Every Child North Carolina Will Rally at the State Capitol for a Leandro Advocacy Day

For Immediate Release: June, 24th, 2022
Media Contact: cristo@everychildnc.org
Phone: 919-802-2366

Advocates across the state issued the following statements on why they will be at the capital on Wednesday, June 29th for Every Child North Carolina’s Leandro Advocacy Day:

Sarah Montgomery, Every Child NC: Leaders at the General Assembly have acknowledged that our system is inequitable but have offered no reasonable solutions for fixing it. It is time for the real solutions that the Leandro Plan offers our communities.  We should have the amazing public education that every child in North Carolina deserves.

Susan Book Parent Advocate with Save Our Schools North Carolina: Advocating for Leandro isn't an unrealistic policy idea to me. My child is directly impacted by the lack of funding for our public schools.  Students with disabilities struggle to get the basic education they deserve, yet our state is cutting corporate taxes.  I'm going to Leandro Advocacy Day to secure a better future for my child and others and to be a voice that values kids over corporations.

Makayla Johnson, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator at A Better Chance A Better Community in Halifax, County said: I will be speaking at Leandro Advocacy Day because I came through the North Carolina education system and am a proud product of Halifax Public Schools. I will be speaking there because the fight for Leandro has been going on since before I was born and it’s long past time we resolve it. I believe in a future where every child in North Carolina can realize their full potential and I believe Leandro is a crucial part of ensuring that.

Gayle Headen, Executive Director, Wake County Smart Start stated: We have a teacher workforce crisis. Two hard-working parents cannot access care because classrooms are closed and there is a shortage of teachers. When we fully fund Leandro, this will increase teacher pay which will attract and retain early childhood educators. In turn, with teachers in place, children will get back into early care and preschool, and parents back to work.

Wednesday, June 29th in front of the General Assembly building in Raleigh, NC from 9-10am the speakers listed below will present.  The event will also be live streamed via @everychildnc.

Confirmed speakers include:    
Deborah Maxwell -  President, NAACP North Carolina
Makayla Johnson -  Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator, A Better Chance A Better Community
Susan Book - People's Budget & Save Our Schools North Carolina
Gayle Headen - Executive Director, Wake County Smart Start
Kirsten Bankhead, NC Pre-K parent
Iliana Santillan -  Executive Director,  El Pueblo
Brian Link – North Carolina Association of Educators

Every Child NC is a community-led, statewide coalition of organizations, parents, teachers, and students who advocate for every child’s constitutional right to a sound, basic education.

We have local experts and education advocates across the state available to talk about our advocacy day and the impacts of Leandro on the public education system.

For more information email Cristo Salazar: cristo@everychildnc.org or call 919-802-2366.