PHILADELPHIA, PA – On Saturday, September 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) will be hosting “Voices for Votes: Real Talk on the Key Social Justice Issues for the 2016 Presidential Election.”

The event, which will be moderated by 900AM-WURD’s President and General Manager Sara Lomax-Reese, will be a nonpartisan discussion focused on what a diverse community of voters and voters-to-be feel are the most pressing social justice issues facing the world today that must be addressed in the 2016 election.

This forum will feature a distinguished panel of experts, including:

• Byron Cotter, the director of alternative sentencing at the Defender Association of Philadelphia
• Nikki Adeli, TEDx speaker and Youth Commissioner to Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter
• Amy Castro Baker, PhD, MSW, SP2 assistant professor, founder of Parents as Lenders, and former social work fellow for the Homeless Health Initiative at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, whose research explores how economic and social policies contribute to existing gender, race and health disparities,
• Charles Ellison, political strategist, Washington correspondent for the Philadelphia Tribune, author of the critically-acclaimed political thriller TANTRUM and host of “The New School” on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio

Via conversations generated in Voices for Votes, SP2 hopes to provide a medium in which people from diverse communities -- regardless of race, creed, political affiliation, economic status, age, etc. -- have a safe and structured outlet wherein they can voice their opinions and gain practical knowledge to make a difference at the polls, as well as in their communities.

The event will cast a wide net to include Penn faculty, staff, and students, community organizations, policymakers, affinity groups, and a bevy of other unique and multi-generational individuals throughout the region.

Voices for Votes comes as a prelude to SP2’s anticipated release of the “SP2’s Penn Top Ten Social Justice Issues for the 2016 Presidential Election,” a publication and multimedia package in which SP2 faculty members address ten social justice issues the country faces today. Both the event and book strive to educate, enlighten and empower current and future voters from all walks of life.

Voices for Votes is part of SP2’s ongoing efforts to advance social justice and societal transformation through education, research, and civic engagement – locally, nationally and globally.

The event will take place on Saturday, September 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fitts Auditorium in Golkin Hall at the University of Pennsylvania Law School located at 3501 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA. Participants are asked to register for the free event at https://voicesforvotes.eventbrite.com.