Forum Questions Lack of Stimulus Funding in Black Community

Pittsburgh, PA. March 13, 2009.  State, county, and local priorities for use of the Stimulus Funds over the next two years will be examined at the Community Forum entitled "Speak Truth to Power: Does the Stimulus Plan Truly Help the Black Community?"  The Forum will be held at the Pittsburgh Schenley School (formerly Reizenstein) this Saturday, March 14, 2009 from 12:00 noon until 3:00 p.m.  Invited panelist guest include legislators and elected officials.  The public is welcome.

"We have been placated before.  We have been overlooked before.  We have been given crumbs for jobs before.  We have a sad and disturbing history of being neglected.  This Community Forum is important to the community because it asks specific questions about the involvement of minority businesses, the underserved, the unemployed and underdeveloped communities" said T. Rashad Byrdsong, Founder and CEO of the Community Empowerment Association, Inc. who is hosting the Forum. 

"We have done our homework.  We have looked to see what has been identified in the public domain concerning the priorities of the city, county and state.  We are not pleased with what we see.  We have questions.  We need answers.  The mandate for transparency and accountability with the use of Stimulus Funds gives us the right to be direct." Mr. Byrdsong continued.

"We have invited key legislators and public officials to ensure our priorities and needs are reflected in how the recovery monies are allocated.  We are interested in what is fair.  We don't want our legislators and elected officials to be only fairly interested in our needs" added Mr. Byrdsong.

Lunch will be served at the Forum and each registrant will receive a detailed information packet.  This event will be one of two with the second Forum focusing on Strategic Action Planning scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 2009.

The Community Empowerment Association, Inc. was founded in 1994 in an effort to reduce and prevent violence in the Homewood-Brushton area of Pittsburgh.  The mission of the nonprofit organization is to build, foster and empower individuals through jobs, education, housing, economic development and family support services.