Iowa: Caucus Training Empowers Blacks

Sonya McCrea couldn't explain to her five children on Saturday morning the meaning and purpose of the Iowa caucuses.

McCrea, who has never participated in the caucuses, changed that by Saturday afternoon. She was one of 60 people who attended a three-hour caucus training session organized by the Des Moines chapter of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement.

"This is powerful," said McCrea, of the training. "I need to get involved."

The nonprofit grass-roots organization, which works on community issues, held the training session to help boost the numbers of black voters who will participate in the caucuses on Jan. 3 and to encourage them to become involved in community issues.

Black leaders recently have said it's critical that more blacks become engaged in the political process to help address the troubling issues in black communities, including disproportionate incarceration and school suspension rates, among others.

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