing vs. diversifying: Is there a difference?
Do you see your district/employer being supportive about decolonizing curriculum? If not, how can we get them on board? What are the barriers?
As educators, what steps can we take to decolonize curriculum?

Forum Dates and Locations

Saturday, March 23, 2019 | 9:30 am - 12:30 pm Reading Memorial High School, 62 Oakland Road, Reading, MA 01867

Wednesday, March 27, 2019 | 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm Education Association of Worcester, 397 Grove Street, Suite #1, Worcester, MA 01605

Saturday, March 30, 2019 | 9:30 am - 12:30 pm Education Association of Worcester, 397 Grove Street, Suite #1, Worcester, MA 01605

Saturday, March 30, 2019 | 9:30 am - 12:30 pm MTA Quincy Headquarters, 2 Heritage Drive, 8th Floor, Quincy, MA 02171

Saturday, March 30, 2019 | 9:30 am - 12:30 pm Pittsfield High School, 300 East Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201

Saturday, April 6, 2019 | 9:30 am - 12:30 pm Springfield Education Association, 1000 Wilbraham Road, Springfield, MA

News & Events

Thousands Rally at the State House

Cheering students carried the banner during a joyful march around the State House that featured music by the Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society Brass Band.

Following an afternoon of political theater and chanting that reverberated through the marbled halls of the State House, more than 3,000 educators, parents and students rallied and marched around the building on May 16, demanding passage of legislation to increase state funding for public schools and colleges by more than $1.5 billion a year.

union members holding fund our future posters

Make Plans to Be at the State House for the Fund Our Future Rally on May 16

We have a once-in-a-generation chance to pass bills increasing the amount of state aid for our public schools and colleges by more than $1.5 billion a year.

On Thursday, May 16, join with students, educators, parents and community members at a 5 p.m. rally outside of the Massachusetts State House to demand that our legislators take action on two key education funding bills, the Promise Act and the Cherish Act.

Public Higher Ed Advocacy Day 2019

March 21: Join our broad coalition of advocates at Public Higher Education Advocacy Day 2019 at the State House.

Treasurer Position

The APA is looking for a candidate for Statewide Treasurer to complete the term of the incumbent, who is retiring.

Please review the attached job description and send a letter of interest and resume to the chairperson of the APA Budget and Finance subcommittee by March 13, 2019:

Higher ed bill backed by Fund Our Future

Anabel Santiago, a student at UMass Dartmouth, said that rising tuition and fees have made public higher education “no longer affordable for middle- and working-class students.” Greenfield Community College President Yves Salomon-Fernández looked on as Santiago spoke.

15,000 MTA signatures were presented in support of preK-12 and higher ed legislation

Students, educators, legislators and community leaders from across Massachusetts gathered at the State House on January 16 to announce the filing of a higher education funding bill that is backed by the MTA and other members of the Fund Our Future coalition as part of the broader education funding plan.