Carole Kaye has a lifetime of advocacy experience, promoting issues of social justice and equality.

Education

Ever since Carole was a child, she wanted to be a teacher. “Early on, I recognized that education is the key to success in life and I vividly remember the teachers who made a significant impact on mine. When I was only eleven years old, I experienced anti-Semitism and bullying based on the fact that I was one of only five Jewish kids in the entire 6th grade. My teacher was caring and patient, helping resolve my emotional trauma. Teaching is the most difficult and most important job one can undertake. A classroom must be an exciting, safe and nurturing place where students are free to question, discuss and master specific skills. It is the teacher who creates the “magic”.”

Carole was the President of the Future Teachers of America Club in High School and went to a teacher’s college, Lesley, in Cambridge Massachusetts. She transferred to NYU after her sophomore year and her first job was teaching 2nd grade in Harlem. “It was 1968 and when the teachers strike occurred, our lives and jobs were threatened should one cross the picket line. I obviously sided with the union. Shortly after, I was hired to teach pre-K at the Henry Street Settlement House.”

Although Carole left teaching for the business world, she remains in awe of good teachers. She believes the selfless contributions made in the lives of our children, entitles teachers to salaries commensurate with the often difficult tasks we entrust to them. Beyond that, Carole Kaye believes teachers need to be integrally involved in curriculum development. Carole plans to work in Tallahassee, enhancing the role of teachers while working to eliminate the FCAT exams. Critical thinking develops at an early age and our teachers must foster that skill-set when children are eager to learn.

Woman’s Rights

Carole entered the business world in 1970. She faced the challenge to achieve economic justice. Women were being underpaid and most career opportunities that young women today take for granted, simply did not exist. Carole says with pride that she was the very first woman to be hired by the business information division of Dun and Bradstreet.

Choice

Carole is a woman who clearly remembers the time before Roe v. Wade was passed, when a woman’s right to choose was not the issue because the issue was that women had no legal option when faced with an unwanted pregnancy. The right to make one’s own reproductive decisions must continue to be absolute.

A Real Fighter

When committed, Carole is a real fighter. When she became quite ill, she refused to give up her first place position in the Dun & Bradstreet Sales Competition, allowing her illness to necessitate an urgent trip to the hospital on the contest's final day. Carole returned to her room, post-surgery, to find her parents giving her the great news that she had won.

Carole Kaye entered the world of advertising sales in the mid-70’s, becoming one of the first female ad managers in magazine publishing. Carole was very active during that time, working on the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment in New York while employed at Penthouse, a company often accused of objectifying women. The fact is that 90% of the female sales staff was thrilled with pay parity, career advancement and a publisher who vigorously supported the political work of Bella Abzug.

Tough on Crime

As the victim of an armed robbery in a Manhattan elevator, Carole Kaye is tough on crime. She also survived being attacked by two people on a NYC Subway platform who stole her purse. On yet another occasion, Carole was pick-pocketed, in broad daylight on 57th Street in Manhattan. “The protection of our citizens is the most important function of local law enforcement. As residents of Palm Beach County, we must rely on quick responses to 911 calls. Last year, when such a call was made in the middle of the night to Delray Police when my alarm sounded, the response was immediate. That is why it is imperative that, especially now that our resources are limited, that manpower be used exclusively for the protection of the community.”.

Veterans Affairs

Carole’s father was a veteran of World War II. During 2007, the last year of his life, she applied for Aid and Attendance Benefits for her father as he required around the clock assistance. Her application was filed, lost, re-filed, lost, re-filed, not processed properly, appealed, lost, re-appealed. Despite the ongoing progress, when he died, the claim was incorrectly closed. Carole reopened the case in an effort to help her widowed mother whose care became Carole’s responsibility. The case remains active today despite Carole’s continued pursuit of the monetary benefits to which her father was entitled. Carole reached out to Eric Shinseki but even with the help of Congressman Robert Wexler, the claim remains outstanding. “In my father’s memory, I will continue to fight for the benefits that all our Veterans are entitled to receive.”

Consumer Affairs

Consumer advocacy is another hot button issue for Carole Kaye. As corporate indifference rises to new levels of greed, consumers need a strong representative, assisting those who are systematically ignored by helping them deal with and resolve their problems.

AHVED
The Palm Beach County-based Association of Haitians Living Abroad for Development (AHVED) recruits doctors, nurses and other health care professionals for week-long trips designed to treat the injured and dying in devastated communities.
www.ahved.org

Think Act Lead
Think Act Lead is a non-profit think tank for progressive perspectives. We are dedicated to promoting progressive but practical solutions to public problems ...
www.thinkactlead.org

Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC)
Immigrant Resource Center Members of Students Working for Equal Rights (S.W.E.R.), the Florida Immigrant Coalition, and allies participated in 14 actions across our state on ...
www.floridaimmigrant.org

American Jewish Committee
AJC has worked since 1906 to safeguard Jewish life and to protect the dignity of all people.
www.ajc.org

The National Organization for Women (NOW)
News from the National Organization for Women: stories about women and feminism, action alerts, and more...
www.now.org

American Immigration Lawyers Association
National association of attorneys who practice and teach immigration law.
www.aila.org

Human Rights Watch
Organization dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world, standing with victims and activists to bring offenders to justice.
www.hrw.org

American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering ...
www.cancer.org