Idea for presidential candidates' forum in Pittsburgh started in nation's capital
The conversation that spawned the idea to hold a forum on education for Democratic presidential candidates in Pittsburgh took place months ago at the American Federation of Teachers building in Washington, D.C.
But grassroots organizations, teachers unions and public school advocacy groups in Pennsylvania and around the country. have for years been laying the groundwork that they hope will make education a key issue in the 2020 presidential race and beyond.
“You see the difference about the importance of public education right now,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. “As the world gets more complicated and complex, and there’s such division outside of schools, public schools become even more important.”
The Public Education Forum 2020 being held Saturday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown, will provide an opportunity for many of the leading candidates to air their stance on some of the major issues facing public education today.
The forum was convened by an 11-organization coalition of groups that included the American Federation of Teachers, the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers and social justice advocacy group One PA, among others. Candidates scheduled to appear at the forum include Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former Vice President Joe Biden, South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and businessman Tom Steyer.
The idea to hold a forum was sparked during a conversation in early spring in Ms. Weingarten’s office in Washington between her and a group of public CONTINUE READING: Idea for presidential candidates' forum in Pittsburgh started in nation's capital | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
