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Nearly two months after Laurel held its special referendum election, People for Change — a Prince George's County-based political watchdog group — continues to meet with residents and voice its concern with the city's voting process, overcrowded schools and other issues.

Sandra Pruitt, a People for Change leader, said the organization has remained focused on Laurel because it wants to identify new leaders in the community who will push for residents' concerns and run for local office. People for Change, which has about 40 members, first became involved in Laurel when the group hosted a Sept. 1 rally, which was attended by about 80 residents, calling for additional polling places prior to the Sept. 8 referendum election.

"We encourage people to be more involved in the political process all year long," said Pruitt, a Mitchellville resident.

People for Change hosted an Oct. 27 "town hall meeting" at the Laurel Boys & Girls Club. About 75 people attended. A handful of public officials, including State Sen. James C. Rosapepe (D-Dist. 21), of College Park, and Robert Beery, director of the high school consortium for Prince George's County Public Schools, also attended, but no Laurel City Council members or representatives from the Laurel Police Department were present.

Adrian Rousseau, a People for Change leader and Laurel resident who has accused the city of having a discriminatory election process, expressed his disappointment with the meeting's lack of city representation. The group has encouraged dialogue between residents and officials.

"Once again, they've chosen to ignore us; they've chosen to pass on the opportunity to reach out to their community," Rousseau said.

Laurel City Councilman Michael R. Leszcz (At-Large) said the council did not receive a formal invitation to the event. Leszcz said his only exposure to People for Change was outside the Phelps Center at the Sept. 8 election, when the group handed out fliers telling residents how to vote.

Leszcz also said he's leery of the organization because of an earlier People for Change meeting during which residents called out Council President Gayle Snyder, who was sitting in the audience, for not addressing the concerns of her constituents and providing more polling places.

"I'm willing to talk to anybody, but I don't want to sit and get attacked," Leszcz said. "That's not what it's about."

Pruitt said the audience was only reacting to Snyder's refusal to address the crowd at the Sept. 1 meeting.

"People did respond to her not wanting to speak to them," Pruitt said. "They felt like they weren't good enough ... there were definitely tensions."

A number of residents who attended the Oct. 27 meeting said People for Change is providing an important way for them to become more involved in local government. Laurel resident Maurice McMillan said he attended the meeting because he believes the city is not adequately supporting local youth programs, such as the Laurel Boys & Girls Club, which has faced financial struggles in recent months.

"To me, they are encouraging [youth] to do the wrong thing," said McMillan, whose 13-year-old son, Demoine, participates in club activities.

Barbara Weidman, president of the Laurel High School PTSA, said she was impressed with the meeting's turnout and looked forward to participating in future discussions.

"The only way I can make a difference is to get involved," she said.