MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

DC 37 HEALTH & SECURITY PLAN

Health & Security Benefit Fairs

The DC 37 Health & Security Plan invites you to attend an upcoming Health & Security Plan Benefit Fair in our new union headquarters. The monthly fairs are a great opportunity to learn more about your Health & Security benefits and the variety of resources available to you as a DC 37 member. All members are welcome to attend and take advantage of this event. We look forward to seeing you there!

Monday, April 21, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | DC 37 Headquarters, 125 Barclay

Wednesday, April 23, 2-4 p.m. | DC 37 Headquarters, 125 Barclay

DC 37 MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES HOUSING PROGRAM

First-Time Homebuyer Workshop

Are you thinking of buying your first home but don’t know where to begin? The DC 37 Municipal Employees Housing Program is pleased to offer two virtual First-Time Homebuyer Workshops. Allow us to assist you on your journey to homeownership as we discuss the mortgage process, pre-approvals, debt-to-income ratios, PMI, FHA loans, conventional loans, and much more! Bring your questions and we’ll provide the answers. We hope to see you there!

Saturday, April 5 at 11 a.m. | Register HERE.

Saturday, April 19 at 11 a.m. | Register HERE.

MCU Homebuyers Webinar

In the market for a new place to call home? The DC 37 Municipal Employees Housing Program is proud to present the Municipal Credit Union (MCU) Homebuyers Webinar to answer your questions about mortgages and discuss which programs may be the right fit for you. Let MCU lending specialists guide you through flexible loan terms, competitive interest rates, and everything you need to get past your home-buying hurdles. You won’t want to miss this important webinar!

Thursday, April 17 at 6:30 p.m. | Register HERE.

DC 37 POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE

Join the Political Action Volunteer Member Organizer (VMO) Team

You can make a big difference in this year’s important elections! Join our Political Action VMO team to help us get candidates in office who will fight to protect jobs and services in our community. Volunteers who enroll will participate in member-to-member door knocking and phone banking.

VMO shifts will take place throughout May and June on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Applicants will be contacted to begin a screening process in April 2025. Members selected for the VMO team will receive a stipend of $22/hour for their volunteer time. 

If you are interested in being considered for the upcoming Political Action VMO program, please click HERE to sign up.

Join the Fight to Get Pro-worker Candidates Elected –
Support the DC 37 PEOPLE Program!

Under the new presidential administration, government jobs, safety net programs, and remote work options are under attack. We must support candidates who will fight against attempts to cut jobs and the advances we’ve secured. By joining the PEOPLE Program, our DC 37 political action fund, we can get leaders in office who will fight for worker’s rights over corporate greed. PEOPLE contributions are used to do Get Out the Vote campaigns, lobbying around member issues, supporting pro-worker candidates, and other important activities that we are restricted from using dues money to conduct.

Join PEOPLE HERE.

Attend Political Action Committee Meetings

Join us for our monthly Political Action Committee Meetings to find out more about what’s happening in City Hall and Albany. Meetings take place on the second Thursday of each month via Zoom.

Thursday, April 10 at 6 p.m. | To register, click HERE.

Register to Vote Today!

Are you and your family all set to vote in 2025? Elections for Mayor, City Council, Public Advocate, and City Comptroller are happening this year. Register to vote or update your address information HERE.

To view a list of the current candidates endorsed by DC 37 for the June 24, 2025 Primary Election, click HERE.

DC 37 CLIMATE JUSTICE COMMITTEE

Are you passionate about climate change? Do you want to meet like-minded union siblings fighting for climate justice? DC 37 members and retirees are invited to join the next Climate Justice Committee Meeting. Make your voice heard and share ideas on how to support DC 37 and AFSCME in the creation of green union jobs and the struggle against climate change and its impacts. This month’s meeting will focus on ventilation in public schools and DC 37 members impacted by high temperatures inside and outside our public schools. We hope you will join us! 

Tuesday, April 1 at 6 p.m. | Contact Jon Forster, Co-Chair of the Climate Justice Committee, at 4unionnow@gmail.com

DC 37 EDUCATION COMMITTEE

The DC 37 Education Committee invites you to our April meeting. This committee works to expand educational opportunities for DC 37 members and presents scholarships and scholastic awards to DC 37 members and their families. We hope to see you at our next meeting. 

