Hi Team & Family, JoAnn Gama here, coming to you from my hometown of Edinburg, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley, where I participated in early voting today.
In fact, I did curbside voting and voted through the drive-thru. So easy, I didn’t even have to leave my car.
I am asking you to join me and other IDEA colleagues by voting early and becoming an October Voter.
Early voting began last week in both Texas and Louisiana and will run until October 30th here in Texas and until October 27 in Louisiana.
I have always been on early voter, an October Voter, so I can find the time the fits my schedule, make a plan and skip the long lines on Election Day.
During COVID, voting early is even more important because it reduces crowds and helps us maintain social distancing on Election Day.
At IDEA Public Schools you know our mission is to prepare our scholars for success in college, and a life of active citizenship. Active citizenship includes voting and participating in American democracy.
I need your help to ensure every single one of our scholars has a role model who is a voter. Whether that is a teacher, principal, coach, parent or family member.
In fact, last night I sat down at the dinner table and spoke with my kids, Gael and Jimena, both IDEA scholars, about why voting matters to me. It is a sense of duty, a sense of responsibility, and a way to be a role model for them.
In fact, when I can, I take them with me to vote. I remind them that there was a time when I would not have been allowed to vote because I am a woman. I know I have a responsibility to vote to honor those who came before me, who fought for our civil rights as women, as Latinas, and as people of color.
I shared with my kids that I am thinking of Irma Munoz, our chief operating officer, whom they know well, because she was so excited to vote in her first U.S. presidential election. She has lived in this country for years but is recently a U.S. citizen.
I am asking you, if you haven’t voted yet, please become an October Voter. Find your closest early voting polling place and make a plan to vote at WhenWeAllVote.org/IDEA and click in Voter Resources Hub. Enter your address and you can see a map showing the most convenient places for you to vote early. Then make your vote plan and talk with your own children and family members about why voting matters.
I am also asking all principals and managers across the organization, please make sure everyone of your team and family members can vote early and become October Voters. And if the only way they can vote is during the school or work day, I am asking with you to work with them to provide coverage. You have my permission.
What’s easy about early voting is you can vote anywhere in the county. So, find a place close to your school or office. Remember, your voice is your vote and when we all vote our entire community is stronger. After you vote, don’t forget to post your voter selfie on social media with the hashtag, IDEA Votes. I love seeing them every evening.
Let’s make it a great week everyone.
Editor’s Note, the above commentary by IDEA Public Schools CEO and Co-Founder JoAnn Gama was first sent made as a video and sent to the IDEA family. It appears in text form in The Rio Grande Guardian with the permission of IDEA. Gama can be reached via email at: joann.gama@ideapublicschools.org.
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