вЂњSocial media was my go-to for articles and information, and it was my go-to to organize this community.вЂќДЄccording to parent Lindsey Clough, one of the ways that she chose to show solidarity with teachers during the strike was by keeping her kindergartener home from school and instead having him participate in a strike-school. Social media did not exist in вЂ™89,вЂќ said Escamilla. вЂњWhat leads to people being informed is this darn little thing. вЂњWe felt we were so close in the community with those people that we felt we wanted to show support for them in that way.вЂќДЄccording to Escamilla, who was a freshman in Eagle Rock high school during the last teachersвЂ™ strike in 1989, current technology made this strike very different from the 1989 strike in terms of community involvement.

вЂњWe have a lot of regulars who are teachers at LAUSD,вЂќ said Manager Liz Liu. The Eagle Rock restaurant Joy offered all striking LAUSD staff a 50 percent discount and gave soup to strikers at nearby Buchanan Street Elementary School. On the strike line, Eagle Rock community members who were not associated with the school brought boxes of food and offered supplies to the teachers, and many vehicles honked in support. вЂњI think the natural inclination of the parent is to say that вЂIвЂ™m standing with my teacher.'вЂќДЄccording to Kang, it wasnвЂ™t just parents who overwhelmingly supported teachers. We entrust our kids to every day, and weвЂ™re trusting that they are getting the education that they need to get in these institutions,вЂќ Escamilla said. вЂњ The core of our communities is our schools. вЂњOnce you know what is happening, itвЂ™s impossible to not get involved.вЂќДЄccording to Escamilla, who is a regular community organizer, the size and strength of the community response to the teachersвЂ™ strike surprised even her.

When a charter school opens up, they take private money but have none of the public oversight,вЂќ Kang said. вЂњThereвЂ™s a lot of money being made by privatizers. As a member of the Parent Teacher Organization (PTA), Kang has focused on legislative advocacy. Julie Kang is a parent at Dahlia Heights Elementary School in Eagle Rock. вЂњWhat the charter school system has created is a system pulling away from and leaving many schools behind and many students behind,вЂќ Escamilla said. Part of the agreement to end the strike mandated that the board would send a resolution to Sacramento to urge state legislators to put a moratorium on new charter schools, allowing for researchers to study their effect before any more open. вЂњIt feels like this strike is about saving public education вЂ¦ it comes down to вЂHow do we keep our public education equal and equitable for all students?'вЂќ said Virginia Escamilla, a parent of two LAUSD students.ДЄccording to Escamilla, one of the major issues facing education today involves charter schools, specifically their funding and oversight. Parent and education labor activist Virginia Escamilla speaks about the teacher strike in Los Angeles on Monday, Feb. During those six days, the Eagle Rock community extensively organized to support LAUSD staff. 22, when the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) board of education and the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) union came to an agreement. After extensive negotiations, the strike ended Jan. 14, demanding higher pay, smaller class sizes and increased support staff. A billboard supporting the UTLA teacher strike on the intersection of Eagle Rock Blvd.

Lausd strike update