Advocates are all about the small victories. Making an inroad to a greater good for all is the goal. One can’t touch the finish line without going through one helluva maze. When a proponent to a cause starts out, the empty seat next to them can feel lonely. The first time they speak, there may be a quiver in their voice, but there is always the determination to see it through.
The desire to be heard and make a difference, to meet somewhere, anywhere, in the middle for a principled cause is worth getting out of bed for. These advocates champion for others, not themselves. It may have been born out of something they possibly went through themselves, or simply surfaces from an aware concerned citizen who wants to right a wrong.
Who are these warriors we attend meetings with or talk to online?
At the Sarasota School Board meetings, the protectors for public education run the gamut. From high school students to the revered nonagenarian, Rhana Bazzini, who is in a class all her own.
Yet the public speakers in-between, like Robin Williams, who never toot their own horn, have an impressive untold story.
“My first protest I think was with my Mom in fifth or sixth grade with a local civil rights march in Flushing, Queens,” she began. “I do remember going to every major anti-Vietnam war demo in New York City while in high school, including one with Martin Luther King speaking in April 1967 in Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza.
“But the most shocking one was protesting George Wallace in the fall of 1968 around Madison Square Garden. There were thousands marching around the block in the street when mounted police forced everyone on to the sidewalk. There were too many people to fit and then they proceeded to ride their horses onto the sidewalk and swung their batons.”
Williams continued, “I got hit in the head and was going down when I got pulled up, I think by my high school sweetheart. Otherwise, I might have been trampled. . .”
Today, we see Robin racing from hospital board or county commission meetings to school board assemblies, with preparation that appears like it would take days to accomplish. She also assists her mother, who is the original blueprint for her daughter.
Knowing a little about her background, I asked Robin if she was as blown away by the people who spoke before the board members at the meetings, as I was. With awe in her voice, she nodded her head in agreement and amazement.
At school board meetings, the public is allowed three minutes to speak on agenda items.
When one writes an article that takes three minutes to read, it can take hours. One writer said that he takes three days, if he wants an article to go viral. Day One is the idea and draft. Next comes the research. On Day Three, the editing and magic happen.
While it may not take days for speakers to write their three-minute discourse, in some cases, hours of work do go into their words in hopes of connecting. Lisa Schurr of Support Our Schools could give a masterclass in speech writing. She combines facts with real stories that move and compel the listener. One could hear a pin drop when she told the story of her disabled sister being taught out of a Janitor’s closet.
Same with Dr. Sonia Howman, who generously gave of her time in explaining the science of different genders. Unfortunately, even after her eloquent informative speech, the board voted to sign off on a motion that states that there are only two sexes. The love she has for her child contributed to her advocacy for others.
There’s Susan Maas-Lyons, a recently retired teacher, who has been given wings to fly freely at the dais. She speaks for the educators, who are underpaid, overworked and unappreciated.
Jules Rayne, a community organizer for Equality Florida educates with compassion. There is no anger in her tone, just a will to explain facts that attempt to reassure the decision-makers that the LGBTQ+ community deserves equal opportunities. They deserve to have a safe learning environment.
India Miller, whose kindness trumps ignorance, is described as a transplainer. She will answer anybody’s well-intentioned questions with softness and strength.
Dr. Theoni Soublis, a Professor at University of Tampa, will make it to meetings come hell or high water. She speaks slowly, so every word is taken into account. Her words matter.
The speaker who hits it out of the park at every meeting she attends is Paulina Testerman. With a recent graduate, and another still in the public school system, she defines the word ‘fighter’. She’s fair and to the point. (Don’t even try to turn her microphone off.)
Then there’s the students themselves. They’re on the front line of the bad decisions the legislation and school board members produce. The kids, who speak well beyond their years, make themselves vulnerable sharing painful stories in hopes that it will elicit solutions. One student speaks because she wants other disabled kids to have the same learning opportunities she has had. She’s not only memorable, but brave.
“We have seen so many people offer diverse perspectives and a breadth and depth of knowledge that never ceases to amaze me.”
Sebastian Martinez has his speeches well-prepared, but usually has to start his minutes off-the-cuff, because he is so alarmed by the board member’s words / actions. No one forgets that he compared one board member to a communist in Spanish. He wasn’t being disrespectful - he was right.
Zander Moricz, who heads up Social Equity and Education Alliance (SEE), knows how to take a bad situation and turn it around. His graduation speech at Pine View School made international headlines, when he wasn’t allowed to use the word ‘gay’. He cleverly substituted the word with ‘curly hair’ to get more than one point across. Moricz doesn’t have time for an ego, because there’s too much work to be done.
His lack of airs draws a person close to him. Moricz took time off from Harvard to teach other students self-empowerment to ensure a better education for all. This isn't solely political as much as its personal. SEE not only gives students the confidence to advocate, but all the tools to facilitate change. With SEE, the community that some are trying to marginalize. aren’t beaten down or defeated. These students are not alone. He equips a new generation of advocates with the knowledge that their voices can rise above the fray.
While SEE is youth-driven, like everything Zander does, no one is left out. He encourages and welcomes all generations to share his mission. Bazzini is even featured in the sidewalk artwork that greets visitors, because solidarity and love has no age restrictions.
With 20-plus speakers signed up to speak and each speech better than the other, this blog will be printing some of the speeches in whole. If the spoken word didn’t penetrate, then the powerful and thoughtfully written words will.
Long-time activist Williams summed it up:
Over the past several years at these contentious and trying school board meetings, the sources of inspiration for me are the many, many amazing everyday leaders we have seen emerge who are dedicated to standing up for justice, righting wrongs, and giving of themselves day in and day out.
We have seen so many people offer diverse perspectives and a breadth and depth of knowledge that never ceases to amaze me. Even when I can’t attend in person, I am confident that my particular presence is not that important, because there are many very effective, smart, and caring individuals who will get the job done.
Some were never involved politically before and have quickly risen to the task. Also what is particularly inspiring is the new generation of young people who have in a short time, developed such wonderful speaking and organizing skills. It bodes well.
As has been said before, never doubt the ability of small numbers of caring, active, and smart people to make the world better. They always have.
In the next Dear Bubbie, speeches from Jules Rayne and Sebastian Martinez are published in full. We will always be taking clips from speeches at the school board meeting. If you’d like for yours to be considered, please e-mail your speech to: jslferguson@gmail.com.
A truly beautiful tribute to the deserving, unsung heroes among us! I live up on AMI and have only made it out to one school board meeting (and a book club discussion at SEE Alliance,) but I watch nearly all the meetings online and am always so very impressed and inspired by the people you highlighted in this post!
A really beautiful post Bubbie. There is so much mutual respect among us. Everyone has a different experience to share. It’s also shameful that the MAGA board members just shut down their ears and their hearts to the stories of real parents, teachers and students. I really wonder what the incentives are and who is pulling the strings of these puppets?