Iowa Political Parties Announce Details for 2016 Iowa Brown & Black Forums

Iowa Political Parties Announce Details for 2016 Iowa Brown & Black Forums
 
DES MOINES – The Iowa Brown and Black Forum, the nation’s oldest minority focused presidential forum, will return in 2015-16 with a specific forums for Republican and Democratic presidential candidates, the Iowa Democratic Party and the Republican Party of Iowa jointly announced today.  
 
Brown and Black Forum co-founders Mary Campos and Wayne Ford made the announcement today at a press conference alongside honorary Forum co-chairs Governor Terry Branstad, Congressman Dave Loebsack, RPI Chairman Jeff Kaufmann and IDP Chair Dr. Andy McGuire.
 
The Brown and Black Forum for Republican presidential candidates will be held on December 3 at Sheslow Auditorium at Drake University. The Brown and Black Forum for Democratic presidential candidates will be held on January 11 in Des Moines.
"The Iowa Democratic Party is excited to have our presidential candidates take part once again in the Brown & Black Forum,” said IDP Chair Dr. Andy McGuire. “Democrats have always been committed to inclusion, and issues facing minority communities--namely creating jobs, expanding educational opportunities and social justice--will be front and center during the 2016 presidential campaign. The Brown & Black Forum is a fantastic opportunity for our candidates to talk about these important issues and highlight how we can come together to address these challenges. We look forward to an impactful discussion."
 
“We’re honored to be participating in the Brown and Black Forum, which will continue a critical dialogue here and across the nation,” said RPI Chair Jeff Kaufmann. "Wayne and I often disagreed during our time in the legislature, but we both realize how incredibly important this institution is for Iowa, these communities, and our presidential nomination process.”
 
“Throughout our state's great history, we have been on the forefront of fighting for greater civil rights,” said Congressman Dave Loebsack. “We have long strived for equality, whether it is based on race, gender or sexual orientation. The Iowa Brown and Black Presidential Forums provide an arena to elevate these issues and foster critical discussion.  These events are something that all Iowans can take pride in. I look forward to working with Mary Campos, Wayne Ford, Gov. Branstad, Dr. McGuire and Mr. Kaufmann on this historic event.”

“The Brown and Black Forum has been highlighting issues of importance to minority communities for 30 years, and I’m pleased to be part of the announcement that, for the first time, the Republican Party of Iowa is joining the Democratic Party in hosting their own forum,” Governor Branstad said. "It’s as important as ever that we continue being welcome and inclusive to individuals of all backgrounds, and treat everyone with respect and dignity."
The Brown and Black Forum is the nation’s only presidential forum in which all candidates have the opportunity to answer essential concerns of Latinos and African-Americans.  This non-partisan event has figured prominently in the Iowa caucuses.
 
The Brown and Black Forum is recognized as the oldest continuous minority forum for presidential candidates in America and one of the longest-running presidential forums in the nation. Founded in 1984, this groundbreaking event has brought many Presidential candidates, including President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, John Edwards, John Kerry, Al Gore, George McGovern, Walter Mondale, and John Glenn, to Iowa.