Teachers Union Distributes Educational Books to

Vaccinated Individuals at Raritan Bay Area YMCA

Press Release 8/12/21

FORDS, N.J.: The American Federation of Teachers’ Back to School for All campaign rolled through Perth Amboy on Aug. 11, with American Federation of Teachers New Jersey (AFTNJ) President Donna M. Chiera and Perth Amboy Federation President Pat Paradiso distributing educational books to individuals who received a COVID-19 vaccine that day at the Raritan Bay Area YMCA.

More than 30 people were vaccinated during the three-hour event, according to Rebecca Pauley, the Raritan Bay Area YMCA’s community health coordinator.

“It was great to be part of an event that promoted vaccinations and literacy,” Chiera said. “The partnership among the YMCA, Visiting Nurses and the Perth Amboy Federation is making a difference, one person at a time. As a retired Perth Amboy teacher, seeing children and young adults asking if they can take more than one book made me appreciate the success of local educators in nurturing the love of reading and learning.”

Among the books chosen by visitors to the Raritan Bay Area YMCA were “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You” by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi and “Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre” by Carole Boston Weatherford and Floyd Cooper.

The AFT’s 60-project, 30-state Back to School for All initiative features vaccine clinics, book fairs and other efforts to engage families, students, educators and school staff in returning to full-time, in-person learning for the 2021-22 academic year.

For more information, contact AFTNJ communications coordinator Chris M. Junior: cjunior@aftnj.org