CTUF Magazine: Legacy of Karen GJ Lewis, NBCT
Teacher. Leader. Advocate. Friend. Those are a few of the words people use to describe Karen Lewis, who was elected president of the Chicago Teachers Union in 2010. Through her bold leadership, Karen changed the narrative around public education in Chicago and the United States.
Karen left a legacy that people are still talking about. Just ask grantees of the Chicago Teachers Union Foundation, who carry Karen’s vision forward in their work every day. In this annual report, the Foundation celebrates Karen’s impact through stories about the continuing work of people and organizations who strive to meet the challenge of improving our schools and communities.
As a leader and educator, Karen had deep roots in the world of teaching. She was a longtime high school chemistry teacher, the wife of a Chicago Public Schools (CPS) teacher and coach, and the daughter of two CPS educators.
Karen’s story, leadership, and passion remain as relevant today as they’ve ever been. During her tenure as CTU president, the union created a model for organizing and fighting for education justice and build strong and lasting relationships with parents and community organizations around the city.
Under Karen’s dynamic vision, Chicago Public School educators launched the city’s first strike in more than 25 years, after which teachers returned to classrooms with fair wages, a new path centered on social justice unionism, and increased engagement of rank-and-file members. Karen and her team also fought to end school privatization and the influence of high-stakes, standardized testing, empowered educators to take on positions in city and state leadership, and amplified support for professional learning and teacher leadership.
Karen often came back to asking three questions of people fighting to improve our schools: “Does it unite us? Does it build our power? Does it make us stronger?”
Within these pages, we share how schools and communities honor Karens’ legacy by finding many ways to answer those questions with a resounding “Yes!”
In this magazine, you will read stories from:
- Action Now
- Arise Chicago
- Brighton Park Neighborhood Council
- Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)
- Cook County College Teachers Union Local 100
- Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange
- Grow Your Own
- Kaleidoscope
- Manufacturing Renaissance
- Palenque LSNA
- Parents 4 Teachers
The inaugural Chicago Teachers Union Foundation Magazine Legacy honors Karen GJ Lewis’ for her vision to fight for schools Chicago’s students deserve. Karen reimagined the Chicago Teachers Union Foundation (CTUF) to support other non-profits and organizations that provide care and services to students, families, and their communities. As Carmen Curet, CTUF Executive Director, writes, “her reach is limitless and will live on for generations to come. It is an honor to be part of her vision and legacy through the Foundation’s commitment to giving and building relationships and partnerships with local community organizations.”
We hope you enjoy reading about the impact CTUF grantees have made in Chicago!