EDITOR’S UPDATE: Six candidates have confirmed they will be there. Missing are Charlie Staadecker and Peter Steinbrueck. See below for updated details.

Mayoral Candidates to meet in Central District on Juneteenth to address issues regarding future of community.

Young Voters League presents

Africatown-Central District 

JUNETEENTH MAYORAL CANDIDATES FORUM 2013

 

Wednesday, June 19th, 6pm-9pm

Horace Mann Building (24th & Cherry)

**Open House for Africatown Center summer programming at Horace Mann, 4pm-6pm**

The flyer is below and attached for duplication and digital distribution.

Please RSVP and invite people to the Facebook Event page here

Twitter/Instagram hashtag – #JuneteenthForum

Thank you all and we are looking forward to the best Candidate Forum of the primary season!

EDITOR’S UPDATE: Six candidates have confirmed they will be there. Missing are Charlie Staadecker and Peter Steinbrueck. Details from the Young Voters League:

The Young Voters League will sponsor a Mayoral Candidate Forum on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 from 6:00-9:00 pm.

The Forum, to be held at the historic Horace Mann School located at 2410 E. Cherry St., honors Juneteenth and will double as an Open House exhibition of youth and community programs at the Horace Mann Building. Pre-Forum events begin at 4:00 pm.

Of the eight candidates currently running for the post of Seattle Mayor, six have confirmed their intention to participate in the Forum including Mayor Mike McGinn, Bruce Harrell, Ed Murray, Kate Martin, Joey Gray, and Mary Martin. Charlie Staadecker’s campaign did not respond to the invitation while Peter Steinbrueck reported a schedule conflict.

Issues to be raised at the forum include future economic and cultural development in the Central District, social justice, education and youth issues.

“Juneteenth marks the end of chattel slavery in America and a historical step towards recognizing and respecting the human rights of all people,” says event co-host and former Mayoral candidate K. Wyking Garrett. “There is still much work to do here in Seattle and the mayor plays a significant role in the process.”

In addition to the Forum and Open House exhibition, the event will feature music, food, spoken word performances, resource tables and vendors, and educational presentation on the history of “Juneteenth” holiday.

Celebrated nationally by African Americans, Juneteenth started as a commemoration of the belated emancipation of the last known American chattel slaves, in Texas, every June 19th.

The event is co-sponsored and and supported by More 4 Mann Coalition, Umoja PEACE Center, Good Hair Salon, La Amistad School, Partners for Black Parent Empowerment, Freshest Roots, Natural Child Agency, Africatown-CD Preservation & Development Alliance, West Africoast Media, Washington State Moroccan Association, Uovement Clothing, Reperations Law, Ijo Arts, Seattle Capoeira Center, Brothas Buildin, Mothers Outreach Movement, Seattle Hip-Hop Youth Council, OutsideThinc Agency, Fresh Coast Society, Mint Factory Clothing, Al-Noor Academy of Arts and Sciences and other community groups, businesses and residents.
About the Young Voters League

The Young Voters League exists to encourage political participation from younger voters, to facilitate dialogue between young voters and political candidates, and to assist young people in registering to vote and availing themselves of the political process. The Young Voters League advises all candidates to pay particular attention to young voters who continue to engage and activated in record numbers, proving that young people are an essential electoral component of any successful campaign.

Schedule at a glance:

4:00 – Open House
6:00pm – Juneteenth Program
6:30 – Candidate Forum