“In order to change the world all one has to do is change their mind.”
–Khalid Bey
Syracuse Common Councilor Khalid Bey (center) answers an audience member during Sunday’s political forum. He is seated with professors Osama Khalil of the Maxwell School (left) and Steven Pike of Newhouse.
On Sunday, Syracuse University’s Multicultural Empowerment Network convened a panel discussion on Sunday to discuss salient political issues such as immigration, health care, media representation and the current state of democracy.
Panelists for the event included Bea González, vice president of community engagement at Syracuse University; Syracuse City Councilor Khalid Bey; Osamah Khalil, assistant professor of history in the Maxwell School; Clemmie Harris, former senior advisor for New York State Governor David Patterson; and Steven Pike, assistant professor of public relations in the Newhouse School and former member of the Department of State.
According to Bey, who currently represents the 4th district, the three most critical issues for local politics are education, healthcare and infrastructure. And local government is where you draw strength, he said.