Submitted by: Minister Toni Savage, Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church
Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, where Dr. O. Wendell Davis is the pastor, hosted a Social and Economic Issues Forum. The event was held Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 10:00 am. The forum covered topics such as the SAVE Act, estate planning, the Huntsville City Schools system, employee labor union information, social security, Medicaid, and the impacts of various executive orders. Additionally, federal funding cuts affecting areas including education, infrastructure, and federal employees’ jobs were discussed. Information was also provided on how citizens might check their voter registration status. Handouts containing community, state, and national resource assistance information were distributed to attendees.
The forum provided an opportunity for the public to ask questions that members of the panel addressed. The panelists included, Sheila McNeil, Chair, Madison County Democratic Executive Committee; Abner Merriweather, President of the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1858; David Person, Public Policy Chair, Alabama State Black Chamber of Commerce; Michelle Watkins, Huntsville City Council Member, District 1; and Everett Wess, Municipal Judge, Midfield, Alabama. Voter registration was also provided by the United Women of Color, which was founded by Angela Curry, Executive Director. Julian and Toni Savage co-chaired the event; both are associate ministers at Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. Members of the public attended the forum well. Attendees commented on how useful and informative they found the information. The forum can be viewed on Union Chapel’s Facebook, YouTube, and Boxcast.