The People's Presidential Forum

 
– video – 
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Saturday, September 21, 2019 from 12 P.M. to 5 P.M. at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, IA.

4 CANDIDATES: Buttigieg, Castro, Sanders and Warren.

Background: This was on the same day as the Polk County Democrats' Steak Fry.  As the press release states, "These forums aren’t about the candidates – they are about the people."  Candidates will "share the stage and engage with the people who bear the brunt of unjust policies that keep them trapped in poverty and threaten our planet. Real people will take center stage to talk about their priorities, ask questions and weigh responses from candidates for president."
   


Iowa People's Presidential Forum
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Iowa Events Center, 833 5th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa
Doors open at 11:00am | Program from 12:00pm – 5:00pm

DETAILED AGENDA
7:30am – 8:30am Breakfast in hotel
8:30am - 10:15am Final Rehearsal
9:30am - 11:00am Volunteers arrive for set up

11:00am Doors open
DJ Charles from Movement 515

11:40am Musical performances
Corinthian Baptist Church New Life Choir
Dartanyan Brown and Shadric Smith: Reach Out Your Hand

12:10pm Recognition of Land and Labor
Dawson Davenport, Meskwaki Nation
Lizeth Chacon, Colorado People’s Action|People’s Action

12:15pm Invocation
Rev. Julia Rendon, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action

12:20pm Call to order
Co-chairs: Barb Kalbach, Iowa CCI Action Fund | People’s Action
& Lizeth Chacon, Colorado People’s Action | People’s Action

12:22pm Purpose of Forum
Barb Kalbach, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action and Lizeth Chacon, Colorado People’s Action|People’s Action

12:25pm Iowa CCI Action Fund + Iowa Student Action + People’s Action Credential
Betty Salmon and Dartanyan Brown, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action
Sara Castro, Iowa Student Action|Student Action
George Goehl, People’s Action


12:30pm United States Senator Elizabeth Warren

Opening Remarks [2 mins] > focus on money in politics > framing by co-chairs

Question 1: Family Farms and Environment
Testimony; Question; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Dayna Burtness, Land Stewardship Action [testimony];
Frank Jones Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action [question]

Question 2: Homes Guarantee
Testimony; Question; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Linda Armitage, Jane Addams Seniors in Action|People’s Action [testimony];
Tiana Caldwell, KC Tenants in Action|People’s Action [question]

Question 3: Worker’s Rights
Testimony; Question; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Terrence Wise, SEIU Fight for $15 [testimony/question]

Question 4: Long-Term Care [Universal Family Care]
Testimony; Question; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Lou Ann Burkle, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action [testimony];
Ai-jen Poo, Care in Action [question]

Question 5: Racial Justice
Testimony; Question; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Laural Clinton, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action [testimony]
Chris Robinson, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action [question]

Closing Remarks [2 mins] > focus on movement politics
Framing by Jerry Davis-El, The People’s Lobby/People’s Action



1:10pm Transition
Roll Call: Recognition of Sister Organizations and Allies
Cherie Mortice, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action;
Bryce Fields, One People’s CampaignIowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action [Illinois]

1:20pm Movement Politics Overview
Ross Grooters, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action;
Wisconsin State Representative Jodi Emerson, Citizen Action of Wisconsin/People’s Action;
Diane Charity, Kansas City Tenants in Action/People’s Action

1:30pm Caring Economy and Universal Family Care: Ai-jen Poo, Care in Action



1:40pm Secretary Julian Castro

Opening Remarks [2 mins] > movement politics > framing by co-chairs

Question 1: 100% Just Clean Energy | Green New Deal
Testimony; Question; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Sonny Garcia, One People’s Campaign|People’s Action[testimony];
Alex Andrade, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action, [question]

Question 2: Testimony; Question 2: Medicare for All
Testimony; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Ken Bowen, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action [testimony];
Shari Hawk, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action [question]

Question 3: Long-Term Care [Universal Family Care]
Testimony; Question; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Lillian Cheesman, Citizen Action of Wisconsin|People’s Action [testimony];
Reggie Griffin, Jane Addams Seniors in Action|People’s Action [question]

Question 4: Immigration
Testimony; Question; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Yaquelin Torres Toro, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action + Catholic Worker House [testimony];
Mireya Sigala, Citizen Action of Wisconsin|People’s Action [question]

Question 5: Family Farms and the Environment
Testimony; Question; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Kim Stephens, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action [testimony];
Shannon Walker, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action [question]

Question 6 / Closing Remarks > Homes Guarantee
Lamont Burnett, One People’s Campaign [IL]|People’s Action [testimony];
Ricky Padilla, Jane Addams Seniors in Action|People’s Action [question]


2:20pm Transition
Introduction of Mary Kay Henry, SEIU
Cathy Glasson, SEIU Local 199 and Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action
Unions for AlMary Kay Henry, SEIU


2:35pm Refugees and Immigrants; Justice is Global; Farm and Environment; Green New Deal
Jose Robinson, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action + Catholic Worker House;
Ahrax Mayorga, STAS, the Honduran Agricultural Workers Union;
Tobita Chow, Justice is Global, People’s Action;
Navina Khanna, HEAL Food Alliance;
Ben Ishibashi, People’s Action

2:55pm Introduction of Rep. Ilhan Omar
Amane Badhasso, Take Action Minnesota/People’s Action

3:00pm Keynote: Rep. Ilhan Omar

3:10pm Call to Action:
Shawn Sebastian, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action;
Chris Neubert, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action
Pat Bowen, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action;



3:20pm United States Senator Bernie Sanders
Opening Remarks [2 mins] > Movement Politics > framing by co-chairs

