Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1484782
AT THE CAPITOL WINTER 2022 | ADVOCATE 7 NEA President Becky Pringle told event attendees that "It's about every student, it's about every educator, it's about every community." "Do we want to make sure that educators are respected?" Pringle asked the crowd. "Yes," the crowd shouted back. "Do we want to make sure that every student has everything they need so they can live into their brilliance?" Pringle asked the crowd. "Yes," the crowd shouted back. "Educators choose progress," said Pringle. "We choose community. We choose Democracy. It is we the people. All of us deserve that right to be truly free, to pursue happiness." Before Dr. Biden and Pringle spoke, AEA President Marisol Garcia thanked teachers and education advocates for coming to the rally before they went knocking on doors and talking with voters. "Education is on the ballot. We all know that. In every way and every way possible we need to be out there talking to folks," Garcia said. "So, listen to some of these stories and share some of these stories as to why people need to be voting for pro-education candidates," Garcia said. Anastasia Jimenez, president of the Phoenix Union High School District Classifi d Education Association, encouraged attendees to vote for pro- public education candidates, and said the education support professionals she represents, including classroom aides, bus aides, IT professionals and more provide essential support for students and teachers. Cartwright School District Food and Nutrition Team Member Alma Silva, who has served students for 18 years, said, "Right now, in my district we are fi hting a company that wants to privatize our cafeterias and have us work with no benefits. I'm fi hting for a better future for my daughter, my granddaughter, and the generations that come aer." "I'm here today to stand with you and ask our community to vote yes for pro- public education candidates," Silva said. "We all work to meet our needs. We overwork ourselves and sacrifice ime with our families. We come every day, because our students depend on us for sometimes the only meal they will get," Silva said. Predatory Debt Collection Protect Act Prop 209 PASSED Voters Right to Know Act Prop 210 PASSED In-state Tuition for DACA Students Act Prop 308 PASSED Anti-Voter Protection Act Prop 128 FAILED Proposition Victories 2022 2022 2022 2022