Part 5: Close Up Radio Welcomes Back Education Advocate Maureen Santora

Long Island City, NY – In our society today, everything is divided in into right and left politics. It's very difficult to have conversations with people who are on the opposite side of the political divide, even people that you love.

Education advocate Maureen Santora believes we need to rethink where we are heading and how the conversation is evolving for young people to be successful in life.

She has been a powerful advocate for education her entire life. The Christopher Santora Educational Scholarship Fund has awarded more than half a million dollars in scholarships to New York City’s elementary, middle school and high school students.

“Being an American was always about being concerned for the next generation,” says Maureen. “We're trying to educate young people to know they can pursue a variety of possibilities.”

“When we had dinner every night, we would have debates. My son was always on the opposite side of his sisters,” recalls Maureen. “The reason a person goes to college is to open his or her mind. It doesn't necessarily give you a job. It enables you to see a different vision, and things that you've never, ever thought about.”

Maureen has been in teaching since 1967, but she says parents are still the primary educators of their children. They have the right to be involved and to empower themselves to be actively involved in their kids' education.

“We have to be brave enough to speak out, even if the opinion that we possess is not the popular opinion.”

For more information, visit www.christopherasantoraeducationalscholarshipfund.com