Thursday, April 10 at 6 p.m. | Join the meeting via Zoom HERE.

DC 37 EDUCATION FUND

Applications for the Spring 2025 Semester Available Now!

The DC 37 Education Fund has begun to accept applications for our Spring 2025 semester! For a list of current offerings, please visit our Classes and Benefits page by clicking HERE! Classes begin in April and many classes fill up quickly so register as soon as they become available! 

The DC 37 Green Jobs Training Program is Expanding!

The DC 37 Education Fund continues to accept interested applicants into its Green Jobs Training Expansion Program, a grant-funded training program for eligible DC 37 members to receive free, hands-on instruction in areas of need within the green economy and energy sector. 

Training courses include Energy Auditing, Multifamily and Commercial Building Analyst, Carbon Accounting, LEED Green Associate, Energy Benchmarking, and Construction Management. These courses and more will prepare members for certifications and licenses offered and recognized by the Building Performance Institute, Urban Green Council, and Association of Energy Engineers. 

If you are interested in more information on these courses and what this training can provide for you, please click HERE.

DC 37 Scholarship Applications Are Now Available

The 2025 DC 37 Scholarships application is now available on the DC 37 website.  Scholarships are available for: 1) eligible DC 37 members, 2) the children and grandchildren of eligible DC 37 members and 3) the children and grandchildren of DC 37 retirees who belong to the DC 37 Retirees Association.  

Scholarship awards range from $1,000 to $2,000 and applications can only be submitted online. Be sure to read the application directions and make sure you submit all required documentation as part of your application. The deadline to apply is May 9 and scholarship award winners will be announced on or around June 13.

To get a description of the available scholarships and to submit an application, please click HERE.

Advanced Grievance Handling and Introduction to Arbitration Course

This course outlines the critical nature of embracing the grievance process from the outset and understanding the case may end up in arbitration. Highlights include exposing the participant to different types of evidence, the due diligence required for witness preparation, and understanding who arbitrators are. Only eligible members who have completed the Education Fund’s General Shop Steward Program are eligible for this course. 

For more information and/or to apply, please click HERE.

Changes to Tuition Reimbursement Benefit

Beginning with classes, courses, and workshops taken on or after Jan. 1, 2024, eligible DC 37 members can now be reimbursed up to $1,500 by the DC 37 Education Fund as long as the requirements for reimbursement are met. Additionally, tuition reimbursement applications can now be submitted completely online. 

For more information on the changes to the reimbursement benefit, please click HERE. 

New Course In Critical Thinking Skills

Develop higher order thinking skills and learn how to evaluate what you read to determine whether or not you can believe it. You will be able to recognize the differences between primary and secondary sources, literal and figurative language, and how to recall and summarize material. You will learn to think critically about text, topics, and ideas presented in a variety of media. 

To register for the Spring session, apply HERE.

Interview Techniques Workshop

Eligible members can attend this two-session, three-hour workshop and learn how to stand out at a job interview. Learn more about different types of interviews, what to expect, what to wear and not wear, the questions to ask and not ask, and how to prepare in advance. For more information on this workshop and to apply, click HERE. 

Spring 2025 Computer Classes

Queens College – 10 online session computer programs:

• Microsoft Excel Level I
  • Wednesdays, April 9 to June 18 from 6-9 p.m.
  • Register HERE
• Microsoft Excel Level II
  • Thursdays, April 10 to June 26 from 6-9 p.m.
  • Register HERE 
• Microsoft Word
  • Tuesdays, April 10 to June 17 from 6-9 p.m.
  • Register HERE 

City College/Center for Workers Education – Certificate received after completion of 10 sessions:

• Microsoft Office Professional: Intermediate Level – Online Sessions
  • Tuesdays, April 15 to June 17 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 
  • Register HERE 

• AutoCAD by AutoDesk – In-person Sessions at City College/CWE
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 22 to June 5 
  • Register HERE

Education and Career Counseling

Do you need guidance on selecting a class from our offerings, updating a resume or need assistance reaching a career or educational goal? Contact an Ed Fund counselor HERE to schedule a virtual appointment.

CUNY Counseling is Here for You!

