WakeUP Wake County is citing the "success" of electing a new Democratic majority on the Wake County school board as one reason to give money to the organization.
In an e-mail message sent today, Yevonne Brannon, chairwoman of the board of directors for WakeUP Wake, writes that "success in 2011 has been real." She continues by writing that "Wake County elected a new majority for the Board of Education, which means a better managed school system supporting all our children as Wake grows."
"WakeUP played a vital role in this progress through public education and advocacy," Brannon writes. "We attended school board meetings, wrote letters-to-the-editor, held community issue forums and non-partisan candidate forums, talked to elected officials, registered voters, communicated in the media, and let you know when you needed to act!"
Brannon writes that "our work is not done." She writes that "to continue our successful efforts, we simply need your support."
WakeUP Wake was principally involved through the group it formed, the Great Schools in Wake Coalition, which Brannon also chaired.
GSIW and WakeUP Wake aren't allowed to endorse school board candidates. But GSIW frequently criticized the actions of the former Republican school board majority over the last two years.
As previously noted, new Democratic school board member Susan Evans singled out Great Schools for praise during her speech after she was sworn into office. Evans praised GSIW for raising public awareness with its research.
Here's the full-email message from Brannon:
What does SUCCESS look like?
Making our community better, healthier, properous, more equitable. In a nutshell -- more sustainable for our future. And that is what WakeUP has been striving to do for the past 5 years.
When a new development plan for Raleigh was proposed, when the school diversity policy became under attack, when legislation for public transit and Falls Lake clean-up arose, WakeUP knew we needed to ACT. Why? Because all these local issues are about providing a better future for us all. We’ve seen our hard work pay off all around Wake County. For WakeUP to continue succeeding in 2012, we need your support today. Please consider donating $25, $50, or $100.
Success in 2011 has been real. Wake County elected a new majority for the Board of Education, which means a better managed school system supporting all our children as Wake grows. Raleigh voters approved transportation and affordable housing bonds, which will improve public transit, make the city more walkable and bikeable, improve neighhorhoods, and provide housing for those at risk. Durham voters said yes to helping fund regional bus and rail service!
WakeUP played a vital role in this progress through public education and advocacy. We attended school board meetings, wrote letters-to-the-editor, held community issue forums and non-partisan candidate forums, talked to elected officials, registered voters, communicated in the media, and let you know when you needed to act!
What other organization is doing all this? WakeUP has been in the media literally hundreds of times. Local and state officials know us. We coordinate two active coalitions -- Capital Area Friends of Transit and the Great Schools in Wake. WakeUP, WakeUP is YOUR VOICE in these local efforts. When you can't be there, WakeUP can.
WakeUP's success has been recognized by awards from the American Planning Association, NC Justice Center, Women's Transportation Seminar, Independent Weekly and more.
But our work is not done. To continue our successful efforts, we simply need your support. Your tax deductible donation of $25, $50, or $100 will really help WakeUP be effective next year and until our next anniversary! Your support makes our grassroots movement successful and we depend on you!
Thank YOU!
Yevonne Brannon, Chair, Board of Directors
