: 1216923315

“Let’s put our heads together for change.”

”Let’s talk about clean air, clean water, alternative energy.”

“Together we can end this war.”

Change has been a driving point of presumptive presidential nominee Barack Obama’s campaign and on Tuesday, surrounded by posters with the slogans above, residents of Queens had the chance to tell Democratic National Convention delegates the kinds of changes they would like to see enacted.

The comments will be considered for inclusion in the Democratic Party’s platform, to be adopted next month during the convention.

Subjects ranged from transportation issues to gay rights and environmental reform, but many speakers placed a particular emphasis on education reform.

The Rev. Lisa Jenkins, who has a 13-year-old son diagnosed with ADHD, demanded that special education be addressed in America.

She said children are too often improperly screened and poorly placed in special education programs. The City Department of Education, she said, does little to address the students’ unique learning differences. She called special education a confusing maze for too many families, particularly those of race or in lower income areas.

Janice Barlow, the parent of six adopted children, said the City’s restructuring of the school system has had a negative effect on schools in low economic communities. She wanted to make sure programs, such as music and gym, had the necessary space and teachers to function properly.

Damani Nyahuma, with the South Queens Political Improvement Association, said particular attention needed to be paid to children between pre-kindergarten and third grade.

“This is the most critical time in a child’s education,” he said.

He suggested schools identify high functioning high school students and have them tutor students in those lower grades. The tutors would be given community service credit and financial help with college tuition.

Even Assemblywoman Barbara Clark (D-Queens Village) addressed the issue, telling the audience and delegates she considered the diminishing interest in math and science to be a “homeland security issue.”

On other topics, one speaker said she wanted to see the punishment for possession of crack be the same as cocaine, because too many black males were being sent to prison for harsh sentences as a result of the disparity.

The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 enacted a 100 to 1 ratio in terms of sentencing for crack compared to cocaine.

Bill Davis, a member of Veterans for Peace, said he wants Obama as president to end the war in Iraq by initiating a safe withdrawal of troops and asked for the country to end all torturing of prisoners.

Daryl Cochrane, assistant director of government relations for Gay Men’s Health Crisis Inc., said the next president must enact a national strategy to address the AIDS crisis in America.

This meeting is one of more than 1,000 similar events being held across the country and dozens being held in New York City.

The Democratic National Convention will begin Aug. 28.