Each team within the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) is deeply committed to Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts this election season. The Parent Mentor Program, has played a central role in these initiatives. To ensure that Parent Mentors and community members are informed about the candidates for Chicago’s first elected school board, SWOP’s Parent Mentor Program and its partners hosted two concurrent candidate forums. The forums, held on October 18, 2024, gathered over 500 Parent Mentors who heard from candidates in the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th districts on the southside and the 3rd district on the northside, all united to create an informed voter base for this important election.

Partners for the forums included Teamwork Englewood, Southside Help Center, Future Ties, District Outreach Industries, Mr. Dad’s Father’s Club, Westside Health Authority, and Youth Guidance. Together, these organizations created a space where candidates could share their visions for the school board, engage in meaningful dialogue, and clarify their plans to address key issues facing students, schools, and families. By bringing candidates and community members together, these forums allowed attendees to evaluate which candidates best align with their community’s needs and priorities.

As a 501(c)(3) organization, SWOP does not endorse any candidate, maintaining a neutral stance while remaining dedicated to civic engagement and voter education. The candidate forums demonstrated SWOP’s commitment to equipping community members with the information necessary to make informed choices. SWOP’s efforts aim to empower residents by strengthening community connections and supporting active participation in decisions that shape their neighborhood schools and, ultimately, their children’s futures.

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