The Civil, Human, and Women’s Rights Committee works to ensure and protect the civil and human rights of all CFT members and the students we serve, regardless of color, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, or political affiliation.

PRIORITIES

• Track trends on threats to and rollback of civil, human, and women’s rights laws and regulations.
• Track and assist with the implementation of recommendations from the CFT Racial Equity Task Force Report “Reclaiming the Promise of Racial Equity for Black Males in California,” and suggest topics for future equity task forces.
• Review existing union policy and recommend policy positions to CFT governance bodies on matters relevant to civil, human, and women’s rights. 
• Develop workshops and produce materials on important civil, human, and women’s rights issues to ensure that CFT locals have the information to be effective advocates locally on these issues.
• Stay connected with the AFT Human Rights and Community Relations Department.

MEMBERS

Elaine Merriweather, Co-Chair, United Educators of San Francisco
Dean Murakami, Co-Chair, Los Rios College Federation of Teachers
Pauline Acosta, Cerritos College Faculty Federation
Hazel Alonzo, AFT College Staff Guild, Los Angeles
Natchel Bello, AFT Guild, San Diego and Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community Colleges
Marisela Cerda, Salinas Valley Federation of Teachers
Janette Diaz, AFT Guild,San Diego and Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community Colleges
Marne Foster, AFT Guild,San Diego and Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community Colleges
Ingrid Gunnell, United Teachers Los Angeles
Bea Herrera, Ventura County Federation of College Teachers
Kalinda Jones, Los Rios College Federation of Teachers
Kandra Kargo, ABC Federation of Teachers, Retiree Chapter
Denice Labertew, Los Angeles College Faculty Guild
Rosemary Lee, United Teachers Los Angeles
Belinda Lum, Los Rios College Federation of Teachers
Lizbeth Martinez, AFT College Staff Guild-Los Angeles
Angela Newman, Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers
Clarissa Padilla, AFT Guild, San Diego and Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community Colleges
Skyler Petersen, Lompoc Federation of Teachers
William Philipps, Santa Cruz Federation of Retired Educational Personnel
Nancy Smith, Los Angeles College Faculty Guild
Rowena Smith-Kersaint, AFT College Staff Guild-Los Angeles
Hannah Tool, Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers
Stephanie White, Los Angeles College Faculty Guild
Miriam Zamora-Kantor, Peralta Federation of Teachers
Valarie Bachelor, Staff Liaison  

PROJECTS

Racial Equity Task Force Report

Reclaiming the Promise of Racial Equity for Black Males in California was the final report from the CFT Racial Equity Task Force. The committee works to implement recommendations contained in the report.