On Saturday, October 5, local Detroit education justice organization 482 forward held a candidate forum with a twist at the Senate Theatre in Southwest Detroit.
The event itself was a call to action organized by 482forward to advocate for Detroit voters to Tip the Scales for education. Meaning, casting votes for candidates that represent the community needs and wants for our schools.
“We need funding for our schools, we don’t have after school programs,” said Perriel Pace, former Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) student who graduated in 2024. “We have horrible buildings, the food is nasty… it’s not okay.”
This year there are three school board member seats up for election and 16 out of the 22 candidates running for office attended 482forward’s event. During the event, the candidates were presented with community demands surrounding bilingual education, transportation, school lunches, and special education. Community members were able to see clearly who aligned with their interests in preparation for Election Day on November 5.
The twist, though, was a play that was written by Detroit students, teachers, parents, and community members that made the program that much better. 482forward partnered with Black and Brown Theatre to create a breathtaking play that looks at what our diverse communities within Detroit face with the current state of DPSCD.
With approximately 1,000 people registered, community members from all across Detroit came together to understand why the schools within the Detroit Public Schools Community District need more investment for much needed improvements.
482forward is a coalition which brought together a multitude of city wide organizations under the umbrella of education, justice and advocacy. This includes local Southwest Detroit organizations like Congress of Communities, Urban Neighborhood Initiatives, Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation and Brilliant Detroit, to name a few.
To learn more about the candidates and where you can vote in the coming election on November 5, visit www.482forward.org. On the website, you can find a voter’s guide on all the candidates and how you can vote in this crucial election.
