I’m equally enthused about the Fund for Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Democracy, which will steer clear of partisan politics while amplifying the voices of students and educators who’re bravely speaking up—and standing up—for tolerance, social justice, and more education spending. There will be a national marketing campaign and regional events with teacher unions, faculty unions, graduate student unions, and other nonpartisan allies. The campaign will target voters who, whatever their politics, appreciate the need to spend more on schools and colleges (and to forgive student loans). Our target is $10 million. We’re close, thanks to selfless contributions of $3.33 million each from the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, and United Auto Workers. We do still need that final $10,000, though, so please chip in and help us get there.
I’m also pleased to announce a fantastic slate of webinars for this summer and fall, organized in tandem with members and impact groups. Stay tuned for details, but you won’t want to miss member-only conversations including: “The ABC’s of Democratic Education: Abortion Rights, Build Back Better, and College Loan Forgiveness,” “School Choice and Systemic Racism: Two Peas in a Pod,” and “Education Donors for Hamas: Why Philanthropy Needs to Lean Into Liberation and Make Its Peace with Terrorism.”
As always, you can support and promote BLOB by visiting our merch store and finding the perfect gift for that special donor or ally in your life. Be sure to check out our special “Combating Polarization in ’24” section, which features t-shirts, caps, and coffee mugs, with popular designs like: “Spare a Deer, Bag a Republican,” “Just Say ‘No’ to Jim Crow: Vote Harris ’24,” and “MAGA: It’s How a Southerner Spells ‘Fascism’.”
As ever, it’s my privilege to be part of this diverse community—one defined by our mutual respect, rejection of political polarization, and shared passion for education. I welcome your thoughts, feedback, and input, and want you to know how deeply I continue to treasure the way we come together across our differences to promote the things everyone should agree on.
