Press Release: Prominent Leaders of National Organizations and Organized Labor to Participate in Forum
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Contact: Germonique R. Ulmer 202-339-9331, Carole Parks 312-789-9009
"Realizing the Promise" forum to bring local leaders together with decision makers to set people's agenda
WASHINGTON – The Center for Community Change and the Gamaliel Foundation today released the names of the prominent leaders from labor unions, national civil rights, religious and grassroots organizations, and think tanks and academic institutions who will participate in "Realizing the Promise: A Forum on Community, Faith and Democracy" on December 4, 2008. The following national figures will address the 2,000 community leaders who will attend the forum: Arlene Holt Baker, executive vice-president of the AFL-CIO; William McNary, president of USAction; Janet Murguía, president and CEO of the National Council of La Raza; Joseph T. Hansen, international president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union; Dr. Lawrence Mishel, president of the Economic Policy Institute; Dr. Manuel Pastor, professor of Geography and American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California; and Ralph McCloud, executive director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and representative of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
President-elect Barack Obama's senior advisers Valerie Jarrett and Melody Barnes, and Representatives Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), and John Sarbanes (D-MD) have also confirmed their participation in the forum. Seasoned journalist and author Juan Williams will moderate two roundtable discussions with leaders of grassroots community organizations, members of Congress, representatives of organized labor, policy experts and Obama's transition team. Topics of discussion will include the economy, healthcare, employment, immigration reform and the role of community organizations in strengthening our nation's democratic system.
"The national leaders who will join us for this historic forum represent a wide cross section of America" said Deepak Bhargava, executive director of the Center for Community Change. "As we move America forward, we need everyone to have a seat at the table – union officials, researchers, civil rights and religious leaders, and grassroots communities. We need everyone's input and cooperation."
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 field of community organizing 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.
"This is indeed a new day for America when leaders of grassroots, national advocacy and labor organizations, and everyday people can share a stage with Washington's decision makers to discuss solutions for our country's problems," said Ana Garcia-Ashley, Southern Territory director of the Gamaliel Foundation. "This is truly democracy – everyone participates in building a country that works for everyone."
"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, in Washington, DC. The forum is presented by the Gamaliel Foundation and the Center for Community Change's Campaign for Community Values. For updates on Realizing the Promise, go to www.realizingthepromise.org.
