Last weekend, nearly 500 members, leaders, and staff from around Illinois gathered for our triennial IFT Convention under the theme, “TOGETHER.” It was a dynamic event, filled with passion, purpose, and productivity. Take a look!
Watch all the inspiring convention videos online.
Delegates from locals across Illinois spent three days considering and voting on resolutions about critical issues like preventing mass shootings, stopping the privatization of public services, reaffirming our commitment to equity and antiracism work, and preventing homelessness, foreclosures, and evictions. These resolutions will guide our union’s efforts through the 2025 convention and beyond.
Delegates also voted unanimously to re-elect IFT’s top leaders, including President Dan Montgomery, Executive Vice President and Chicago Teachers Union (Local 1) President Stacy Davis Gates, and to elect Secretary-Treasurer and Belleville Federation of Teachers (Local 434) President Cyndi Oberle-Dahm. Forty-four IFT Vice Presidents were elected to three-year terms.
Inspiring speakers headlined this year’s event, including March for Our Lives founder and Parkland School shooting survivor David Hogg and fellow activist Trevon Bosley, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. And just days before formally announcing his candidacy for mayor of Chicago, Local 1 member and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson rallied the crowd to fight for what students need and IFT members deserve. (The IFT is excited and proud to endorse him!)
If you weren’t able to attend, you’ll find important convention information on ift-aft.org/together.
We're already looking forward to the 2025 IFT Convention in Chicago! TOGETHER, we’ll keep moving our union forward. TOGETHER, we are #IFTstrong.