About 200 people gathered in Atlanta for a candidate forum on Friday at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ building. But, as organizers said, this forum for the May 20 primary elections in Georgia was anything but average. 
Instead of candidates for state and local offices only unveiling their platforms and telling voters what they were going to do for them, an alliance of grassroots groups presented those vying for electoral support with a community issues platform that became part of the discussion.
About 40 candidates attended and they were asked to sign a pledge that they would serve community members who elected them.
“We’re really trying to make sure that community members have an equal voice in deciding who their elected officials are,” Deborah Scott, executive director of Georgia STAND-UP, said during the forum.
“Sometimes the business community and developers and others have a stronger and a louder voice than the people that elect them. That’s what STAND-UP is all about, making sure that community actually has a piece of the pie.”
The community platform included the topics of environmental health, criminal justice, workforce development, transportation, education, community and economic development and abandoned housing, according to Georgia STAND-UP, which is an alliance of labor, faith, community and education groups.
Since last year, Georgia STAND-UP, which organized the candidate forum, has worked with working families and community groups to come up with the issues platform. Organizers said many brainstorming meetings were held to incorporate family and grassroots community concerns.
“This is a hiring process and we’re clear as voters that we are hiring a new crew of voters to represent us,” Scott said in a statement.
“If you look at the [platform], the job criteria is right here. You are being interviewed by your potential constituents, they do the hiring with their votes.”
Candidates running for positions in DeKalb, Clayton and Fulton counties attended the community forum. The event also attracted candidates running for the Georgia state Legislature.
Candidates were able to talk about their own platforms and answer questions from a moderator. Many of those questions came from community members who submitted them.
Statewide, Georgia STAND-UP is working on voter registration drives, more community meetings and forums with political candidates. In the summer, the group will host an institute to help young people learn about community organizing and how policy affects communities.
Atlanta-based Georgia STAND-UP works on increasing community engagement and civic participation in elections. As a “think” and “act” tank, especially for working families, the organization also works to ensure that people can participate in shaping policy that affects them.