Debate by the Numbers

Here’s a re-cap of last night’s Education Debate in numbers, news, and photographs. First the numbers:

4 –  Democratic gubernatorial candidates: Rob McCord, Katie McGinty, Allyson Schwartz, and Tom Wolf.

2 –  Co-hosts for the evening: PA Interfaith Impact Network and Yinzercation.

10 –  Community organizations co-sponorsing: Action United, A+ Schools, Black Political Empowerment Project, Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, Greater Park Place Neighborhood Association, League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Area Jewish Committee, Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition, YMCA Youth and Government Club at Pittsburgh Obama 6-12.

21 –  Members of the planning team. Thank you to all the volunteers who made the debate possible.

500 –  People in the audience!

17 –  Questions asked by moderator (Lisa Sylvester from WPXI) and our community panel (Rev. Richard Freeman, PIIN President; Cassi Schaffer, Pittsburgh Public School parent and community activist; and Joel Macklin, Pittsburgh Obama junior).

1,000 –  Number of times the candidates pledged to restore the budget cuts and implement a fair funding formula (OK, that was an exaggeration, but it was certainly a main point of agreement among them).

The debate aired live locally on PCNC TV and across the state on PCN TV. We also had broad print, radio, and television followup coverage, including:

• Post-Gazette 4-9-14
• Tribune Review, 4-9-14
• PennLive.com, 4-9-14
• WESA FM, 4-8-14

If you missed the live broadcast, WPXI TV plans to run a one-hour, edited version of the debate this Sunday, April 13th, at 9AM. Set your DVRs now! Our radio partner, WESA FM, also plans to air a 60 minute edition of the debate tomorrow, Thursday, April 10th, at 10PM.

Here are some photographic highlights, most taken by our volunteer photographer, Jessica Chow (a Chatham University student), with others by Karen Hochberg and Sheila May-Stein:

the chairs are ready for the candidates

Registration table, staffed by volunteer PPS teachers

Co-sponsor, the Black Political Empowerment Project also did voter registration in collaboration with First Unitarian Church

Getting literature from co-sponsor, the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation

Co-sponsor, Action United

Early childhood education advocates

Co-sponsor A+ Schools handing out literature

Co-sponsor, the Pittsburgh Area Jewish Committee

Pittsburgh Obama students practice for their upcoming show while the audience arrives

Pittsburgh Obama’s Steel Drum Band performed a terrific 45 minute set for the audience as it got seated

Action United volunteers dressed in their finest acted as our ushers

A packed auditorium!

Allderdice Junior, Talon Scott, left, ready to lead the Pledge of Allegiance following opening words by Irene Habermann and Jessie Ramey

Rob McCord

Katie McGinty

Allyson Schwartz

Tom Wolf

Community panel asking questions submitted by the audience, and ahead of time via email and twitter

Rob McCord

Allyson Schwartz addressing the panel

Tom Wolf speaking at our Education Debate in April 2014.

WPXI cameras catching the action

WPXI’s Lisa Sylvester, right, moderated the debate

Lots of media covering this debate!

Students interviewing PIIN Vice President (and PPS parent) Jonathan Mayo

The Pittsburgh Courier interviewing Allyson Schwartz

Pittsburgh Obama students, including panelist Joel Macklin (right) present Rob McCord with an official swag flag

Katie McGinty talking to Irene Habermann and Sarah Regenspan with PIIN

Allyson Schwartz gets some swag from Pittsburgh Obama students

Students interviewing Rob McCord