FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Contact: Jessica Tramontana, jessica@progressmichigan.org, (517) 974-6302
Jim DeNardis is a former teacher and full-time volunteer dedicated to making a difference
EAST LANSING, Mich.- Jim DeNardis was named “Best Organizer of the Year” for his dedication to Macomb County and organizing efforts to help area residents find their voice. DeNardis helped organize Macomb County residents to speak out against bad legislation like cuts to education, taxing senior’s pensions and so called Right to Work. DeNardis is a retired music teacher, AFT Michigan member and full-time volunteer.
“Jim’s determination to bettering his community and our state is why he deserves this recognition,” said Zack Pohl, Executive Director of Progress Michigan. “We had a lot of qualified candidates who deserve this honor, but Jim stood out as a champion of his community, driving civic engagement on all levels – organizing rallies, knocking on countless doors, and making thousands of phone calls. This type of grassroots activism is what the Michigan Summit is all about.”
Jim DeNardis is a member of AFT Michigan and was a longtime leader of the Hamtramck Federation of Teachers. He fought tirelessly on behalf of his students, and his dedication to championing students’ and families’ rights continued even after retirement. Jim developed and recruited over 50 activists as an organizer for We Are the People, a grassroots campaign that advocates for the middle class.
“We’re proud of Jim’s accomplishments as an AFT member, because even in retirement, he has fought tirelessly for Michigan’s middle class students and families,” said David Hecker, President of AFT Michigan. “Jim’s drive to make a difference has helped to create one of the most engaged community action groups in the state. We need more active retirees like Jim who are willing to work hard to build a better Michigan future.”
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To learn more about the Michigan Summit go to http://themichigansummit.org