Charleston and North Charleston Residents Invited to “Mingle with Mayoral Candidates” at Free Community Event

Be The Ones and SC Housing Justice Network will host the “Mingle with Your Mayoral Candidates” Community Celebration in partnership with Charleston Area Justice Ministry, Lowcountry Local First, and coalition of local community organizations. This free, family-friendly, nonpartisan event will take place from 11 am to 2 pm on Saturday, September 30th at Jenkins Youth & Family Village. 

This is the only Lowcountry mayoral candidate program of its kind – an event that is not a debate or forum and centers the community instead of those running for office. It’s also the only program taking place before the November 7th municipal elections that has intentionally invited all 16 Charleston and North Charleston mayoral candidates within a week of the filing deadline in August.

Unlike a traditional mayoral forum, this celebration provides an opportunity for constituents from Charleston and North Charleston to meet their mayoral candidates in a casual, fun, and informal setting. Thirteen of the 16 candidates have confirmed their attendance (as of 9/14/23). There will be no speeches from the candidates.

“The program is intentionally designed to remove the systemic and structural barriers people face in order to participate in local elections, including access to their candidates, while simultaneously centering our communities’ needs,” said Cate Mayer, Founder and Director of Be The Ones, a nonpartisan organization that works in South Carolina to expand power by identifying and removing obstacles to local civic participation.

In addition to constituents having access to their candidates, attendees will have the chance to meet 20+ local organizations working on issues like transit, housing, racial justice, climate, and education.

“Equally important to having access to your candidates and elected officials is having access and opportunities to join your neighbors in talking about issues important to you – eviction rates and tenant rights; which we know is one of the key issues in our community,” said Kenya Cummings, Executive Director of SC Housing Justice Network.

There will be food trucks, games, entertainment, activities, and an art installation focused on the future of Charleston and North Charleston.

You can find out more about the event here.

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