Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1533049
State Council delegates sing along to "I Am Willing." T O O P E N T H E Januar y 2025 State Council of Education , delegates, officers and others sang along to "I Am Willing." The song, by artist and activist Holly Near, speaks of hope and resilience — and of carrying on together — in the face of suffering and change. CTA President David Goldberg then led a moment of silence to acknowledge those who lost their lives, loved ones, homes or were displaced by the devastating Los Angeles fires. He expressed his pride in our union members reaching out to sup- port and care for affected colleagues, students and neighbors. In his speech to delegates, Goldberg noted that as broader changes threaten our schools and communities, "we are pre- pared to stand up against any attacks on our students, public education and workers' rights." ese include attacks on immi- grants and LGBTQ+ students and educators, and continuing efforts to defund and destabilize public education. While Goldberg said recent victories, such as the passage of the Social Security Act, wins at the bargaining table and suc- cessful actions and strikes, give us hope, much work lies ahead, including the "We Can't Wait" campaign that launched in Feb- ruary: "We can't wait to fully staff our schools, we can't wait for competitive wages and benefits, and at this moment, more than ever, we can't wait for safe and stable schools for our students and communities." CTA's African American Caucus played a video in honor of Black History Month in February. Titled "Resilience and Soli- darity: Black Women in the Labor Movement," the video focused on multiple Black women leaders and unionists, including CTA's own past and present leaders. On Sunday, special guest NEA Vice President Princess Moss briefly spoke to delegates about the challenging time, especially as wildfires burned. " Your NEA family is with you," she said. "This is what families do — we stick together. You are not alone, we stand with you." January State Council sets the course for 2025 and beyond CTA Heads Into a Year of Change 49 M A R C H 2 0 2 5 Our Union