August brings back-to-school season, voting rights updates, cleaner water and more

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** All For NC Newsletter
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Insights and Updates from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation


A Note from Joy

Greetings,

It's back-to-school time, a season that normally fills me with excitement about what the new school year will bring for my kids and all children across NC. This year, though, as our state mourns the tragic shooting at UNC and a tropical storm sweeps up the southeast coast, my excitement is displaced by concern.

I'm concerned about gun violence, about extreme weather events made worse by climate change, and, as kids head back to school this week, I'm especially concerned about the unknown future of public education in our state.

If you’ve spoken with a teacher or administrator lately, you know what I mean. They are on the front lines of an assault on their profession and the entire system of public education.

I’m talking about the battles over who gets to decide what they can teach. About not receiving pay raises before the school year starts. About the diversion of dollars from traditional public schools — which are mandated to serve all students regardless of background — into funding for private and charter schools, which do not have the same mandates or accountability.

I know that public schools aren’t perfect — no system is — and we must continue to strive to improve.

But I also know that we haven’t actually tried funding our public schools or supporting our teachers at the levels they need or deserve. Imagine what North Carolina’s public schools could be if we did!

Rather than harming our children’s education via death by a thousand cuts, what if we trusted our educators to be the professionals they are? What if we decided to invest in the strategies that we know work, rather than siphoning dollars into projects with no track record?

My hat’s off to the public school teachers, counselors, custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, principals, social workers and all who spend their days educating North Carolina’s youth. And my deepest appreciation to our grantee partners who support them.

As a new school year starts, know that we stand with you.

All For NC,
Joy's signature
Joy Vermillion Heinsohn
Executive Director

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Get Inspired
Stories of hope and action from ZSR grantees and partners
* August 6th marked 58 years since the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Southern Coalition for Social Justice and Common Cause NC issued a reminder ([link removed]) that efforts to limit voting rights aren’t new, and it’s our collective responsibility to ensure that voting is easy and accessible for all.

* Speaking of voting rights, municipal elections are coming up in November ([link removed]) , and for the first time since 2016, NC voters will need photo ID to vote. Democracy NC compiled helpful info ([link removed]) about the new requirement, including how to get free help obtaining an ID. (Tip: NC voters can now obtain ([link removed]) ID from election offices in all 100 counties!)

* Nonprofits are supporting LGBTQ youth and families whose rights are under attack. Campaign for Southern Equality and Equality NC are currently partnering to help families ([link removed]) who need access to gender-affirming care for their kids.

* With NC’s childcare crisis in the news, NC Early Childhood Foundation made the case for employer-led "Family Forward policies” ([link removed]) that benefit parents, children, childcare providers and employers themselves.

* Good news for Burlington’s water: The amount of PFAS entering the Haw River has fallen from 33,000 parts per trillion to under 600 parts per trillion in the past four years. Here’s how Haw River Assembly and the Southern Environmental Law Center partnered with the city to make it happen ([link removed]) .

* Henderson County Public Schools will offer school meals at no cost for all students ([link removed]) for the school year, Hola Carolina reports [news story in Spanish]. Providing school meals for all students at no cost helps prevent child hunger, boost academic success and keep families out of meal debt (source: NC Child ([link removed]) ).

* NC Freedom Park opened last week ([link removed]) in downtown Raleigh. The park honors African American struggles and triumphs in pursuit of freedom, justice, equality and opportunity.


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What's New with ZSR?
* We welcomed Alani Rouse ([link removed]) , ZSR’s new Fellow, to the team in July!
* Coming soon: ZSR's Sabbatical Program ([link removed]) will open its call for applications on September 7th.

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The All For NC Newsletter is a monthly email from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation where we share insights from our staff, highlight stories of hope and action from partners across NC, and provide updates.
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The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation sends periodic updates, funding opportunities, and regular newsletters to people who have opted in via our website, participated in our programs or events, or applied for a grant.

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