PROUD’s Mission is “to sponsor opportunities that will encourage Ferguson residents to work together to build a community of harmony and equity, within a diverse group of people.”
PROUD encourages people to share their ideas and priorities with one another to develop appreciation and respect for one another.
Our events encourage participation by all members of the Ferguson community, encompassing a wide spectrum of opinions and political views.
Image from PROUD’s 2024 City Council Candidate Forum
Forums’ Purpose and Objectives
PROUD’s Ferguson City Council Candidate Forums have a different purpose than the forums provided by the League of Women Voters.
PROUD’s forums are not a debate. They are meant to be a conversation. The forums have no interest in choosing winners and losers.
The emphasis will be on sharing proposals and visions for bettering our city.
The forums should provide a good venue for the candidates to inform voters.
Event Schedule
A table for campaign literature will be set up near the entry to the room. Candidates are encouraged to bring campaign literature and place it on the table.
The format for each forum will be as follows. A timekeeper will be provided.
6:00 - 6:05 — Welcoming statement.
6:05 - 6:10 — Reading and acceptance of conversational agreements by candidates and all event attendees.
6:10 - 6:15 — Coin toss to determine which candidate speaks first.
6:15 - 6:25 — Opening Statements — Each candidate will have five (5) minutes for their introductory remarks.
6:25 - 7:35 — Questions from forum attendees. — Each candidate will have three (3) minutes to respond to each question. Each candidate will then be given two (2) minutes for rebuttal.
The speaking order for each question will alternate between the candidates. Candidates must stay on topic when answering questions. Each candidate will answer each question.
Questions from members of the audience at the library will submit questions on 3×5 cards. The question cards may be placed in a container at the beginning of the forum or handed to a represented of PROUD during the event.
Questions by Zoom attendees will be submitted via Zoom Chat. PROUD’s Zoom facilitator will read the questions to the candidates.
Cards will be drawn at random by the moderator. The moderator will read the questions to the candidates.
Time is very limited. There may not be time to pose all of the questions to the candidates. The Moderator may pass over or combine questions that are similar.
7:35 - 7:45 — Closing Statements – Each candidate will have five (5) minutes for their closing remarks. Whichever candidate spoke first during the opening statements will speak last during closing statements.
7:45 - 7:55 — Event wrap-up.
Conversational Agreements
PROUD events are successful because they bring together people of good will who can express their views frankly and constructively. To achieve this success, PROUD uses the following Conversational Agreements:
- The Moderator will control the order of comments from the event attendees. A timekeeper will also be provided.
- The Candidate Forums will be videotaped. The videos will be posted to PROUD’s website and Facebook page.
- One of the cameras captures a continuous 360° view of the room. Everyone in the room will be recorded during the entire event.
- The AV device has several additional cameras that will each independently pan to the loudest sounds in the room. The cameras are very sensitive. Any comments will be recorded and the camera will capture the image of the speaker.
- No campaign literature or any other handouts will be permitted except at the tables provided for each candidate outside the conference room.
- Keep your comments specific to the event’s topic
- Listen carefully / Do not interrupt
- Disagreeing is okay, as long as it is done respectfully
- Listen with an open mind
- Assume others are speaking in good faith
- Be respectful of all participants
- No personal attacks
- Speak with honesty
- Recognize each event attendee as an individual, not as a representative of a group
- Seek clarification in a respectful way
- Agree to disagree when necessary
- After speaking, give others a chance before speaking again
Any attendee whose conduct is deemed by the moderator to be detrimental to the orderly proceedings of the event will be asked to leave.