Seth Andrew wasn’t exactly going to turn down any monetary donations if they were offered, but it wasn’t the real reason that more than 100 people were gathered inside his Harlem apartment building last night. Celebrating the birth of a bouncing baby charter school, this was about making connections.

Andrew, the founding director of Democracy Prep (the school opens its doors in Harlem next fall to 135 sixth graders, before eventually growing to be a 685-student grades 6-12 school) said he needed help from all corners of the community to make the school a success. After putting a dynamic leadership team together and months and months of planning, Andrew was ready to start getting things rolling by bringing on new supporters.

“Every single one of you knows people who are teachers, who are parents, and who run community organizations,” Andrew said, explaining why they had all been invited to the Friendraiser. “I’m deputizing you now to be spokespeople for Democracy Prep.”

That in a nutshell, is the essence of the Friendraiser. Show up, hear what the school is all about, volunteer to help, and then go forth and spread the word. As has become obvious to most school reformers, you need as many friends as humanly possible – politicians, donors, idea people, etc. – to survive in the rough and tumble educational and political climate.



Democracy Prep, which will provide students with a college-preparatory education grounded in civics, was authorized by the Board of Regents in December.

Some of those who attended the Friendraiser were no strangers to charter schools, but others came to hear about the concept and how they might help in turning around Harlem’s long-troubled schools. “You have the opportunity to be creative with a charter,” board member Dr. Robert North told the crowd. “But they also hold you accountable.”

The room for the Friendraiser was filled with food and drinks. Colorful posters aligned the walls explaining why the need exists for a school like Democracy Prep in Harlem, and how the school will work to fill that need. Supporters and politicians were given special red apples on a plaque to honor their help in getting the school started.



Politicians like Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Councilman Robert Jackson, and Assemblyman Keith Wright (all Democrats from Manhattan) turned out in person to show their support for the school. For Jackson, the newly appointed chairman of the Council Education Committee, it was about supporting a good school plan, not about supporting charter schools. “I’m not there on charters yet,” Jackson told a small crowd that gathered before the official celebration. (Jackson, a plaintiff in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case, when asked about the case involving Dianne Payne, said he supported every parent’s right to fight for their kids.)

Others, like Rep. Charles Rangel (who serves as honorary chairman of the school’s board of directors) and newly sworn-in Councilwoman Inez Dickens sent along staffers to represent them. (Sen. David Paterson is also a supporter of the school, but he suddenly finds himself busier than usual.)

How valuable are these kinds of contacts? The representative from Inez Dickens’ office said on her way out that one of her first tasks of the year will be to help Democracy Prep find itself a school building.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Charter Chuck was nowhere to be found at this Friendraiser.

See the press release for the event here.