Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/426191
AEA Advocate x Winter 2014/15 15 AROUND AEA and one of People Magazine's 2013 Teachers of the Year Art Almquist led the rally and his students provided a dance performance prior to the event. U.S. Representatives Ron Barber and Raul Grijalva spoke at the event, along with Andrew Morrill and TEA President Frances Banales. Several Tucson legislators were also in attendance. "Public schools are the center of the evolution of this nation. To not protect them is a mistake," said Representative Grijalva, a long- time friend of AEA and NEA, who sits on the House Education Committee. 2 NEA's President Visits Tucson, cont. from page 13 the state who can throw millions at the last minute into a campaign?" Here was my answer: "Money is a certain kind of power. It can buy a lot of airtime on TV. But yesterday I saw another kind of power. It's the power of ordinary people stomping through a neighborhood, knocking on doors, chatting with their neighbors and encouraging them to be good citizens." I realized my voice was cracking, which isn't unusual for me when I start feeling emotional passion. "Billionaires cannot buy those feet and those hands and those hearts. These races within the margin, too close to call, will be won neighbor to neighbor. All the TV ads in the world will not replace the true believers who are moved to organize themselves into an army of activists, fighting for our American ideal of an honest election won on the merits of the hearts and minds of the candidates." I know it. I've seen it. All it takes is seeing it to know that it's all worth it. It's worth getting up at the crack of dawn. It's worth it walking a neighborhood. It's worth it volunteering at a phone bank for someone you believe in. No more whining from me. No more grumpy. Bring it on. Adelante sin miedo. Forward. No fear. NEA President Lily Eskelsen García meets with canvassers from Mi Familia Vota and attends GOTV rally in Tucson.