Press Release: Historic Forum to Demonstrate Power of Community Voices
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Contact: Germonique R. Ulmer 202-494-9876 (cell), Carole Parks 312-786-9009 (cell)
Historic Forum to Demonstrate Power of Community Voices
Grassroots organizations join Washington decision makers in setting policy agenda
WASHINGTON - After an election filled with promises of a new kind of politics, now is the time to deliver. It begins tomorrow at "Realizing the Promise: A Forum on Community, Faith and Democracy" when Valerie Jarrett and Melody Barnes, senior advisers to President-elect Barack Obama, engage more than 2,000 grassroots and labor leaders to hear their concerns and suggested solutions.
Moderated by seasoned journalist Juan Williams, the forum will touch on a range of issues including the economic crisis, healthcare, employment, immigration reform and the role of community organizations in government. Others participating include Representatives Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Donna Edwards (D-MD), and John Sarbanes (D-MD).
"The forum is an incredible, unprecedented opportunity for real, everyday people to sit at the table to discuss changing public policy in our country," said Deepak Bhargava, executive director of the Center for Community Change. "For too long, shaping public policy has rested in the hands of a few political insiders. We're expanding the power circle. We are taking back our country."
The forum builds on the Heartland Presidential Forum held December 1, 2007 in Iowa and the electoral work of hundreds of grassroots organizations, and is a continuation of a sophisticated effort by the grassroots community to stay engaged in shaping the policies that affect our country. After the forum, grassroots organizations will conduct weekly congressional visits for the first 100 days of the new administration.
"December 4th will be a great new day for politics in our country," said Ana Garcia-Ashley, Southern Territory director of the Gamaliel Foundation. "Across the nation, our communities are facing challenges that demand community-based solutions. This is why it's critical for grassroots organizations to take the lead in the change we voted for."
"Realizing the Promise: A Forum on Community, Faith and Democracy," will be held at 3 p.m., Thursday, December 4, 2008 at the Washington Hilton. The forum is presented by the Gamaliel Foundation and the Center for Community Change's Campaign for Community Values. News media, please register at http://www.realizingthepromise.org/media.
