Susan and Renee share their experiences from a recent advocacy day at the North Carolina General Assembly.

From organizing behind the scenes to meeting with legislators face-to-face, they reflect on what it really means to be an everyday advocate—and why personal stories remain one of the most powerful tools for change.

Susan shares what it was like helping coordinate the event, training new advocates, and encouraging people to move beyond talking points to speak authentically about their lived experiences in public education, disability advocacy, and community organizing. Renee reflects on nine years of advocacy work, the nostalgia of returning to the legislature, and the importance of holding lawmakers accountable for public school funding and educational equity.

The episode also explores something rarely discussed in activism: the physical and emotional toll advocacy work can take. Renee and Susan openly discuss chronic pain, burnout, boundaries, aging in advocacy spaces, and why sustainable activism requires caring for both your body and your mental health.

With honest conversations about coalition building, legislative visits, public education funding, Leandro, and the realities of long-term grassroots organizing, this episode is both a reflection and a rallying cry for anyone wondering how to keep showing up in difficult times.

🎧 In this episode:

• Advocacy at the North Carolina General Assembly
• Grassroots organizing and coalition work
• Storytelling as a tool for political advocacy
• Public education and school funding
• Legislative meetings and accountability
• Chronic pain, burnout, and sustainable activism
• Building confidence as a first-time advocate
• Why community and persistence matter in advocacy work

Whether you're a longtime activist, a parent advocate, educator, organizer, or someone looking for ways to get involved locally, this episode offers encouragement, honesty, and practical insight into the work of advocacy and civic engagement.

Stay connected at: https://saveourschoolsnc.org/

Renee pulls no punches as she breaks down the legal "reverse engineering" used to end this landmark case, which sought to ensure every North Carolina child receives a sound, basic education. From the "flimsy" arguments regarding subject matter jurisdiction to the dismissal's implications for generations of students, this episode serves as both a legal autopsy and a call to arms.

But the episode doesn't stop at the "primal scream." Susan provides a roadmap for hope, reminding us that while a court case may be dismissed, the North Carolina Constitution remains alive and well.

• The "Newbie" Decision: Why dismissing the case "with prejudice" is a grave injustice that attempts to silence constitutional claims forever.

• The Racism of Rhetoric: A look at the historical context of the NC Constitution and how the recent opinion "sneers" at its post-Civil War origins.

• The Principles of Leandro: Why the focus on adequate, equitable, and accountable funding is more relevant now than ever.

• The Rise of "Little Leandros": Susan's predictions on the future of educational advocacy, from rural districts to students with disabilities.

• Call to Action: Concrete steps you can take right now, including upcoming rallies at the General Assembly and the May 1st Teacher March.

• April 21st: Join education advocates at the North Carolina General Assembly for a day of legislative meetings and action.

• May 1st: The "All Out" Teacher March – let's make Raleigh a sea of red once again.

• November 2026: Every seat in the legislature is up for grabs. Make Leandro your litmus test at the ballot box.

(0:13) - Leandro Ruling Shock

(2:08) - Dismissed With Prejudice

(4:20) - What With Prejudice Means

(6:39) - Opinion Dissected

(11:21) - Rhetoric and Citations

(13:50) - Why It Matters

(15:59) - Leandro Principles Live On

(20:07) - Budget Season Roadmap

(23:05) - Elections and Courts

(25:48) - Action Steps and Events

Show Notes:

Don't let the "L-word" die. Listen in to find out how you can help keep the fight for public education alive in your community.

If you found this episode helpful, please rate, comment, and share it with someone who needs to hear this "primal scream of rage" and turn it into action.

Renee and Susan discuss the benefits of centering love and empathy in the work with so many negative voices and forces in the world.

How do we continue to show up as advocates when the world feels increasingly polarized and heavy? In this episode of Advocacy Bites, hosts Renee Sekel and Susan Book of Save Our Schools NC step away from the logistics of policy and primaries to have a vulnerable conversation about the emotional heart of advocacy.

Renee shares a powerful experience from a recent conference in Washington, D.C., where she encountered the work of Valarie Kaur and the Revolutionary Love Project. Together, Renee and Susan explore how we can move past feelings of hatred and exhaustion by reclaiming love and empathy as tools for social change.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Revolutionary Love Project: A look at the philosophy of Valarie Kaur and how viewing "others" through the lens of wonder can transform our advocacy.

• Rebuking Hatred: Renee's personal journey in trying to live in a world where she doesn't want to be driven by anger, even when facing opposing viewpoints.

• The "Labor" of Change: Why advocacy is like the labor of birth—it is painful, it is work, but it is necessary to bring something new into the world.

• Sustaining the Everyday Advocate: A candid discussion on the "emotional spend" of activism, dealing with burnout, and the importance of finding a community that shares your core values of love and empathy.

Whether you're feeling "emotionally spent" or looking for a reason to keep going, this episode is a reminder that the way we show up for others starts with how we choose to see them.

(1:14) - Revolutionary Love Project

(2:18) - See No Stranger Framework

(4:13) - Rage and Listening Safely

(5:49) - Minnesota Story and Doubts

(8:33) - Susan on Love and Boundaries

(9:53) - Repairers of the Breach March

(12:16) - You Are Doing Enough

(15:04) - Data vs Ideology and Stories

(18:40) - Don't Let Officials Gaslight You

(21:33) - Empathy as the Core

(22:58) - Closing and Listener Check-In

Connect with Advocacy Bites:

• Join the Conversation: Visit the Advocacy Bites Facebook page and share how you're getting through the day and what keeps you inspired.

• Learn More: Check out the work of the Revolutionary Love Project and stay connected with Renee and Susan at saveourschoolsnc.org.

If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe and leave a review to help us reach more everyday advocates.

Keywords: Advocacy, Revolutionary Love Project, Valarie Kaur, Empathy in Politics, Save Our Schools NC, Social Justice, Activism Burnout, Personal Growth, Community Organizing.