Five young members of the black community organized a Juneteenth Panel on Black Issues. Local elected officials were invited to the LeMoyne Community Center to attend a panel discussion on several topics that the age 20 something residents felt the need to address. Kierra King, Faith McClendon, Zhiere Patmon, A’Shon Burgess and Ahmad Morris-Walker worked to organize the discussion with State Senator Carmen Bartolotta (R-46) and State Representatives Tim O‘Neal (R-48), Jason Ortitay (R-46) and Pam Snyder (D-50). Issues surrounding police reform, equality in health care, upward mobility in the workplace, voting rights and better education of the history of black people in America were topics raised during the discussion. Both the panel and the elected officials agreed that this is an important first step and that follow up discussions need to take place. Two key absences were noted by the organizers. State Representative Bud Cook (R-49) and United States Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (R-14) did not respond to nor attend the event. These same youth organizers will attend a demonstration Saturday June 20 in Canonsburg.