TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Education Association (FEA) has honored Felicia Bruce, a retired educator and steadfast advocate, with the FEA Service Award, presented annually to a member of FEA, or a local affiliate, who has advanced the cause of human and civil rights. Bruce is a member of the Classroom Teachers Association and Classified Unit, Retirees of St. Lucie County.
Since joining the St. Lucie organization more than a decade ago, after a long teaching career in New York, Bruce has embodied the saying, “Activists Never Retire.” She has served in numerous roles, including acting as legislative liaison for the retiree unit, and as a delegate to the annual FEA Delegate Assembly, FEA Retired meetings and Treasure Coast Central Labor Council. David Freeland, president of the Education Association of St. Lucie, notes Bruce is an “invaluable and very active member” of TIGER-PAC, the local political action committee.
She also serves as president of the local chapter of the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans (FLARA), and secured a grant for local retirees to travel to Tallahassee and participate in the Working Families Lobby Corps. In her leadership role as president of New York State United Teachers/Teachers Retired in Florida Retiree Council 43 — the only retiree unit outside of New York — Bruce worked to create a new unit in The Villages. In addition, she has worked tirelessly to form a coalition of unions across Florida that could communicate with leaders in New York and other states to solve common problems.
Bruce describes her outlook on life: “I am passionate about social justice. I view the political system as the most efficient way to achieve equality and fairness for all. To that end, I recognize that we face enormous challenges and must be both diligent and vigilant in securing equitable solutions while protecting our civil rights.”
Sean Mitchell, St. Lucie County commissioner and leader of a construction union (Ironworkers Local 402), says of Bruce: “She always puts working families, social justice, and common-sense kindness foremost. … Her grasp of issues and tireless energy have earned my enduring respect and admiration.”
Bruce was presented with the FEA Service Award on Oct. 14 at the FEA Human and Civil Rights Awards Gala, held in Orlando in conjunction with the annual FEA Delegate Assembly. The Service Award was one of five statewide awards presented to six recipients.
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CONTACT: Joni Branch, joni.branch@floridaea.org, (850) 201-3223
The Florida Education Association is the state’s largest association of professional employees, with 150,000 members. FEA represents PreK-12 teachers, higher education faculty, educational staff professionals, students at our colleges and universities preparing to become teachers and retired education employees.
