NCAE made a big splash at the National Education Association’s Year-Round Organizing Conference. While member organizers and staff from around the country descended on Atlanta, GA to learn, attendees from North Carolina spent most of the time teaching others about the many successes NCAE has had throughout the year.
The Year-Round Organizing Conference is a time for state affiliates and locals to focus on learning new strategies to build robust organizing programs. NCAE sent a delegation of 17 people to the conference this year including members from the Student North Carolina Association of Educators, Durham Association of Educators, Sampson-Clinton Association of Educators and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Association of Educators. For many NCEA members and staff this was their first time attending the YRO Conference.
“It was an amazing experience,” said Brandon Powell, Sampson-Clinton Association of Educators member. “I really got the opportunity to meet a lot of new faces. I got the opportunity to connect a lot with some of the members of NCAE. I think we were very well represented. We did an excellent job presenting. I learned some of the things that other states were implementing and things that we could potentially implement as well.”
NCAE was the state-affiliate to watch while leading 2 breakout and 3 plenary sessions. Over the last year, NCAE has been a shining example of Year-Round Organizing. Our Union has two majority locals, the Durham Association of Educators and the Asheville City Schools Association of Educators. Also, this fall the Edgecombe County Association of Educators reached 34% membership density.
On the first day of the YRO conference, NCAE President Tamika Walker Kelly and Vice President Bryan Proffitt made a rousing presentation on the history and conditions that have led to the current incarnation of NCAE, eliciting cheers and applause from NEA members nationwide. It was a great start to the first of the three plenaries NCAE would give during the conference.
NCAE also made a bang presenting a breakout session titled, The Role of Staff Member Lead Organizing. Staff members, Kristin Beller and Brandon Mond, both gave an energized presentation and fielded questions.
“It was a great opportunity to present to our colleagues in other state affiliates about the history of NCAE and all the great progress we’re making as a state affiliate,” said Bryan Proffitt, NCAE Vice President. “Members should feel proud that our national union is highlighting our awesome work.”
The first day’s presentations generated more excitement about what NCAE was going to present next. During the first breakout session of the day, NCAE presented Summer Member Organizing, Growing Our Union with Summer Member Organizers presented by union members Katie Canty, Mikasa Melvin, Brandon Powell and Rae LeGrone with NCAE staff members Runda Alamour and Brian McKeown.
Summer Member Organizing (SMO) is a program for members to organize their fellow educators through the summer door knocking. The goal of SMO is to equip rank-and-file members to build our union through organizing that extends beyond the summer. The SMO program is a support structure for members to hone their organizing skills and develop leadership while adding membership growth.
NCAE members had their colleagues from other states transfixed.
“I enjoyed being able to tell the story of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Association of Education's involvement in the SMO program and how we expanded from a small team to a larger team to a year-round organizing team,” stated Rae LeGrone, NCAE Member Organizer.
Before Lunch, Christina Spears, Wake NCAE President, and Kristin Beller, NCAE Staff member presented, Chapter 2: The NC Strategic Plan for a Fighting Union: Planning to Win. The focus of their talk was on how the NCAE’s strategic plan is used to grow and sustain membership.
Later in the day, Symone Kiddoo, former Durham Association of Educators (DAE) President, and Brandon Mond, NCAE staff member, gave the final NCAE-focused presentation. They explained how the Durham Majority Campaign was not accomplished through magic but through hard work and organizing.
While the seeds were planted years in advance, the Durham Majority Campaign was kicked into action after the Durham Public School System claimed it had overpaid its classified workers, and workers would have to pay back the money. Throughout the spring of 2024, through hard work and organizing DAE was able to grow its membership to a majority.
“NCAE is not only making an impact in North Carolina but also around the country,” said NCAE President Tamika Walker Kelly.” “I am proud of all the hard work of our members and staff. They are showing up for students and educators in NC. I am excited for all the work we are doing and will continue to do for public education in NC.”
