About NYC CEFT
From a group of concerned, caring parent leaders in the Bronx to a citywide collaboration of concerned, caring parents, leaders, and more, the New York City Coalition for Educating Families Together (NYC CEFT) launched in September 2021 after it became clear that families throughout the city shared the same concerns, regardless of zip code or tax bracket…
Out of Crisis, Caring
With so many suffering tremendous losses during the Covid-19 pandemic, a growing chorus rallied against city leadership’s policies and disregard for concerns about safety and health. The NYC Coalition for Educating Families Together, or NYC CEFT, was among the loudest voices calling for a remote learning option and continues to fight for this viable learning tool.
Framework for Growth
Our voices amplified as caregivers reached out from all corners of NYC, so the Bronx Parent Leaders Advocacy Group (Bx PLAG) reorganized as NYC CEFT using the Obama for America organizational framework, to address specific boroughs’ needs. The group helps shape the city’s leadership and policies through its close connections with Department of Education councils and politicians from the City Council to Albany and Washington, D.C.
Several NYC CEFT members first learned to organize with Obama for America, Organizing for America, and Organizing for Action – and now apply those successful strategies to meeting the educational needs of our children and families so we can foster lasting change.
Through efforts as individual borough chapters and as a unified city organization, NYC CEFT’s “bigger, bolder” advocacy work focuses on K-12 education in underserved communities, with the stated goal of making sure that every child and family in NYC is seen, heard, and supported.
Let’s Work Together
NYC CEFT advocates for parents to be at the table when education policy and initiatives are being decided and for issues such as equity, language access, culturally responsive curriculum, social-emotional learning, civic engagement, parent voice and parent choice, shared governance, and a redesign of education in underserved and under-resourced communities.
The last several years have shown that our concerns are shared by families throughout the city. We launched a new direction that both addresses specific boroughs’ needs and shapes the city’s leadership and policies. Families are stronger and better supported if we’re working as a coalition of many, and so we welcome you to join a new force for creating and demanding solutions for families.
Our motto: families working together will be heard. Our slogan: Advocacy, Bigger and Bolder!
Please check out our social
media @NYCCEFT and stay tuned as we build capacity and partnerships in other boroughs. We will share more social
media handles, websites, and contact info as it comes online.
In Solidarity,
Farah Despeignes, President
FarahD@ceftnyc.org
Amy Tsai, Vice President of Special Education & District 75 Policy
AmyT@ceftnyc.org
Jennifer Goddard, Vice President of Communications
JenniferG@ceftnyc.org