D.C. Chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Hosting Major Forum Connecting Mayoral Candidates with Residents

Several Washington, D.C. chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. are bringing civic engagement to the forefront with an upcoming mayoral candidates forum and community town hall designed to connect residents directly with those seeking to lead the nation’s capital.

The event, titled “This Is Our DC: A People’s Town Hall and Forum,” will take place on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET at Kramer Middle School, located at 1700 Q Street SE in Washington, D.C. Organized by Area VI of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Alpha Phi Alpha Chapters, also known as the DC Alphas, the free event aims to create space for meaningful dialogue between District residents and candidates running in the city’s mayoral race.

The forum will be moderated by Philip Lewis, president of the Washington Association of Black Journalists. The evening will begin with welcome remarks followed by a lightning round of speakers who will provide residents with election resources and updates on topics including ranked choice voting and developments related to D.C.’s Home Rule. Afterward, the event will transition into a rotating table format where mayoral candidates will move between small groups of residents, allowing for more direct and personal conversations about the issues impacting communities across the District.

Seven candidates have already confirmed their participation in the forum, including Vincent Orange, Robert Gross, Nadeem Khan, Dr. Rhonda Hamilton, Rini Sampath, Talib Karim Muhammad, and David Gatling. Organizers have noted that two additional candidates may confirm their attendance on the day of the event.

The event is being hosted collaboratively by several Alpha Phi Alpha chapters in the region, including Beta Chapter at Howard University, Mu Lambda Chapter, Omicron Lambda Alpha Chapter, Nu Beta Chapter (serving American University, Georgetown University, Catholic University of America, and George Washington University), Omicron Omicron Chapter at the University of the District of Columbia, and Omicron Eta Lambda Chapter.

Through initiatives like this forum, the DC Alphas continue Alpha Phi Alpha’s long-standing tradition of civic engagement, providing spaces where community members can learn about the electoral process, engage directly with candidates, and discuss the priorities shaping the future of Washington, D.C.

Community members interested in attending the event can contact politicalaction@dcalphas.org for additional information.