Forward Party Hosts Event on Black Voters and Local Political Power

ASBURY PARK —The percentage of independent voters not tied to the Democratic or Republican parties in the U.S. is growing, and some parties are grappling with their role in the future of American politics.

The Forward Party’s Black Voters Committee and New Jersey chapter hosted a discussion on Friday, August 8, 2025, in Asbury Park about the power and importance of local civic engagement. Pastors, political leaders and community members of various ages and backgrounds met for a conversation that converged faith and politics. No action was taken.

According to the hosts, the purpose of “IGNITE” was to mobilize community members to look beyond the two-party political system and recognize the power within themselves to enact change.

“All politics is local, and [given] what’s happening in the news, we can actually make a difference in our communities,” said Nathan Roseboro, chair of the Forward Party’s New Jersey chapter.

Pastor and Black Voters Committee Chair Larry Weathers said the candidate’s party does not matter as much as the impact they aim to make. “You do not have to forsake being a Democrat or Republican. [The Forward Party has] endorsed Republican candidates, and we've endorsed Democrat candidates, and we've endorsed independent candidates,” Weathers said. “If [you can] agree to move our country forward, then we will embrace you and we will endorse you. No other party exists like that.”

Touching on the country’s current political climate, speakers defined civic engagement and its importance, highlighted community leaders active in politics and urged people to join the Forward Party in the effort to mobilize everyday people. 

Co-founded in 2022 by former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang and former Republican New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, the Forward Party focuses on individual responsibility within a unified front and pushes against partisan politics, emphasizing a bottom-up approach. According to its website, the Forward Party is concerned with “building a party that puts the power back in the hands of the American voter.”

At the event, leaders gave a call to action, discussing the impact that particularly Black voters have had throughout history. Several criticized the tendency for town halls, community discussions and similar events to fall flat, stating that significant change does not happen because the scope is too broad or there are no actionable steps laid out. 

“We need [to] prioritize an issue. When I used to go to these meetings, … everybody comes out with 50 million things to do, and because there are so many things that everybody wants to do, nobody's ever prioritized the one thing that we can unite on to change our community,” Derrick Grant, pastor of Kingdom Nation Church, said.

More than prompting the community on what to do, event leaders discussed what they felt the community should not be doing — referring to actions that prevent significant political change from happening. Pastor and activist Maurice Clark-Wilkinson, one of the guest speakers, said the community should take responsibility by remaining aware of politics and being active participants.

“The blame game, for me, is done. It's time for everybody to step up and play their part … This is not the time to be radical. This is the time to be rational,” Clark-Wilkinson said. “If we're destroying our communities, how can we expect somebody else to fix it? If we can’t answer a question, how can we make a demand?”

Consistent with the Forward Party’s focus, leaders also stressed that local communities should work together.

Warren Hall, pastor of Deliverance Temple, said that unity is essential to a successful movement. “Locally, one of the deficits that we’ve had in politics has been unity … When we get together, we win. Everybody needs to be in the room, in the plans, in the works, and get the job done,” Hall said.

Asbury Park’s deputy mayor, Amy Quinn, also spoke. She said that she unintentionally became involved in politics after witnessing an injustice and deciding to take action. For those who may not know where to start, specifically young people, she encouraged them to get involved in any ways they can, at the local level. 

“Locally is more passionate for me … I went to meetings and not necessarily thought people were doing a bad job, I just thought I could do a different job or maybe an improved job,” Quinn said. “For the young people here, I think running for office is a daunting task and just the thought of it sometimes can be stressful. The way I got into it was by starting on the local board or committee. And the reason that that was really helpful was you started to understand how policy works.”

Attendees added to the discussion by raising their concerns about Asbury Park and surrounding communities. They covered a range of topics, including housing, environmental justice and campaigning. One attendee said they hope to see the church lead more political conversations.

Focusing on faith in addition to politics, the event ended with Larry Weathers urging the audience to start getting involved. Echoing the Bible throughout his remarks, he paralleled igniting fire with igniting change. 

“When we continue to wait for somebody else to give us what we need, we’ve become beggars. The Bible says ‘I’m the lender,’” Weathers said. “Science teaches us to ignite, you need three things: you need fuel, you need heat and you need oxygen. People are fuel. What’s the heat? Passion. What's the oxygen? The free flow of thought. If I can celebrate your individuality, if we can bring our passion together, and if we can allow oxygen to be among us as we embrace each other, you mean to tell me we can't ignite something?”

Thanks for reading the whole story!

At Atlantic City Focus, we're committed to providing a platform where the diverse voices of our community can be heard, respected, and celebrated. As an independent online news platform, we rely on a unique mix of affordable advertising and the support of readers like you to continue delivering quality, community journalism that matters. Please support the businesses and organizations that support us by clicking on their ads. By making a tax deductible donation today, you become a catalyst for change helping to amplify the authentic voices that might otherwise go unheard. And every contribution is greatly appreciated. Join us in making a difference—one uplifting story at a time!