Question 1: 100% Just Clean Energy / Green New Deal
Testimony; Question; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Catherine Lewin, Sunrise Movement [testimony]; I
owa State Senator Eric Giddens, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action [question]

Question 2: Free College for All
Testimony; Question; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Klarissa Gonzalez, Iowa Student Action|Student Action [testimony];
Naomi Runder, Chicago Student Action|Student Action [question]

Question 3: Immigration
Testimony; Question; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Juliza de Cortes, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action [testimony];
Megan Geha, Moms Against the Camps

Question 4: Family Farms and Environment [trade policy]
Testimony; Question; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Ahrax Mayorga, STAS, the Honduran Agricultural Workers Union; [testimony];
Larry Ginter, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action [question]

Question 5: Medicare for All
Testimony; Question; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Josh Sullivan, One People’s Campaign |People’s Action [testimony];
Cathy Glasson, SEIU and Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action[question]

Closing Remarks [2 mins] > Worker’s Rights
Framing by Meggan Halverson, Committee for Better Banks, Communications Workers of America



4:05pm Mayor Pete Buttigieg

Opening Remarks [2 mins] > Home Guarantee > framing by co-chairs

Question 1: Family Farms and the Environment
Testimony; Question; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Dawson Davenport, Meskwaki Nation [testimony];
Cherie Mortice, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action [question]

Question 2: Medicare for All
Testimony; Question; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Bri Moss, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action [testimony];
Sameena Mustafa, Jane Addams Seniors in Action [question]

Question 3: Racial Justice
Testimony; Question; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Kelvin, CCI Action [testimony]; Veola Perry, CCI Action [question]

Question 4: College for All
Testimony; Question; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Chris Simmons, Iowa Student Action/Student Action [testimony];
Kiran Loewenstein, Iowa Student Action|Student Action [question]]

Question 5: Worker’s Rights
Testimony; Question; Response; Follow-Up Question; Response [6 mins]
Kelly Osborne, SEIU Fight for $15 [testimony];
Cathy Glasson, SEIU and Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action [question]

Closing Remarks [2 mins] > Democratic Reforms > Framing by Kathryn C. Sadasivan, Demos Action



4:40pm Summary of Action
Tom Rendon, Iowa CCI Action Fund|People’s Action

4:55pm Closing Remarks
Co-chairs

4:50pm Adjourn

5:30pm – 6:00pm Leadership Debrief at stage

6:30pm – TBD Celebration

People's Action
May 15, 2019

PEOPLE-LED PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FORUMS SET IN IOWA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, MICHIGAN AND NEVADA

CHICAGO – The 2020 presidential election is happening from the grassroots up, it will be won by people in the multi-racial working class, not by big money and wealthy corporations.

This fall, People’s Action will co-host presidential forums in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada together with our member organizations in those states.

These forums aren’t about the candidates – they are about the people. No stump speeches allowed.

We’re inviting presidential candidates to share the stage and engage with the people who bear the brunt of unjust policies that keep them trapped in poverty and threaten our planet. Real people will take center stage to talk about their priorities, ask questions and weigh responses from candidates for president.

You’ll hear from family farmers, first-generation immigrants, and workers being paid poverty wages about:

  • Improved Medicare for All
  • 100% Just and Clean Energy for All
  • Homes Guarantee
  • Free College for All

“We won’t be asking candidates to empathize with our problems,” said Lizeth Chacon, board president of People’s Action. “We will demand they commit to bold ideas like bringing private utilities under government control, closing most jails and prisons, a national homes guarantee, Free College for All, and an Improved Medicare for All that takes profit out of the health care system.”

The forum is part of a larger People’s Presidential Campaign strategy around the 2020 election that puts the People’s Platform first.

People’s Action delegates will convene in November to decide which candidate for President we will back. With the largest community political organizations in Iowa, Nevada and New Hampshire, People’s Action will then quickly pivot to help our candidate win those key early voting states.

At the People’s Action National Convention last month in Washington, D.C. nearly 1,000 People’s Action delegates from throughout the country committed to organize 47,310 volunteers to move 2,829,105 voters to vote for candidates who will enact the People’s Platform. They also committed to raise at least $6,465,210 for the campaign.

Forum schedule:


January 30, 2019

People-Led Presidential Candidate Forums Set in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada

CHICAGO – The 2020 presidential election is happening from the grassroots up – it will be won by working class people, not by big money and wealthy corporations.

This fall, People’s Action will co-host presidential forums in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, together with our member organizations in those states. We’re inviting presidential candidates to share the stage with everyday people, to hear their concerns and answer their questions, not give a stump speech.

“The people who are most directly impacted by the issues facing multiracial working class families will be front and center asking questions and leading the discussion,” said Lizeth Chacon, board president of People’s Action. “We’re looking forward to putting bold ideas in front of the candidates for president, and we are looking forward to their responses.”

The Iowa democratic caucus and the New Hampshire democratic primary are just one year away – both will be held in February 2020.

People’s Presidential Forum schedule:

Iowa – Sept. 21, 2019 at the Iowa Events Center. Co-sponsored by Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action Fund and People’s Action.

New Hampshire – Oct. 13, 2019 at the University of New Hampshire. Co- sponsored by Rights and Democracy, New Hampshire Youth Movement, and People’s Action.

Nevada – Oct. 26, 2019 in Las Vegas. Co-sponsored by Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada Action Fund (PLAN Action) and People’s Action.

People’s Action is one of the largest and most influential organizing networks in the country. We are a progressive, multiracial, working-class coalition of more than a million people and 48 member organizations in 30 states. We fight for racial, gender, climate and economic justice.

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