A coalition of faith-based and community organizations, including the Hamilton County Black Caucus, the Unity Group of Chattanooga, and Accountability for Taxpayer Money, will host a town hall on Thursday at 7 p.m. to solicit community input and support for The People’s Agenda - a platform with which to engage current elected officials and candidates for the city elections to be held on March 7.
"More than 10 diverse organizations have bridged racial, religious and political differences to send a message to our elected officials that the status quo is not acceptable and that we expect them to consider our ideas,” said Helen Burns Sharp of ATM.
The event will take place at the Eastdale Community United Methodist Church at 1403 Tunnel Blvd. in conjunction with the citywide celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The People’s Agenda Town Hall will be facilitated by Pastor Timothy Careathers of Westside Baptist Church and will include a panel discussion moderated by Brother Kevin Muhammad.
“This partnership represents a movement, not a moment,” said Pastor Careathers. “This is history in the making.”
The panel will consist of representatives and thought-leaders from Chattanooga’s social justice community and the discussion will be organized around five key issues including Crime and Public Safety, Education and Economic Development, Healthcare, Housing, and Government Accountability.
The coalition hopes to draw a crowd. “Our hope is that together we can create a comprehensive agenda that represents the needs of Chattanooga’s most disenfranchised, vet new candidates for office, and hold our elected officials accountable to the people they represent,” said Brother Muhammad.
The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.