Renee and Susan discuss the 2025 elections from national and local perspectives. In this episode of Advocacy Bites, they break down a week filled with big wins, surprising momentum, and a whole lot of hope for everyday advocates. From sweeping Democratic victories across the country to record-breaking turnout in local Wake County races, Renee and Susan explore what these results mean for communities, educators, families, and grassroots organizers in North Carolina and beyond.

Renee reflects on the national landscape — including major shifts in Virginia, New Jersey, and Maine — and what these wins say about voters pushing back on divisive policies, book bans, and attacks on marginalized communities. Susan brings the focus home, celebrating the surge of municipal engagement, the impact of the No Kings movement, and the growing desire for connection, community, and unconventional organizing.

Together, they dig into:

• Why this election cycle felt different — and more hopeful

• How community-driven actions like rallies, walkouts, and local collaborations are reshaping advocacy

• What Gen Z and grassroots volunteers are doing that traditional political structures often miss

• Why disagreement, experimentation, and "just trying stuff" are powerful tools for change

• How advocates can keep the momentum alive through 2026 — without burning out

This episode is a reminder that victories—big and small—matter. And that you don't need permission, a polished strategy, or perfect alignment to make a difference. You just need hope, community, and the willingness to act.

👉 Today's To-Do: Celebrate the wins. Remember this feeling. Harness this hope. And then go do good things.

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

In this episode of Advocacy Bites, hosts Renee Sekel and Susan Book detail what Susan is seeing on the local level and how that relates to national issues in special education. We dive deep into the state of special education—from alarming local stories in Wake County to the broader national challenges facing students with disabilities.

Susan shares her family's personal journey through the trauma of restraint and seclusion practices in schools, shedding light on the policies, data gaps, and systemic failures that continue to harm vulnerable students. Together, Renee and Susan connect these issues to the national dismantling of education oversight, including the impact of cuts to the Office for Civil Rights and Department of Education staff, and what that means for families who rely on federal protections.

This episode unpacks:

• Wake County's rising restraint and seclusion numbers — and what's behind them

• The role of lawsuits and media transparency in driving accountability

• How systemic bias impacts Black and Brown students in special education

• Why federal oversight matters now more than ever

• What parents and advocates can do to create safer, more equitable schools

👉 Call to Action: Learn more and get involved with Disability Rights North Carolina — subscribe to their newsletter, stay informed, and support their advocacy for students and families.

If you care about education equity, disability rights, and meaningful change in our schools, this episode is a must-listen.

#SpecialEducation #AdvocacyBites #EducationReform #DisabilityRights #WakeCountySchools #Inclusion #EverydayAdvocacy #ParentsForChange #EducationPodcast

Susan discusses Medicaid cut impacts on our families and schools while Renee does a deep dive on what is going on with the University system.

In this episode of Advocacy Bites, hosts Renee Sekel and Susan Book dig into what happens when the North Carolina legislature simply… does nothing. From stalled Medicaid funding to the growing crisis in the UNC university system, this conversation exposes how legislative inaction and political meddling are creating real harm for students, families, educators, and care workers across the state.

Susan unpacks how the General Assembly's failure to reconcile its budget has left Medicaid providers, schools, and vulnerable North Carolinians facing devastating cuts — including $200 million in lost support for public schools. Then, Renee takes listeners inside the UNC System, revealing how decades of political control have eroded academic freedom, gutted funding, and fueled efforts to reshape higher education through partisan oversight and ideological censorship.

It's a revealing, infuriating, and deeply important conversation about public education, healthcare, and democracy in North Carolina — and what everyday advocates can do to fight back.

🎧 Listen now to learn:

• How the NC legislature's inaction threatens Medicaid and school-based care.

• Why faculty across the UNC system are speaking out about political interference.

• What the new "School of Civic Life and Leadership" really represents.

• How citizens can pressure lawmakers to fund essential services and protect education.

👉 Subscribe to Advocacy Bites to stay informed and empowered about public education and advocacy in North Carolina.

Keywords: North Carolina advocacy, public education, Medicaid funding NC, UNC system, higher education reform, legislative interference, academic freedom, healthcare cuts, NC General Assembly, civic engagement, Renee Sekel, Susan Book, everyday advocacy.

Susan and Renee discuss the current free speech situation in the US, and the current financial situation in Winston Salem/Forsyth County public schools.

Stay connected at: https://saveourschoolsnc.org

Renee and Susan talk about the legislature's failure to pass a budget (again), as well as the lengthy delay in the Leandro case.

Stay connected at https://saveourschoolsnc.org

Renee and Susan discuss back to school tips and tricks

Stay connected at: https://saveourschoolsnc.org

Renee and Susan review some of the terms used in advocacy and election volunteering.

Stay connected at: https://saveourschoolsnc.org

Renee and Susan muse over some of the big ideas and feelings that have been floating in their heads recently. There may also be some light emotional breakdowns. Notes: Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back Author: Joan C. Williams

Renee and Susan discuss the various lies and misdirections that extremists use to obscure their actions and goals.

Stay connected at: http://saveourschoolsnc.org and https://www.facebook.com/people/Advocacy-Bites/100085908254061/

Susan gives us an update on the legislature budget shenanigans, and Renee and Susan discuss Wake County's new cell phone policy.