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GREENBURGH, N.Y. — A local church has teamed up with other local organizations to arrange a voter-education advocacy forum this Saturday.
Union Baptist Church of Greenburgh partnered with the African American Men of Westchester in what will be a non-partisan effort to bridge the gap between voters and elected officials at the Greenburgh Town Hall, said Gail Lloyd, the Union Baptist Church office manager.
"This is not the church talking about one particular candidate," Lloyd said. "It's the church educating people about voting. People need to understand what it means and the fact that their vote really counts."
The event will begin with a free breakfast at 9:30 a.m., followed by speakers including State Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who is running for re-election to represent Greenburgh in the 35th district, and Ken Jones, a Greenburgh Town Board member.
A panel, including Sonja Brown, the Greenburgh NAACP vice president and Greenburgh Central School Board of Education member, and Gail Wright Sirmans, a local civil rights attorney, will also be available to answer questions.
Melvin Burruss, president of the AAMW, said his organization has been rallying county residents to vote in the upcoming election because only citizens have the power to change the high unemployment rate, child care subsidy cuts and the low graduation rates in schools that are both local and national issues.
"Voting isn't just our responsibility. It's a source of power," Burruss said. "We want to teach residents that — if you don't vote, you lose."
The AAMW is involved in yearlong events dedicated to bringing the attention of social, economic and educational issues to the county. Its members have already prompted 250 county residents to register for voting this year, Burruss said.
The AAMW's collaboration with the church and other non-profit organizations was an easy choice because all participants in the upcoming event share the same goal, he added.
"The church teaches the soul, but that's more than just teaching the soul. It's helping them to live their lives and maintain a decent life," Burruss said.
Comments (2)
More to the point is that it's really about getting voters out to support the Afro-American candidate (making no bones about it, I intend to vote for Obama) whose re-election is under serious assault by Romney.
While serious economists invoke that "there is no free lunch", at this Greenburgh church there is "free breakfast".
And where are the Republicans among the hosts and speakers?
Yes this solely about "education" and not about cleansing the Democratic soul.
Citizens need to learn about registering and voting; especially in elections when the candidates run unopposed.
Finally, looking at voting history, registration is not as important as getting those who already registered out to vote: if even to register an unmarked ballot.
Winning need not be marketed as evidence of a "mandate".
And, take another look at the photograph. Why would that woman on the left be so interested in getting out the vote? Or Ken Jones in speaking? Anyone have any ideas?
Yes this "event" is really about "bridging the gap between voters and elected officials at the Greenburgh Town Hall" 'Why would a Church office manager lie' says the President of the Hair Club for Men or, Esquire Magazine 'why is this (wo)man laughing?
Anything for a vote, huh Andrea? Issue a paper proclamation and keep quiet about the separation of church and state as long as there's something in it for you. Shameful!