Re-Cap of My Very First Caucuses at the Democratic National Convention (DNC)

Monday Caucuses & Michelle Obama to Speak Tonight!
By Michelle Berry - Aug 25th, 2008 at 6:08 pm EDT
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Update from Michelle Berry (pledged to Senator Obama) from CD-22(CD-22, the district led by Congressman Maurice Hinchey includes all of Sullivan and Ulster Counties and parts of Broome, Delaware, Dutchess, Orange, Tompkins and Tioga counties).

Hey friends, well, we went to our very first convention caucuses ever! I was particularly proud because I was also elected by the NYS delegation as one of 33, Vice-Chairs of the NY Delegation. Wow.

Here are some of the caucus updates I was able to scribble down while also being in rapt attention..and to read more, log on here, as it's about Michelle Obama's visit to the African American caucus the following day:

http://thedelegates.net/2008/08/michelle-obama-at-the-african-american-caucus/

African-American Issues:

African American Delegates at Historic Levels at DNC 2008

With a warm greeting from Denver's first African-American Mayor, Wellington Webb, the first caucus Brian and I attended was off to a great start. We listened intently to issues related to tax credits, the urban agenda, urban and rural needs for African Americans, education, incarceration, youth needs and more. The line-up included some of the best and brightest minds in America, like noted commentator and economist and President of Bennett College, Dr. Julianne Malveaux, up and coming Newark, NJ Mayor Cory A. Booker, Geoffrey Canada, President and CEO of the nationally and internationally-recognized Harlem Children's Zone (according to a TIME magazine, "the program covers 7,400 kids from birth through age 21 and plans to reach 10,000 by 2011.") Other inspiring panelists included Columbus, Ohio Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Marc H. Morial CEO of the National Urban League.

Broad-based themes included dealing with adverse affects of the last 8 years of the Bush Presidency, interdependence, cooperation between systems and agencies, the power of education to transform the lives of black youth, the needs of seniors, the importance of valuing our kids and our communities and support for Senator Obama's initiative to "reclaim and redeem" our community's fathers.

The overall theme was that Senator Obama would bring the type of leadership, understanding of African American needs and a bi-partisan effort to problem-solving for our most pressing urban challenges. Morial, who remains non-partisan due to his post, stressed that whoever wins in November, must be deeply invested in understand the complexity of issues affecting the lives of working Americans and the poor.

Michelle Obama, will be at the Gavel at Pepsi this evening and also appearing at the 2nd phase of the African American caucus this coming Wednesday. On our way to the next caucus, we spotted Tom Brokaw at his own book signing!

LGBT Issues: 27% Increase in LGBT Delegates at DNC 2008

Our next foray into the dizzying array of convention caucus offerings, was to the LGBT caucus. There, we listened keenly to the need for equality, justice and diversity to prevail in our leadership. Of particular interest, was a discussion of the battle for social and economic justice. We heard from the first openly gay male who is also Latino, representing Southern California. A roll call of states with LGBT delegates was a highlight of the caucus, which also included a full range of advocacy for anti-gay legislation, a call for Democrats to not support anti-gay candidates running for office and a consideration of funding LGBT candidates outside your district or area. Rick Stafford and Mirian Saez, Chairs of the LGBT delegation announced that this was the largest LGBT delegation in DNC Convention history. Tim Gill and U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin stressed the value of building trust, personal relationships and grassroots efforts to ensure better representation of important issues for LGBT communities.

Native American and Rural Caucus
We plan to check these out tomorrow and the next day, so stay tuned!

Hispanic Caucus

Brian and I met up with another NY Delegate who went to Hispanic Caucus today. We'll post more information as we hear it, but from what we have heard, a special thank you to this delegation was issued by NY Senator Clinton.
Well, Brian has duties at the Pepsi Center this evening as part of a special assignment. He's gone on ahead and will call to let me know when speeches and proceedings will begin this evening, which features a much-anticipated address by Michelle Obama.

And did I mention how COOL our CREDENTIALS are???
Thanks for visiting us in Blog-Land. More later and many good wishes to everyone back at home.

Warm regards,
Michelle Courtney Berry
LIVE FROM DENVER :)