News

When the president of Colorado WINS learned that the president of the United States might be targeting Denver next in his anti-immigration campaign of terror, she knew how she’d begin to mobilize. One simple thing Diane Byrne does is deck out her activists in matching T-shirts. Wearing union colors promotes team spirit and builds confidence, she says. The AFT Public Employees program and policy council, meeting in New York City Feb. 5-6, abounded with tips to help locals mobilize. PPC chair Gary Feist, president of North Dakota Public Employees, recommended finding members who can tell a personal story to draw media attention. With more media on the issue, he said, legislators will become more motivated to fix the problem.

Federal immigration actions are rapidly expanding, with deadly consequences. The killings of poet Renee Nicole Good and nurse Alex Pretti by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis have brought intense focus on the use of excessive force. An AFT webinar, co-hosted by AFT President Randi Weingarten and AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang on Jan. 28, featured experts on immigration and the law. It highlighted AFT resources and showcased how our locals are showing up to minimize fear and trauma.

Renaissance Village is Awarded $1 million Grant, AFT Press Release (5/28/20)

Latest Reconnecting McDowell Accomplishment: Groundbreaking on Apartments to House W.Va. County’s Teachers, AFT press release (9/9/19)

Reconnecting McDowell Provides 'Care Closets' for Every McDowell County School, AFT press release (9/24/18)

Reconnecting McDowell to Break Ground on Apartment Building in Spring 2019, AFT press release (9/25/18)

Reconnecting McDowell Receives $150,000 Federal Grant, AFT press release (10/27/16)

Progress After First Four Years of Reconnecting McDowell, AFT press release (3/29/16)

Reconnecting McDowell Wins Spot to Attend Workshops To Help Communities Economically Challenged by Flagging Coal Industry, AFT press release (3/27/15)

Still reading and feeding during the pandemic AFT Voices (5/8/20)

Exterior of Renaissance Village is completed Bluefield Daily Telegraph (3/9/20)

Partners tackle poverty in McDowell County Washington Post (10/19/19)

Renaissance Village celebrates construction progress  WDTV (9/10/19)

Read the latest edition of our Reconnecting McDowell newsletter, a regular update for the McDowell community, partners and those interested in staying informed on what is happening.