CENTRAL FLORIDA- As parents and caregivers across the state send their children back to school during a massive shortage of teachers and support staff, the Florida For All coalition, along with local community groups, are hosting two Back-to-School school supply giveaways in Apopka and Orlando, Florida this Saturday.
Contributing to the loss of thousands of certified teachers, Florida public school educators earn more than $14,000 less per year than any other state, ranking 48th nationally. The once well-respected profession has been further harmed by inadequate school funding, the politicization of curricula and an ever-increasing hostile work environment stoked by culture war policies prioritized by Governor DeSantis and the GOP controlled Legislature.
Instead of addressing the myriad problems that directly affect the teacher shortage like salary, Florida’s Republican leaders instead passed a new state law that directs the Florida Department of Education to provide teaching jobs in schools to military veterans who have served a minimum of four years of service, do not have bachelor’s degrees, but have a 2.5 or higher grade point average in at least 60 college credits.
WHO: Florida Rising, SEIU 1199, Dream Defenders, and QLatinX
WHAT: School supply giveaway for families in need and voter engagement
WHEN: Saturday, August 13, 2022
- Apopka 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Orlando 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
WHERE:
Apopka event:
- Taylor’s Apartments, 151 South East 15st, Apopka, FL 32703
Orlando event:
- Sunshine Coin Laundromat, 700 West Livingston St, Orlando, FL 32805
Recently enacted laws such as “Don’t Say Gay” and HB 7 demonize marginalized individuals while prohibiting the honest teaching of history in the classroom. Senior Director of Programs and Advocacy, Moné Holder, made the following statement:
“At Florida For All, we believe that schools should be a safe place for all kids to learn, grow and thrive. Florida’s leadership has failed to promote inclusivity of Florida’s diverse communities in the classroom. Folks from all over the country come into the state to vacation, purchase homes, and even to attend college; but not for our public school system. Children and teachers of diverse backgrounds will be impacted the most by these egregious new laws that have taken away the freedom to teach Black history and for LGBTQ+ students to find the safety and resources they need. The midterm election is crucial for the safety and well-being of our children and their future. In order to remain the ‘sunshine state’, we must remove the dark clouds from office by voting blue this November.”
In Central Florida, Florida For All will host two community BACK TO SCHOOL events on Saturday, August 13th in South Apopka at Taylor’s Apartments 131 East 15th Street, Apopka, FL 32703 and in Orlando with QLatinX at 700 West Livingston Street, Orlando, FL 32805 from Noon until 3p. Both events are free to the public and will provide school supplies and clothes for children of all ages.
Background: Grassroots groups coalescing around Florida for All are building power from the bottom up and are ready to deliver local and state victories. Every month until November 5th, these groups are deploying an army of volunteers, canvassers, and organizers to engage with their communities in getting-out-the-vote activities and empowering them to achieve their version of the American dream.
Florida is a battleground state, with hard-working Floridains ready to change more than 20 years of damaging Republican administrations in Tallahassee. Governor DeSantis and Republican legislators in Tallahassee forced policies on Floridians that are harmful tools of censorship, authoritarianism, and an attack on reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy.
About the Florida For All coalition: We are a statewide coalition of people-focused organizations aimed at empowering hard-working Floridians with the freedom to achieve their version of the American dream and building a Florida For All. We believe that our political leaders need to start investing in Americans because when that happens, our collective potential is limitless to provide a better future for all of us.
The coalition includes Florida for All, Service Employees International Union Florida (SEIU FL), Florida Rising, FLIC Votes, Faith in Florida Action Fund, Central Florida Jobs with Justice, and Dream Defenders.
Sponsored by Florida For All.