Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1525262
J O D E E B O N A L E S I S E N T E R I N G her ninth year as presi- dent of Ceres Unified Teachers Association (CUTA), and up until last year, she never had much time to visit CUTA's school sites and speak one-on-one with her members. That has changed, thanks to CTA's organiz- ing grants. Bonales and CUTA applied for and received a Planning grant, a Local President Release Time grant and a Site Visit grant in 2023– 24. CUTA's e-board was able to hold a planning meeting last summer to strategize for the coming year. Bonales and CUTA's negotiating chair were able to visit 21 sites and talk directly with mem- bers and administrators. "e goal was to meet our more-than 730 mem- bers and put a face to a name," Bonales said. "We asked how things were going — what's working well at their site, what are things that could be improved. We spent three to four hours per site, we provided lunch. Members were positive — at each site visit the turnout was above 50%." Bonales and CUTA have since received new grants to continue and build on the organizing work, including asking more focused questions and identifying leaders to grow. While CUTA's full successor contract doesn't open until 2025–26, Bonales will use this year's member feedback to refine and update contract language. More than 200 local presidents are taking union release time this coming year thanks to historic funding our CTA Board of Directors has dedicated to the organizing grant program. Like CUTA, many chapters have also received site visit and planning grants. T h e g r a n t s g i v e l o c a l l e a d e r s t i m e t o e n g a g e w i t h CTA Organizing Grants in Action Grants give local leaders time to engage with members and work on improving worksite conditions LETA President David Mires, right, on a site visit last year to Yamato Colony Elementary, accompanied by former Principal Alma DeLuna and LETA Secretary Chris Martin. 38 cta.org Advocacy JoDee Bonales