Riverside voters will have a chance to hear directly from candidates running for City Council Wards 2 and 4 at a community forum Thursday, Oct. 1, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at United Domestic Workers (UDW) Hall.
The forum, hosted by LULAC Riverside Council #3190 in partnership with the Women's League of Riverside and with support from the CIELO Fund at the Inland Empire Community Foundation, is designed to give residents accessible, nonpartisan information about the candidates ahead of the election.
With decisions made at City Hall affecting neighborhoods, families, businesses and access to community resources, organizers say the forum will give voters a chance to hear candidates discuss their priorities on issues facing Riverside. Candidates will be invited to answer questions on economic opportunity and workforce development, housing and neighborhood development, education and opportunities for young people, public safety and community well-being, city services and infrastructure, community investment and neighborhood vitality, and representation and civic engagement.
"Local elections have a direct impact on our communities, and residents deserve opportunities to hear from the people asking for their vote," Sira Uribe, president of LULAC Riverside Council #3190, said in a statement. "This forum is about creating space for informed civic participation and making sure Riverside residents have an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates who want to represent them."
The event comes amid growing investment in nonpartisan civic engagement across the Inland Empire. The CIELO Fund, housed at the Inland Empire Community Foundation, focuses on strengthening Latino communities throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties and has recently expanded its support for civic engagement initiatives in the region.
"Civic participation is strongest when residents have access to trusted, relevant information and meaningful opportunities to engage," Joan Donahue of the Women's League of Riverside said in a statement. "We are pleased to partner on an event that brings candidates and community members together for an important conversation about Riverside's future."
More information: The forum is free and open to the public Thursday, Oct. 1, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at UDW Hall, 1445 Spruce St., Suite A, Riverside; residents with questions can contact LULAC Riverside Council #3190 media contact Sira Uribe at lulacfoundation@gmail.com.
