Maya Angelou: Not just important - imperative

I received an email from Maya Angelou two hours ago, with this subject line: Not just important – imperative. I think it's beautiful, and should be shared beyond email.

photo: Maya Angelou. Adria Richards, Flickr

Dear Nicole, 

I am not writing to you as a black voter, or a woman voter, or as a voter who is over 70 years old and six feet tall. I am writing to you as a representative of this great country -- as an American.

It is your job to vote. It is your responsibility, your right, and your privilege. You may be pretty or plain, heavy or thin, gay or straight, poor or rich.  

But remember this: In an election, every voice is equally powerful -- don't underestimate your vote. Voting is the great equalizer.

Voting has already begun in some states that President Obama needs to win. So please use this handy tool to make sure your friends in those key states know where to cast their ballot. You will be doing them a great favor.

As a country, we can scarcely perceive the magnitude of our progress.

My grandmother and my uncle experienced circumstances that would break your heart. When they went to vote, they were asked impossible questions like, "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?" When they couldn't answer, they couldn't vote.

 I once debated with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. about whether an African American would ever be elected president. He believed it would happen within the next 40 years at the time -- I believed it would never happen within my lifetime.

I have never been happier to have been proven wrong.

And since President Barack Obama's historic election, we've moved forward in courageous and beautiful ways. More students can afford college, and more families have access to affordable health insurance. Women have greater opportunities to get equal pay for equal work.

Yet as Rev. King wrote, "All progress is precarious."

So don't sit on the sidelines. Don't hesitate. Don't have any regrets. Vote.

Go, rise up, and let your friends and family in early vote states know where they can vote today. We must make our voices heard:

http://my.barackobama.com/Help-Your-Friends-Vote-Early

Your vote is not only important. It's imperative.

Thank you,
Dr. Maya Angelou


P.S. -- Not on Facebook? Send your friends to vote.barackobama.com -- don't let technology get in the way of your incredible duty to our democracy.

The boys of Wrong Direction have a campaign message for Romney.

Full frontal is a coalition of independent artists and media folk promoting civic engagement. It is an independent, pro-equality movement not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by a campaign. They call themselves an "anti-PAC."

Through their website you can get information about registering to vote in US elections, and can learn how to get involved with the marriage equality movement.

White House Champions of Change: American Diaspora with roots in Horn of Africa

Yesterday, the White House honored 14 leaders in American Diaspora communities with roots in the Horn of Africa as Champions of Change. These leaders are helping to build stronger neighborhoods in communities across the country, and are working to mobilize networks across borders to address global challenges.

I found out about it via Akili Dada, an organization that I got to visit when I was in Nairobi last summer. As a result I was able to watch both panels on the live stream yesterday. I particularly loved hearing from the high school and college students on the panels. Thanks to @JonCarson44 for hosting on behalf of the White House!

Free And Equal In Dignity And Rights - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton

Thanks to my friend Greg Palmer for sharing this speech with me today. Remarks given on December 6, 2011 at Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland.



Personal highlight:

And finally, to LGBT men and women worldwide, let me say this: Wherever you live and whatever the circumstances of your life, whether you are connected to a network of support or feel isolated and vulnerable, please know that you are not alone. People around the globe are working hard to support you and to bring an end to the injustices and dangers you face. That is certainly true for my country. And you have an ally in the United States of America and you have millions of friends among the American people.

The Obama Administration defends the human rights of LGBT people as part of our comprehensive human rights policy and as a priority of our foreign policy. In our embassies, our diplomats are raising concerns about specific cases and laws, and working with a range of partners to strengthen human rights protections for all. In Washington, we have created a task force at the State Department to support and coordinate this work. And in the coming months, we will provide every embassy with a toolkit to help improve their efforts. And we have created a program that offers emergency support to defenders of human rights for LGBT people.

This morning, back in Washington, President Obama put into place the first U.S. Government strategy dedicated to combating human rights abuses against LGBT persons abroad. Building on efforts already underway at the State Department and across the government, the President has directed all U.S. Government agencies engaged overseas to combat the criminalization of LGBT status and conduct, to enhance efforts to protect vulnerable LGBT refugees and asylum seekers, to ensure that our foreign assistance promotes the protection of LGBT rights, to enlist international organizations in the fight against discrimination, and to respond swiftly to abuses against LGBT persons.

I am also pleased to announce that we are launching a new Global Equality Fund that will support the work of civil society organizations working on these issues around the world. This fund will help them record facts so they can target their advocacy, learn how to use the law as a tool, manage their budgets, train their staffs, and forge partnerships with women’s organizations and other human rights groups. We have committed more than $3 million to start this fund, and we have hope that others will join us in supporting it.

More here.

White House announces: 100 Roundtables with Young Americans

I was on the White House Call with Young Americans today, run by the White House outreach team. The team announced a new initiative -

Between now and May 31st, Administration officials will be participating in 100 Roundtables with Young Americans all across the country. Host one in your community, and if you’d like - ask someone from the Administration to participate.

Details on how to set one up here.

A participant on today's conference call asked the White House outreach team what the White House considers "young". The team said that they were not going to be specific, but that they are interested in hearing from a wide audience - elementary school students up through Americans in their mid-30's.

