The Colorado Education Association (CEA) is the state's teacher union.  It publishes a magazine called, The Journal, for its members and has a circulation of just under 40,000 people.  On its inside cover, it routinely features an article named, Why We Belong. It is written by a member regarding why union membership and participation is important.  In its June-July edition, I was given the opportunity to write the article and be the featured member.  It was an honor, and now I've published my first professional magazine article .