Communities of color are a key segment of the electorate, and presidential candidates are vying for their vote. Recognizing that health care is among the top domestic concerns of voters, Senators McCain and Obama have made health care reform central elements of their Presidential bids. As voters scrutinize the candidates' plans, an important consideration is how national health care reform will affect communities of color; today, over one-third of Americans self-identify as a person of color and by 2050 that number is expected to rise to half.

As the debate around national health care reform takes center stage, it's important to consider who is a part of the dialogue. National policy change has local impact and we must begin to engage community leaders about how health care reform will impact constituents, particularly communities of color. This forum will include conversations with campaign representatives about their candidate's plans for health care reform, as well as a discussion with community leaders about their communities needs and ideas for health care reform.

The meeting is sponsored by The National Health Policy Training Alliance for Communities of Color, a unique partnership between Families USA, the Joint Center Health Policy Institute, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund, and the National Medical Association. It is generously funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. For more information on the Alliance, please visit us at www.healthpolicyalliance.org. Additional support was provided by the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum.