On Saturday, November 15, the 2025 SEIU 1021 Education Summit brought together hundreds of dedicated education workers for a full day of learning, connection, and building collective strength. This day was more than a conference: It was a commitment to each other, to our students, and to the communities we fight for every day.

The morning speakers set the tone with opening remarks from Education Industry Chair Maria Salazar-Colón, President Theresa Rutherford, Executive Director David Canham, and keynote speaker Richard Barrera, a candidate for California State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Their messages grounded attendees in the history of working people whose labor built this country and reminded everyone that our fight today is part of a long struggle for justice.

The speakers urged attendees to recognize the ways global exploitation connects to our local challenges and to stand in solidarity with communities facing violence and repression in places like Palestine, Sudan, and Congo. They also spoke clearly about the rising authoritarianism here at home and the urgent need for workers to stay organized and vocal as our schools and public services come under attack.

“We will not let this moment discourage us. We will not shy away from this fight. Because this is our fight. We are the voice of the working people who keep education alive. Let this summit be a spark that spreads across our campuses, our districts, and our communities. The future is ours to fight for, and we’re not going anywhere!” said Education Chair Maria Salazar-Colón.

After the speakers, members then moved into the first set of workshops. SEIU Local 1021 Cities Industry Chair Antoinette Blue, led a compartmentalization training to help education workers set healthy boundaries for themselves, and the Vice President of Representation Nicole Germain, helped facilitate the Know Your Rights training with labor attorney Kerianne Steele, which offered practical tools for navigating potential interactions with federal authorities that education workers may face. 

After a lively lunch with games and a raffle, the afternoon continued with a moving mental health workshop led by Dr. MacDana Seleçon, followed by an action-focused session led by SEIU 1021 Membership Coordinator Jonathan Nuñez-Babb, that encouraged members to turn creative collaboration into collective action for the future of education.

Throughout the day, the summit stayed centered on the understanding that our work does not end when we leave our workplaces. Inflation, rising housing costs, attacks on public education, and widening racial and economic inequities are shaping the lives of our students and our families. The administration’s harmful policies and shifting resources were front and center, including the impact of Prop 50 and the high stakes of the upcoming midterm elections. Members were encouraged to stay bold, engaged, and united as we move through this critical moment.

SEIU members are the heart of public education. We are the people who keep our schools running and our communities supported. This movement starts with us, and it grows when we carry what we learned back to our campuses and districts.