District 28 Assemblyman Evan Low and members from various organizations are hosting a town hall meeting on April 1 focusing on civic engagement.

The town hall will include speakers from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Services, Immigration Rights and Education Network.

The meeting is set for 9 to 11 a.m. at Orchard City Banquet Hall Community Center, 1 W. Campbell Ave. Registration not required, although an RSVP is strongly suggested so that adequate seating can be provided.

“We really want to empower people and have a good dialogue,” Low said in an interview with this newspaper.

Low added that he invites people with different political ideologies to come to the town hall to hear different perspectives and ask questions.

“We have to have an open dialogue; otherwise, we’re going to be in our respective corners,” Low said. “That’s how we build community. It is critical for one to be able to articulate a viewpoint. It’s free speech. It’s the fundamental core of our democracy.”

Low said he hopes the town hall will allow people to openly speak about how they can get involved at a local, state or national level, while also providing information on particular state and national issues that have arisen since the election of President Donald Trump.

“I’m hoping for an opportunity for people to know that they can access their public servants and public representatives and try to build off of that,” Low said.

Low, a former Campbell mayor and city councilman, is also hoping attendees walk away with a greater understanding of what he does as an assemblyman.

Low also said he’d like to see people “build a sense of community that is inclusive.”

District 28 encompasses Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, and areas of West San Jose, Willow Glen, Cambrian, and Almaden Valley in San Jose.

To RSVP, email Assemblymember.low@assembly.ca.gov.