LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Staff at Ruby Duncan Elementary School are mourning the late civil rights leader.
Principal Sarah Payne said Duncan was a constant presence on campus when her health allowed, meeting with students and talking about the importance of reading and standing up for what they believe in.
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“To that when you see something that’s unjust, to go ahead and fight for it, to put yourself out there,” Payne said. “Make the difference that you know you can make and believe in yourself and the power of change.”
Duncan’s work included expanding help for women and children, along with added community resources in Las Vegas’ historic Westside.
Payne called her “one of the most amazing people” and said Ruby Duncan’s advocacy impacted her own life.
“One of the things is that she helped fight to bring WIC to Nevada, and it’s something that I personally had to use when I was pregnant and when I had my first child,” Payne said. “I was able to get those services to survive in a pretty tough time of my life. So, besides running this amazing school, she impacted my own life personally.”
Payne said staff are going classroom to classroom to share the news with all 750 students, giving them time to talk about their memories and write cards to Duncan’s family.
The school already holds an annual “Ruby Duncan Day” where every class learns about her fight for families and child nutrition, and students plan how they’ll support their own community.
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