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RALEIGH – As the Wake County school board prepares to take another vote on community-based schools Tuesday, organizations against the move are speaking out about the importance of diversity.

The Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children has a news conference planned Monday to express why it feels diversity is so important for Wake County schools.

Organizations have come together to educate and get support from the public. Now, the Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children is joining the effort.

In Monday's meeting, members from churches, sororities, fraternities, community organizations and anyone who supports equal educational opportunities and socioeconomic diversity will speak as one voice. They want the county's board of education to know that as a community, the believe all children benefit when they attend schools that are racially and economically diverse.

As the school board moves away from the current diversity policy into setting up community assignment zones, the groups want to make sure the public is getting the message.

“We're trying to bring these issues to the public,” Yevonne Brannon, of the Great Schools in Wake Coalition, said. “We're trying to educate the public. We want to engage the public. This is their school system. These are their tax dollars. These are their children.”

The meeting will be held at Martin Street Baptist Church at 5:30 Monday evening. They will also hold a prayer vigil following the meeting.