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BALTIMORE – Tuesday, ������Ƶ hosted its Economic Empowerment Gubernatorial Candidate Forum at the James Weldon Johnson Auditorium. The forum gave voters in West Baltimore an opportunity to engage directly with candidates running for Governor, and to hear how their proposed policies may impact their communities. Seven candidates vying to become the 63rd Governor of Maryland participated in the forum: Rushern Baker, Jon Baron, Peter Franchot, Doug Gansler, Wes Moore, Tom Perez, and Jerome Segal.   

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The Economic Empowerment Gubernatorial Candidate Forum served as an opportunity for community members who live and work in the communities surrounding ������Ƶ to hear candidate positions on several issues impacting quality of life and economic development in West Baltimore and across Maryland. Questions to the candidates focused on: education, healthcare, housing, income and poverty, social justice, personal and public safety, transportation, and the environment. Tuesday’s forum was moderated by WMAR 2 News anchor Kelly Swoope. Hosting the forum supports ������Ƶ’s mission to foster leadership, social responsibility, civic and community engagement, cultural diversity and inclusion, and economic development. 

“We want to bring the candidates face to face with the people they hope to represent, in a community that is often overlooked,” said ������Ƶ President Anthony L. Jenkins, Ph.D. “Our hope is that the candidates joining will keep the concerns of the community in mind as they continue campaigning through July’s primary and the November General Election.” 

The Economic Empowerment Gubernatorial Candidate Forum takes place during Economic Empowerment Week at ������Ƶ. During this week, ������Ƶ brings together thought leaders and members of the community to address barriers to financial literacy, strategic investment, and economic development that marginalized communities face, particularly in Baltimore.

Criteria for candidates invited and who chose to participate in the Economic Empowerment Gubernatorial Candidate Forum involved raising at least $500,000 by the January campaign finance reporting deadline or electing to participate in Maryland’s public campaign financing system. Invitations were extended to all qualifying gubernatorial candidates.