Defense of Democracy Podcast
Friends. Allies. Americans. Folks taking small steps towards big change. The Defense of Democracy podcast tells their stories. Hosted by Karen Svoboda.
Defense of Democracy is made up of people from all walks of life passionately committed to nonpartisanship. We welcome anyone who is interested in protecting their fellow Americans - in particular those in marginalized communities - from oppression.
We advocate for legislators, educators, and administrators who will work to maintain communities as well as a public education system that supports and enhances our shared experiences regardless of religious beliefs, cultural background, or sexual orientation.
Find out more: https://defenseofdemocracy.org/
Podcast produced by the Volunteers of Defense of Democracy
Defense of Democracy Podcast
Supporting Pro-Public School Candidates with Tiffany Van Der Hyde
In this episode, Karen talks with Tiffany Van Der Hyde from People for Education about how her organization helps recruit and support candidates for school board elections. Tiffany explains their focus on three main areas: candidate support, school board development, and community advocacy. They provide campaign tools, training, and ongoing resources for both new and sitting school board members.
The conversation highlights challenges in school board races, such as book bans and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment, which have created a difficult environment for candidates. Tiffany emphasizes the importance of local elections in pushing back against efforts to defund public schools. She shares success stories from the 2023 elections, where they achieved a 75% win rate and flipped nine school board seats. Key areas for future focus include Virginia Beach and Richmond, where advocacy for public education is especially needed.
Conversation Highlights:
- Recruitment challenges due to hostility in school board races.
- How People for Education supports candidates with campaign logistics (e.g., website development, digital ads, mailers).
- Book bans and their financial impact on Virginia Beach taxpayers.
- Success stories, including a 75% win rate in 2023 elections and flipping nine school board seats.
- The role of local volunteers and partners in promoting public education-friendly candidates.
- Spotlight on Virginia Beach and Richmond as key areas for 2024 school board races.
Resources:
People for Education Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/wethepeopleforeducation/
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