People’s Candidate Forum

The People’s Candidate Forum 3.0 continues to break new ground by taking on the form of a job interview instead of the traditional debate paradigm, which often gets bogged down in extended tirades between the candidate at the expense of relevant and critical issues. Participating candidates are being interviewed individually and asked a series of pertinent questions unknown to them prior to their scheduled interview, and reflect important quality-of-life issues in the Bronx: education, affordable housing, Opioid crisis, immigration reform, green space and the environment, health care, small business and economy, youth harm-reduction and prison reform, culture and arts, among others.

Participating candidates (confirmed) include (in alpha order): Fernando Cabrera, Nathalia Fernández, Vanessa L. Gibson, Samuel Ravelo, and Luis R. Sepulveda. (click links for information on the candidates)

Nos Quedamos is a proud and active endorser of the principles and framework of the  BRONX-WIDE PEOPLES PLATFORM that sets a Fight Forward plan for Racial Justice and Economic Democracy in the Bronx. The People’s Candidate Forum 3.0 will adhere to those people-led principles and framework and the question reflect this Bronx-wide partnership.

The Forum will broadcast on BronxNet TV channel 67 (Optimum), Channel 2133 (Fios), and bronxnet.tv, as well as stream on the social media points-of-entry of Nos Quedamos and our partners (listed below), including the event’s page on Facebook. The content will continue to be accessible online immediately after the broadcast as a community civic engagement reference to allow registered voters to gain added insight into the candidates and make informed decisions about their active participation on the day of the primary election taking place on June 22, 2021, as well as the general election on November 2, 2021.

Organizers are currently asking for additional input about community concerns and issues related to quality-of-life within the Bronx. Comments and input should be submitted no later than Midnight on June 9, 2021 at info@nosquedamos.org (with “The People’s Input” in the header).

Nos Quedamos and Bronxnet hosted the first People’s Candidate Forum in 2016 during a special election for the 17th District seat after María del Carmen Arroyo stepped down, a post that was subsequently filled by Councilman Rafael Salamanca, Jr. The “2.0” designation in 2020 denoted the move to a virtual online platform as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and a tip-of-the-hap to a new decade and the “forward thinking” spirit of unified collaboration in the South Bronx in the long-term best interest of the region, its communities, and residents. The 2021 3.0 moniker reflects the third iteration of the people-led forum led by We Stay / Nos Quedamos, Inc. and BronxNet.

The Forum’s steering committee is composed of the following community partners and technical advisors (in alpha order):

– Boricua College
– BxArts Factory
– Bronx Chamber of Commerce
– Bronx Council on the Arts
– Bronx Council on Environmental Quality
– Bronx Documentary Center
– Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education
– Diego Beekman Mutual Housing Association, BDHC
– Bronx Music Heritage Center
– Bronx Times
– DreamYard
– En Foco, Inc.
– Jackson Resident Association, Inc.
– NYC Campaign Finance Board
– Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition
– Pregones / PRTT
– St. Ann’s Corner of Harm Reduction
– Save Our Streets (South Bronx)
– South Bronx Unite
– The Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative (BCDI)
– The League of Women Voters
– The Point CDC
– Third Avenue Business Improvement District (The HUB)
– NYC Votes 
– Willis Avenue Community Garden
– WHEDco

Media/press partners include: Mott Haven Herald, Hunts Point Express, The City, and Bronx Times. For more info, contact Edwin Pagán, Director, Communications & Media at epagan@nosquedamos.org.