This is the ideal time to plan for enrollment at the CUNY college of your choice. Let Worker Education at the CUNY School of Labor & Urban Studies (SLU) help guide you through the process of finding the best CUNY program to match your education and career goals. 

Expert advisors offer FREE one-on-one phone sessions on academic requirements for specific jobs; choosing a CUNY campus and major; applying to and financing a CUNY degree; certificate and non-credit options at CUNY; transferring previous credits, and more. Each session is free and caters to your specific goals and needs.

To view the calendar and schedule your CUNY advisement session, click HERE. Can’t find a date/time that works for you? Email CUNYDays@slu.cuny.edu

Free College Programs For Local 372 Members In Specific Job Titles

Local 372 Paraprofessionals can earn 18 credits annually toward a degree in Human Services through a partnership with Monroe College. To begin the process of enrolling for the Fall 2025 term, complete an online application: www.dc37edfund.org/monroectpcandidateform. 

For questions, email: ppunch@dc37.net.

Local 372 Members Working in School Food can earn an associate’s degree in Nutrition and Culinary Management through a partnership with LaGuardia Community College. To begin enrolling for the Fall 2025 term, complete an online application: www.dc37edfund.org/laguardiacandidateform. 

For questions, email: lpicano@dc37.net.

The CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies Offers Leap To Teacher (LTT)

Advance your education in any field with the LEAP to Teacher Program serving all school and daycare workers. Open the door to your future! LEAP to Teacher (LTT) provides a specialized set of support services designed to empower you to become more effective in your schools and more impactful in your communities. The LTT program can assist you with pursuing your undergraduate or graduate degree in any field of study, from the pre-admission stage through graduation.

For more information, please contact: ltt@slu.cuny.edu, call (646) 313-8532 or visit our website HERE.

Retirees Education Courses for Spring 2025

The Ed Fund is currently accepting applications for classes for the Winter 2025 cycle. Apply online HERE. For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Manuel Gomez-Rosa at mgomezrosa@dc37.net or call (212) 815-1700.

NON-PROFIT AND PRIVATE SECTOR

Workshops

• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)
  • Wednesday, April 2 from 6-8 p.m.
• Violence Prevention and Intervention
  • Monday, April 7 from 6-8 p.m.
• Infectious Diseases
  • Wednesday, April 9 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. 
• Continuing Teacher Leader Education (CTLE)
  • Active and Competent Supervision 
  • Thursday, April 10 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. 
• Child Abuse and Maltreatment
  • Monday, April 21 from 6-8 p.m.
• CPR/First Aid
  • Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 
  • This workshop will be held in-person. 
  • The cost of this workshop is $80, no exceptions. 
• Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)SA)
  • April 28 and April 30 from 5-8 p.m.
  • Must attend both sessions. 

You can register for these workshops by clicking HERE.

Classes and Prep Courses

• Content Specialty Test (CST) – Math
  • Tuesdays and Wednesdays, April 22 to May 14, 6-8 p.m.
  • Total of 8 sessions to complete the course 
• Educating All Students (EAS)
  • Mondays, April 28 to May 19, 6-8 p.m.
  • Total of 4 sessions to complete the course 
• Assessment of Teacher Assistant Skills (ATAS)
  • Saturdays, April 26 to May 17 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Total of 4 sessions to complete the course 

You can register for these classes and more by clicking HERE.

Skills Upgrade

• Intermediate Word
  • Four sessions: Saturdays, April 28, May 3, May 10, May 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Via Google Classroom, students must have a desktop or laptop.

To register, email mhunte@dc37.net.

Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS)/

Baseball Season Safety Tips from HSS

Baseball season is just around the corner! Learn more about injury prevention for the baseball players in your life from the former head team orthopedist for the New York Mets and HSS physician Dr. Joshua Dines.

HSS is here to help DC 37 members and families – and we take most insurances.

Connect with HSS TODAY:
Call: (212) 606-1105
Email: HSS4DC37@hss.edu 
Visit: HSS.edu/DC37

MSK DIRECT

Spring Into Action: Early Detection Saves Lives!

This Spring, make your health a priority by answering a few simple questions to get personalized screening recommendations from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). In less than five minutes, you can discover if you’re due for any cancer screenings and take an important step toward a brighter, healthier future.