National and Local Groups Host D.C. Candidates Forum at Dr. Dorothy I. Height Building

Fenty, Gray, and Alexander Intensely Debate Education, Women and Youth Issues

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, August 17, 2010, the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) co-hosted a historic forum at the Dorothy I. Height Building at the NCNW Headquarters attended by D.C. residents, candidates for Mayor and candidates for Chair of the City Council.  Several candidates participated, including Mayor Adrian Fenty, Chairman Vincent Gray, Leo Alexander, At-large Councilmember Kwame Brown, and Vincent Orange.

Moderated by Nikita Stewart, an accomplished Washington Post reporter, the forum invited candidates to make opening statements that left the audience gasping from the very beginning.  The forum focused on three primary issues: education, women, and youth, as well as D.C. statehood, youth and domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, diversity and contracting opportunities for African American women and others.  

Candidates engaged in heated debate on questions regarding controversial comments made by Michelle Rhee, Chancellor of District of Columbia Public School on WAMU radio in Washington, D.C. in a July interview that she would not work under a mayor who was "not focused on education…[or] as dedicated to making some of the really difficult decisions."  

Standing room only, 250 people crowded the room filled with teachers, business people, high-school students, entrepreneurs, and community leaders as candidates went back and forth on both a prepared list of questions and questions posed by the audience.  National and local leaders attended the forum, including: Marion Barry – former D.C. mayor and Ward 8 City Councilman, Cora Barry – Civic Leader, Dr. Julianne Malveaux – President, Bennett College, Ralph Everette – President, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, and Eddie Williams – NCBCP Chair Emeritus.

"You could feel the energy, excitement and anticipation in the room," said Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, "Dr. Height's spirit was there as we listened to the ringing of the bell to signal time-up for the candidates as they answered questions."

Co-hosts included the National Council of Negro Women, Washington D.C. Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Thursday Network of the Greater Washington Urban League, NCBCP Black Women's Roundtable & Black Youth Vote!, and NCNW Washington Section.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL COALITION:

The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation is a 501©3, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to increasing civic engagement and voter participation in Black and underserved communities. For nearly 35 years, the NCBCP has served as an effective convener and facilitator at the local, state and national levels of efforts to address the disenfranchisement of underserved and marginalized communities through civic engagement.

SOURCE National Coalition on Black Civic Participation