Oakland Youth Leaders Host a Youth-Led Candidates Forum for City Council and School Board

Oakland, CA — The Oakland Youth Advisory Commission (OYAC) and Oakland Unified School District’s All City Council Governing Board (ACC) will co-host a virtual, youth-led candidates forum for the Oakland City Council and Oakland School Board races.

The “Fighting for Our Futures: Youth-Led Candidate Forum” will be streamed live via the OYAC’S YouTube page from 3:30 to 5:30 PM on Friday, October 23, 2020. Youth performers will be joining the program. Visit http://bit.ly/YouthCandidatesForumLive to join the livestream.

The candidates for Oakland School Board confirmed to participate include (in order of districts and by alphabetical first names):

• Austin Danhaus, District 1
• Sam Davis, District 1
• Maiya Edgerly, District 3
• Leroy Gaines, District 5
• Mike Hutchinson, District 5
• Sheila Pope Lawrence, District 5
• Jorge Lerma, District 5
• Kristina Molina, District 7
• Marchon Tatmon, District 7
• Victor Valerio, District 7

The candidates for Oakland City Council confirmed to participate include (in order of districts and by alphabetical first names):

• Dan Kalb, District 1
• Stephanie Dominguez Walton, District 1
• Tri Ngo, District 1
• Carroll Fife, District 3
• Noel Gallo, District 5
• Richard Santos Raya, District 5
• Marcie Hodge, District 7
• Treva Reid, District 7
• Derreck Johnson, At-Large
• Rebecca Kaplan, At-Large

This forum is intended to provide Oakland youth between the ages of 13 to 25 with an opportunity to learn about the candidates and their views on the issues that are important to them. The forum organizers will pre-select questions submitted via Instagram stories through the @oakyac and @allcitycouncilousd accounts. Interested Oakland youth residents are encouraged to submit follow-up questions to candidates via oaklandyouthforum@gmail.com.

Candidate biographies for those who will be in attendance are available via OYAC’s website. Youth attendees will be invited to “cast their ballots” for their candidates of choice through an informal poll held at the end of the event to engage youth civic participation.

OYAC encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, working to increase understanding of public policy issues, and influences public policy through civic education or advocacy. We encourage all eligible youth under 18 to pre-register to vote. As a reminder, eligible voters are able to register to vote at RegisterToVote.ca.gov. To submit a ballot, return completed ballots by mail, in person to an Accessible Voting Location, a ballot drop-off box, or authorize someone to return the ballot on your behalf.

The OYAC and ACC do not endorse political parties or candidates.

For more information, contact the Oakland Youth Advisory Commission at (510) 238-3245, by email at youthcommission@oaklandca.gov.