A candidate forum is planned on Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Family Life Center of Oak Ridge Missionary Baptist Church, 9301 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas.
There will be two sessions, one at 10 a.m. and one at 3 p.m. The first session will be a program with state representatives, and the second session will be a program with candidates. The event is free and open to the public.
The forum is sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Mu Omega Chapter, in conjunction with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Jack and Jill of America, Johnson County Chapter, Kansas City, Kansas, Chapter of NAACP, Johnson County Chapter of NAACP and Oak Ridge Missionary Baptist Church, Civic Action Committee.
A brief audience question-and-answer session, voter education information and time for refreshments is planned.
According to a spokesman, the purpose of the forum is to give Kansas residents the opportunity to meet, greet, engage and hear from their current state representatives as well as candidates running for public office in the Nov. 5 general election.
In the morning session, from 10 a.m. to noon, panelists who will participate include State Rep. Kathy Wolfe Moore, D-36th Dist., and State Rep. Pam Curtis, D-32nd Dist.
The afternoon session from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. will include panelists Melissa Brune Bynum, incumbent candidate for Unified Government Commission, 1st District at large; David Haley, candidate for Board of Public Utilities, at large position 3; Rose Mulvany Henry, candidate for BPU, at large position 3; Robert Milan, incumbent candidate for BPU, 1st District; LaRon Thompson, candidate for BPU, 1st District; and Jeff Bryant, incumbent candidate for BPU, 3rd District.
According to a spokesman, all candidates for these positions were invited, and the ones who were listed above are the ones who have accepted.
The Rev. Ricky Turner is the senior pastor of Oak Ridge MBC.
Mu Omega Chapter is dedicated to implementing programs of service that enhance the social, economic, and educational well-being of the local, national and international communities, according to the spokesman. Programs remain the heart of Mu Omega Chapter. The size and scope of services provided their communities have grown and have significantly improved the quality of life for those who reside within their service areas.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., is the first black sorority and was founded on January 15, 1908, on the campus of Howard University by a group of first generation black college women. They currently have more than 300,000 members in 1,018 chapters throughout the world. Mu Omega chapter was chartered in 1924 in Kansas City, Kansas. Sharon Hayes is the president of Mu Omega Chapter and Mrs. Jauqua Wilkins serves as vice president and program chairman.
- Information from Gwendolyn E. Squires, chapter publicist