The “People Speak” town hall meeting led Thursday evening by state Sen. Donzella James and Rep. Roger Bruce was a consortium of topics and ideas that ranged from education to jobs, child support reform and the justice system.

Interspersed throughout was information on the environment, the 2010 Census, credit scores, and help for Haiti.

The almost two-hour meeting, sponsored by Pastor Ben Lang, was at Cornerstone Baptist Church, where Lang presides.

There were about 50 people in attendance, including Douglas County Commission Chairman Tom Worthan, District Attorney David McDade and Board of Education members Larry Barnes, Jimmy Bartlett and Mike Miller.

Greg Baker and Henry Mitchell III — both candidates for the District 1 Board of Commissioners seat — and D.T. Jackson, who is running for the School Board District 2 post, were also present.

Many people were there in support of James, such as former Fulton County Commissioner A. Reginald Eaves, current Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves and state Rep. Sheila Jones (District 44).

James and Bruce gave a brief update of their activities in the state General Assembly, including bills they are sponsoring and committees on which they serve.

James said she is working on legislation to reduce the rate of high school dropouts in the district. She quoted a figure of 65 percent of students between 14 and 16 who leave school without graduating.

“We have to do something to address this,” she said, adding that the economy, home foreclosures and homelessness are contributing factors, along with kids who know they can’t be forced to go to school after they turn 16.

Her legislation — the Mandatory Attendance in School Bill — would change the age limit to 17, although she said she’d rather have it pushed to 18.

James also plugged her plans to form a group of 35 ambassadors from the 35th District whose role would be that of advisor to her. The positions are voluntary, and she said a diverse group of people from all careers would be ideal.

“We want to restore government of the people, by the people, for the people,” she said.

One piece of legislation Bruce is working on would allow parents to be able to go to school to take care of their child’s needs without the parents’ risk of losing their jobs for taking the time off. He is also supporting a one-cent sales tax that would fund regional transportation projects.

Richard Young, invited by James, talked about programs that deal with a green economy, including the E-Macro System, a trash-to-energy program capable of cleaning up a landfill and creating electrical power. He also spoke of the need for jobs and pushed the concept of small business incubators that would grow micro-enterprises into small businesses.

“Jobs don’t come from Washington, D.C. They come from businesses,” he said.

Tony Bryant, with whom James said she has been working for about six months, spoke on the importance of people knowing about credit scores.

“About 80 percent of jobs now look at your credit score,” he said. “If your credit score is low, they won’t hire you.”

He said credit scores are not an indication of a person’s measure or worth and is asking for legislation that would remove consideration of a credit score when hiring.

Bryant said credit scores affect just about everyone, although they were first introduced in 1998.

“They are affecting people’s ability to buy homes, go back to school, get jobs and health care,” he said. “If it is not affecting you, it will, or one of your family members.”

James said she is sponsoring a bill that would prohibit employers from using credit scores for hiring.

Jody Williams and Samuel Madison, members of The Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda, commented on the justice system and disparity in sentencing.

Melvin Hampton, another member of the group, spoke against the use of vouchers for private schools. He said they take money away from public schools.

Bruce said vouchers would not pay the cost of private schools and turned the topic to teacher furloughs. He, James and Jones said they are all taking furloughs in support of the teachers.

Anthony Moore spoke on the need for family law bills, DNA paternity laws and non-custodial parents legislation. He said judges in Georgia have too much discretion.

James said she was part of the child support changes after members of Fathers Are Parents, Too, came to her in the 1990s because they wanted representation.

James ended by emphasizing the importance of working together, not as Democrats or Republicans, but on both sides of the aisle.