Forum

Several hundred Baltimore parishioners met at Wayland Baptist Church in Ashburton last night to lobby public officials for more affordable housing and work training as part of the national base realignment process, which is expected to bring thousands of jobs to the region. Organized by the politically active religious group BRIDGE, the meeting was attended by Mayor Sheila Dixon, Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown and other elected, religious and union leaders. The group is asking officials to promote mixed-income housing, public transportation and work-force training to ensure that base realignment strengthens city neighborhoods.

From: Lewis BracyPresidentBlacks for SuccessAs chairman of the Black Political Forum ofAnne Arundel County, I would like to express our appreciation to staff reporter JoAnna Daemmrich for her reporting on the trouble-plaguedcounty Housing Authority.Although there are many problems still facing the county Housing Authority, Ms. Daemmrich's articles, along with the Black Political Forum's report on the Neall administration, has yielded two positive results.The first was the appointment ofMs.

Anne Arundel County officials are offering up not a cup of coffee but a cup of worms to people who attend a garbage forum.Fifty cups of red wigglers and 50 compost bins will be handed out at the Wednesday workshop to induce people to try backyard composting.The forum, which begins at 7 p.m. at the Pascal Center of Anne Arundel Community College, is aimed at getting people to understand what happens to their trash and how to generate less to conserve landfill space."I wanted it to be a fun event, something people would want to come to. The worms are all that's left," said Anne Pearson, a member of the Citizens Solid Waste Advisory Committee.

A senior White House adviser outlined President Barack Obama's initiatives to make college more affordable and provide assistance to small businesses during an African-American policy forum at Morgan State University on Friday. Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to Obama, discussed ways the president is trying to address concerns in African-American communities and conveyed his support for historically black colleges and universities. The White House has hosted similar sessions around the country.

Got something you'd like to say to the Columbia Association (CA), the $49 million homeowners association that serves as the quasi-government of Columbia? Tomorrow night is your chance.The CA's governing body -- the 10-member Columbia Council -- is holding a community forum at CA headquarters, 10221 Wincopin Circle, near the restaurants that overlook Lake Kittamaqundi in Columbia's Town Center.The forum is scheduled to begin about 9 p.m. -- at the end of a regular council meeting. The 90-minute forum will be informal, perhaps with everyone sitting in a circle facing each other.

It truly is the year of the woman.Women have been elected to fill five of the six offices in the Black Political Forum, a bipartisan coalition of black politicians 11 and community leaders. It is the first time the 4-year-old organization has had more than one woman holding an office in the organization."The only position any woman has ever held in the organization is that of secretary," said the forum's newly elected chairwoman, Sheryl E. Banks.In addition to Ms. Banks, Cydnee L. Woodson was elected vice chairwoman; Andrea Y. McGowan was elected treasurer; Jacquelyn I. Allsup was elected assistant treasurer; and Janice E. Hayes-Williams was elected corresponding secretary.

Parent involvement in school-improvement teams is among the topics that will be discussed today at the Baltimore school board's fourth citywide public forum.The forum will give parents and the public a chance to voice concerns and ask questions about city schools.It will start at 6:30 p.m. at Coldstream Park Elementary School, 1400 Exeter Hall Ave. in the Waverly area.

The Broadneck Federation will sponsor a forum tomorrow on casino gambling in Maryland at Broadneck library, 1275 Green Holly Drive.Gerald Evans of Harvey's International will discuss the benefits of casino gambling, and Bernard Horn of Maryland NOcasiNOs will talk about the disadvantages. The federation will take a straw poll at the end.The federation's business meeting will be at 7 p.m. The forum will be at 7:30 p.m.

Lewis Bracy, a 37-year-old activist who started an organization to promote black businesses, has been named chairman of the Annapolis-based Black Political Forum.Bracy, a National Security Agency employee who lives in Hanover, took over the bipartisan Black Political Forum yesterday. Acting chairman Leslie Stanton stepped down to devote more time to running summer athletic programs for youths.The forum, an umbrella government watchdog group composed of about 40 business and community leaders, chose Bracy as its chairman Tuesday night.

Freedom Area Citizens Council will meet at 7 p.m. today in Freedom Christian Church in Carrolltown Center. The meeting will include a forum with Kenneth Holniker and Michael Zimmer, candidates for the South Carroll District 9B delegate seat. Residents of the Freedom District community are invited. Information: Nimrod Davis, 410-795-2896.