The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the Asociación de Maestros de Puerto Rico (AMPR) gave 1,200 books and 300 backpacks to 210 students at a Loíza elementary school on Friday, November 6, and improved the campus. The event at Escuela Elemental Jobos Virtuoso Rivera García, which has 210 students and 21 teachers, was part of the SOMOS Inc. 2026 Conference and drew union leaders, educators and volunteers.
Under the campaign La Lectura Abre el Mundo, participants also handed out personal hygiene items, LEGO educational materials and staple foods for the school community’s families. Volunteers did gardening and cleaning, improved recreational areas and carried out beautification work. AFT president Randi Weingarten said those present came to support and strengthen the people of Loíza and to fight for the resources, support and tools each child and family need.
AFT executive vice president Evelyn DeJesus and AMPR president Víctor Bonilla Sánchez also attended, along with representatives of union and community organizations. Bonilla Sánchez said public schools are the heart of Puerto Rico’s communities and that the service day shows what educators, the labor movement and community groups can achieve together. Other conference initiatives took place in San Juan: UFT president Michael Mulgrew gave a $20,000 donation to Escuela Elemental Dr. Julio J. Henna, honoring a commitment from last year’s service day, aimed at improving the school environment in a community affected by fear generated by recent federal immigration operations.
According to the organizations, La Lectura Abre el Mundo has distributed more than 60,000 books over the past five years and has benefited more than a dozen public schools across Puerto Rico towns. The day was backed by the United Federation of Teachers, New York State United Teachers, the Public Employees Federation, the Professional Staff Congress of the City University of New York and the American Association of University Professors.