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In anticipation of the importance of the 2008 presidential election to the nation’s working poor, the Community Service Society in collaboration with Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) sponsored a series of conversations with presidential aspirants titled “Working Cities Forum.” Hosting the series was David R. Jones, president and CEO of CSS, and Michael Fishman, president of Local 32BJ of SEIU.The focus of the series was on issues affecting the economic mobility of the working poor. Invitations were sent to the field of Republican and Democratic candidates to participate in a one-on-one exchange with a journalist before a select group of invited civic leaders in New York City. Three candidates – former North Carolina Senator, Democrat John Edwards, Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) – accepted the invitation.
The first forum took place on February 27, 2007 and featured former Senator John Edwards interviewed by New York Daily News columnist Errol Louis at Baruch College in Manhattan. The second installment of the series on April 23, 2007 featured Senator Hillary Clinton interviewed by WNBC-TV political reporter Jay DeDapper at the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University. The final installment on July 25, 2007 was also held at the Wagner School and featured Senator Barack Obama interviewed by Chicago Tribune Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Clarence Page.
Working Cities Forum with former Senator John Edwards
Moderator: Errol Louis, New York Daily News
February 27, 2007
Baruch College of the City University of New York
Working Cities Forum with Senator Hillary Clinton
Moderator: Jay DeDapper, WNBC-TV New York
April 23, 2007
Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
New York University
Working Cities Forum with Senator Barack Obama
Moderator: Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune
July 25, 2007
Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
New York University
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