African American Women of Purpose and Power Mayoral Debate at Dillard University

On January 12, 2010, a coalition of community leaders and organizations came together to sponsor African American Women of Purpose and Power Mayoral Debate at Dillard University, hosted by Dr. Marvalene Hughes and the efforts of Mr. Nolin Rollins, President and CEO, Urban League of GNO at Dillard University’s Cook Center.

Mayoral candidates answers tough questions brought on by a panel of six African American women. There was a sense of urgency to have candidates face off and express their opinions with only a few weeks left before election, so that voters might better understand what best choices they have. The focus was on quality of life issues such as public safety, education and youth development, housing, medical services, economic inclusion and environmental health. Especially among the African American community and other ethnic minorities. Furthermore, articulate their position and present opposing arguments of that of the opponent.

At one point, there was a need to modify the rules of debate rebuttals, when James Perry threw a jam at Troy Henry for allegedly capitalizing off of the, Hurricane Katrina disaster, suggesting that he was paid for the so called “good things” he had done as a part the city’s recovery.

This forum was planned and co-sponsored by a large number of organizations in the city. They include, Crescent City Chapter of Links, Inc., Deep South Center for Environmental Justice at Dillard University, GNO Communication, Louisiana Justice Institute, McKenna Publishing Company, National Coalition on Blacks Civic Participation, New America Media, New Orleans Agenda, New Orleans Association of Black Psychologists, New Orleans Branch NAACP, New Orleans Chapter of Links, Inc., New Orleans Tribune, NOLA Beez, NOLA.TV, the Pontchartrain Chapter of Links, Inc., and others.

The forum was be preceded by a "Meet-and-Greet" reception and press conference by New America Media's NOLA Beez Digital Divide Initiative. NOLA Beez is an online collaboration of local ethnic media organizations featuring hyper local news content covering the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan Area and the Gulf South Region.

NAM's NOLA Beez Digital Divide Initiative aims to assist ethnic media in improving coverage of their communities and other ethnic groups through citizen journalism and online multimedia development. Once active, site visitors of NOLAbeez.org will be able to view daily articles contributed by the following charter members' publications representing the region's demographic diversity: The Louisiana Weekly, El Tiempo New Orleans, Jambalaya News, Louisiana Data News Weekly, Ngoc Lan: The Vietnamese American Association, New Orleans Agenda.com, and NOLA.TV.