African-Americans in Des Moines will get a chance Thursday to voice their concerns and ideas to leaders of three of the city’s well-known black non-profit agencies.

The meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Polk County Senior Center at 2008 Forest Ave.

Driving the meeting are three men who didn’t always get along: Jerald Brantley, Ako Abdul-Samad and Wayne Ford. Brantley is publisher of the Iowa Bystander and executive director of Spectrum Resources, which provides ex-offender reentry programs; Abdul-Samad is founder and CEO of Creative Visions; Wayne Ford is founder and executive director of Urban Dreams. Both Abdul-Samad and Ford serve as Iowa legislators.

The goal of the meeting is to hear what people have to say and then develop an action plan.

“They can let us know what’s going on and what their needs are,” said Brantley. “The community can give their input on things. Things they need or want done in the community or come and blast us.”

Brantley said: “We’re trying to show that three alpha male personalities can work together without killing each other. We can come together and do something productive, versus arguing, squabbling and fighting against each other.”

In the Oct. 15 issue of the Iowa Bystander, Brantley wrote, of Thursday’s forum: “You will have the opportunity to ask the tough questions, and make the important observations and take part in the planning, action and delivery to make our African-American communities strong and vibrant again. This is the first step of a great new renaissance in Des Moines, one that has the potential to lead to the development of economic, political and social capital that will enhance African-American life in Des Moines.”

Elected officials Abdul-Samad and Ford joined forces last week with Jonathan Narcisse, a Des Moines school board member, to study the disproportionate suspension rates of black students.