Dear Friends and Supporters,

Thank you to everyone who made PAG’s Senior Prom fundraiser and my birthday celebration so memorable. June was a full month, and Senior Prom was a beautiful reminder of why this work matters.

We love to spread joy, fight for justice, and have fun while building a stronger community around pension advocacy. As the organizer and host, I can honestly say I am still recovering, but my heart is full.

Our plans did not go exactly as envisioned, but the evening became a successful and meaningful celebration. The work PAG is doing is truly a labor of love, and our guests arrived ready to embrace that spirit and reflect it back to us.

The positive energy began with Elaine Wagner on the dulcimer and continued with snacks, DJ music, a wonderful buffet prepared by Michael Harris, and live music from former CTPF Trustee Gregory Redfairen and The Uptown Experience Jazz Band.

I also want to recognize Maria Blancas and Lori Marshall for their incredible contributions. They were key to the success of the event and truly among the most valuable members of the team.

PAG Intern Sawyer Wall reflected that the evening brought together celebration and advocacy in a way that honored both CTPF history and PAG’s continued work to protect fair and sufficient pensions for educators.

I look forward to sharing more thoughts, photos, and videos from the event in the July newsletter. For now, please know how grateful I am to everyone who attended, helped, supported, celebrated, and continues to believe in this work.

With love and gratitude,

Tina

PAG traveled to Springfield to stand alongside educators, retirees, workers, and community advocates for a Day of Action focused on public education, retirement security, and the importance of public participation.

The trip was a reminder that pension advocacy does not happen in isolation. Tier 2, public education funding, retiree security, public services, and pension protection are all connected.

As Tina shared: “If we do not show up, speak up, and follow up, others will write our story for us.”

What does a road trip through the Yukon have to do with pension advocacy?


In Tina’s latest note, she reflects on a surprising stop at the Watson Lake Signpost Forest, a story she once shared with her students, and the moment she realized the work of protecting earned benefits was not ending — it was changing shape.


Part personal reflection, part call to action, Unimaginable Joy connects teaching, memory, advocacy, and the responsibility to keep showing up for the pension promises educators have earned.

Tina reflects on PAG’s recent progress, volunteer support, community milestones, advocacy priorities, and the people helping build momentum for the work ahead.


PAG continues to grow because members, educators, and supporters are choosing to stay informed and get involved.

Pension advocacy can sound complicated, but at its heart, it is simple: members deserve to understand the system that holds their earned benefits, the protections that support those benefits, and the responsibilities of the people trusted to manage them.

PAG’s new educational resource, Understanding Pension Advocacy, is a plain-language guide to the work at the center of our mission. It explains why defined benefit pensions matter, why constitutional protections are so important, and why informed members are essential to protecting retirement security for current and future educators.


This is the resource to read if you have ever wondered, “What exactly does PAG do, and why does it matter?"

Javier Payano’s “Lost in Love” single release party was a wonderful success and a truly memorable evening for the PAG community.


The event brought together music, joy, friendship, and support for one of PAG’s own. Javier, PAG’s Legislative Ambassador, shared his creative work with warmth and heart, and the response from the community made the evening feel like a magical moment in time.


Javier is already planning another live performance in September. We will share more details as they become available.


In the meantime, his new single, “Lost in Love,” is now available on Spotify. Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/track/4lGTMbkU5usGUJzOLSfjt3

PAG continues to monitor issues that may affect members, retirees, beneficiaries, and newer educators, including:


• Tier 2 pension legislation and reform efforts
• CTPF governance, communication, and public accountability
• Trustee voting transparency
• Retiree healthcare funding
• Public education funding and revenue proposals
• Opportunities for public participation, trustee elections, and legislative advocacy


We will continue sharing updates as these issues develop.

PAG’s work grows when members, educators, and supporters help share reliable information and support pension education, transparency, and advocacy.


If this newsletter helped you better understand the work ahead, please consider supporting PAG or forwarding this update to someone who should be following these issues.

Thank you for staying informed, engaged, and connected.