We are proud to stand at the helm of the finest Convention team we’ve known. As the arm of the national Party tasked with planning and organizing the Democratic National Convention in Denver, the Democratic National Convention Committee has been at this for more than a year. And we take great pride in our work. That's why we were astonished to read in Sunday’s New York Times such a gross misrepresentation of the groundwork that has been laid to date.

Check out this feature on DNCC CEO Leah D. Daughtry from politico.com:

‘Everybody’s got values,” said Leah Daughtry.

That includes Democrats as well as Republicans, according to Daughtry, who, on the phone from Denver, speaks in the smooth alto and full sentences of a practiced orator.

The poli-sci-major-turned-Pentecostal-preacher describes herself as “a pastor, a preacher, a person of faith.” She doesn’t mention that she’s a political powerhouse who has made the V-word her party’s new mantra — first as chief of staff for the Democratic National Committee and now as CEO of the Democratic convention in August.

In 2005, Daughtry created the Faith in Action Initiative to “ensure that there is ongoing, authentic outreach to communities of faith,” she said. The seven-member group meets regularly to map out the left’s new strategy on religion, which doesn’t involve ignoring it. The New York Times called her “the quiet architect.”

Click here to read the full story 

Earlier today, I had the honor of appearing on ‘Pastors and Ministries of the Week,’ a radio show on KLDC-AM 1220, one of Denver’s leading gospel radio stations. As a fifth generation pastor and new, but proud resident of Denver, I’m always happy to update local communities of faith on our planning and progress. I tune in online to KLDC-AM every now and then, so it was a treat to be in the studio today and see where it all happens. My friend, Leon Owens, hosted the show. We had a great time catching up and talking about some of the faith initiatives we’re working on for Convention week. For the first time ever, we will open the Convention with an interfaith gathering open to the public on Sunday, August 24 in Denver. We’ll announce speakers for the event and more details in the next few weeks, so stay tuned. In addition, we’re hard at work planning our first-ever ‘People of Faith’ caucus to meet regularly during Convention week and discuss issues of importance to faith communities around the country. We’re making great strides this year and I invite you all to keep watching – and listening – as we announce more.

The DNCC launched its Green Delegate Challenge today -- a new initiative to encourage friendly competition among the states and offer special rewards for the delegation or delegations that demonstrate the highest level of commitment to offsetting their carbon footprint from attending the Convention in Denver.

And speaking of competition (or lack thereof), watch this video for more on our selection of carbon offset projects for this challenge. Through Native Energy, the DNCC is supporting the Wray School District Wind Turbine in the Democratic National Convention's home state of Colorado and the Focus the Nation Wind Turbine on a family farm in....well, you'll just have to watch and see....

The local CBS affiliate in Denver trailed DNCC CEO Leah Daughtry last week for a behind-the-scenes look at all that goes in to preparations for the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

We posted earlier this week about the fifth “Convention Conversations” community forum in Lakewood, Colorado.  If you couldn’t make it out on Monday, you can catch up on everything you missed right here at DemConvention.com, with video from DNCC CEO Leah Daughtry, U.S. Congressman Ed Perlmutter and the Q&A session that followed.

DNCC CEO Leah Daughtry talks about planning for the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver and the ways in which the residents of Lakewood and surrounding communities can get involved.

U.S. Congressman Ed Perlmutter (CO-7) discusses his experiences at past Conventions and what Denver and Lakewood can expect from the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

DNCC CEO Leah Daughtry and U.S. Congressman Ed Perlmutter answer Lakewood residents’ questions about the 2008 Democratic National Convention.  Topics include Convention speakers, housing, surrounding events and super delegates.

At our fifth community forum, DNCC CEO Leah Daughtry joined U.S. Congressman Ed Perlmutter, Lakewood Mayor Bob Murphy and a great crowd of local Democrats and business owners in Lakewood, Colorado.  The speakers discussed the opportunities for economic benefit that the City of Lakewood faces in the run up to and during the 2008 Democratic National Convention and also outlined the many ways that Lakewood residents can become involved.  The forum took place in the new downtown Belmar area, a modern and attractive array of residences, restaurants and boutiques in Lakewood.  Leah and Congressman Perlmutter discussed the opportunities for the city as a destination for delegates and other guests during the Convention.  Click the video below to see a quick teaser of the “Convention Conversations” in Lakewood.  Additional video from the event will be available soon.  You can also see what the Associated Press had to say about the event here.



The “Convention Conversations” series was launched in Denver last September and has travelled to Pueblo, Boulder and Las Vegas in the past few months.  Blog entries and videos from past community forums can be found here.

Yesterday we posted here on our service project at Clinica Tepeyac in Denver -- part of the DNCC Service Days series.  For a closer look at our service project and Texas State Senator Van de Putte’s visit, check out our new video chronicling the event below.

In our seventh community service project in the Denver area, DNCC staff spent yesterday at Clinica Tepeyac, a community health center serving uninsured working families in Denver.  Around 20 staffers crammed around a conference table piled high with files and compiled statistical information for the clinic.  The paperwork needed to be prepared for the clinic’s application for State Primary Care Funds, which could provide Clinica Tepeyac with more than $400,000 in funding.

Joining us was Texas State Senator and Co-Chair of the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Leticia Van de Putte.  As a pharmacist for more than 28 years, Senator Van de Putte is a strong advocate for children, veterans, improved access to health care, quality education and economic development issues.  The clinic’s executive director, David Lack showed Senator Van de Putte around Clinica Tepeyac, along with DNCC CEO Leah Daughtry and 9th district City Councilwoman Judy H. Montero.  Check out this article by the Associated Press on our day at the clinic.

DNCC Service Days are monthly projects that focus in one of three areas: youth, greening and the combined issues of homelessness and hunger.  To see our previous posts on service events, click here.  Also, check back soon to see video from this event.

After several months out on the road – traveling to Pueblo, Boulder and even over the state line to Las Vegas – the “Convention Conversations” community forum series returns to the Denver metro area on March 3rd, when 7th District Congressman Ed Perlmutter joins DNCC CEO Leah Daughtry at the Belmar Center in Lakewood.

After unprecedented turnout and enthusiasm around Colorado’s early caucuses, this latest “Convention Conversations” community forum will provide an opportunity to find out how you can get engaged in the next step of the political process: the 2008 Democratic National Convention right here in Denver. We welcome your questions and ideas on making the 2008 Convention the most exciting and successful yet.

Mark your calendar:

What: “Convention Conversations” Community Forum
Who:  DNCC CEO Leah Daughtry & U.S. Representative Ed Perlmutter
Where: The Belmar Center in Lakewood - Map it
When: 11:30 a.m., Monday, March 3, 2008

Please RSVP to rsvp@demconvention.com, as space is limited.