What's the likelihood that someone from the Administration will show up at your roundtable? It depends on scheduling.

Here's the promo video that the outreach team referenced on today's call:



If you'd like to find out about upcoming calls like this then just start following the DNC Youth Council on Facebook! :)

DREAM Act update from the White House

I missed part of yesterday's White House live stream with Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Cecilia Munoz. I love that the entire session was archived:



More "stuff" from the White House Office of Public Engagement, here. This reminds me - I have been meaning to watch this video of Obama's meeting with Young African Leaders for ages, now:)

To find out about upcoming White House live streams go here.

Another GOTV volunteer opportunity

I like everything that John Legend does, so naturally I'm a fan of this video:



The NAACP has set up an online phone banking program so that anyone can help the NAACP get out the vote. Check it out here.

I don't know who you would be calling, but the tutorial makes their online program look very easy to use:

This is Why I'm Volunteering for Boxer & Obama. Will you join us? Only FOUR days left!

At 4:50pm on Thursday evening I was sitting in the office building where I work, less than two miles from the site of the Giants v Rangers game. I had one eye on the internet coverage of the game, and the other on the phone because I was excitedly waiting for President Obama to call me.



OK ... maybe Obama wasn't going to personally dial my number, and maybe I was not the only Democratic Party Youth Leader waiting for their phone to ring. But I was still kind of freaking out:)

After listening to President Obama’s remarks, and some follow up commentary from the College Democrats of America and the Democratic National Committee’s Youth Council, I put the Youth Leaders call on hold, and dialed into a 5pm call for the Democratic Party’s California Team with Obama and Senator Barbara Boxer.

Obama talked about why he supports Senator Boxer, and encouraged us all to volunteer in the few remaining days before the election. Obama has visited California several times this year to support Senator Boxer's re-election campaign. Jill Biden and Michelle were here recently, too.



Here's a Barbara Boxer campaign radio spot featuring Obama:



In addition to hearing from Obama on the Thursday night calls, I really enjoyed hearing from Senator Boxer. She has been my favorite senator since I started paying close attention to politics after the Twin Towers fell during my second year at Pace Law School. Following my graduation from law school I moved from New York to San Francisco, where I got to be one of Senator Boxer's constituents:)

Two years later I made the cross-country move again, from San Francisco to Washington, DC because I dreamed of working for Senator Boxer on international marine debris issues. It took 4 months, a job at a coffee shop and another at a call center, plus 2 internships and probably a hundred informational interviews, but I actually secured a job working for Senator Boxer!


photo: Co-worker Kelly & I, June 2008

While I later left Senator Boxer's employ to run a voter registration drive that I thought might benefit the Obama Presidential Campaign, I will always be loyal to Senator Boxer.

That's why I've been down at the San Francisco Democratic Party campaign office a few evenings after work recently, calling fellow San Francisco Democrats to remind them to vote, and that's why I'm going door to door in San Francisco neighborhoods this weekend with Organizing for America, to remind people to vote on Tuesday.

I need to know that I am doing everything that I can to make sure that Obama has the allies that he needs in Congress, like Senator Boxer. As MoveOn.org said in a recent email: "Do you really need clean socks that bad?" HA. No, my dirty socks can wait until Nov 3.


photo: West LA volunteers

If you feel similarly, then what can you do? LOTS.

1.) Join up with Organizing for America to make phone calls to Democrats who voted for the first time in Nov 2008. We need to make sure that they go back to the polls on Tuesday. Even making 10 minutes worth of calls will help. (Note that when you click on the link here, you'll be taken to the California OFA page. If you live in a different state then go to the top right-hand corner of the page and change your location.)

2.) If you can volunteer in person (either at an OFA office making phone calls, or canvassing your city's neighborhoods) then google "Organizing for America" plus your state's name to find your local OFA office. For example, here's the California page. Then call the office, or stop by to find out how you can help. This is not a time to be shy!

3.) Of course you can donate money if you want. The Boxer Store is having a sale!

4.) I voted early via absentee ballot. I typed up how I voted, and shared it in a "note" on Facebook. Based on what I've read (and the positive feedback I've received from friends) it seems like this personal contact really works.

5.) Finally, DON'T FORGET TO VOTE on Nov 2. Make sure your family members, friends, co-workers, professors, neighbors, etc vote! If you can take the day off from work then Organizing for America could really use your help. Again, find your local OFA office to find out where your help is most needed on Election Day.

THANK YOU for anything that you can do.



GO TEAM BOXER:) Go Obama! GO VOLUNTEERS!!! United together, we CAN do this.

Election Day Reminders from the Music World

The 2010 White House Science Fair

On Oct 18 middle school and high school students from across the country brought their award-winning science fair projects to the White House's State Dining Room.

The White House Science Fair is part of Obama’s Educate to Innovate program. Obama has made STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education a priority for his Administration.

Here's his press conference with the students:

The Obamas, John Legend & 35,000 Ohio State Students. Sun Oct 17.

Ah, my favorite story again:) Grabbed this from the OSU speech transcript:

Look, this is the same theory they have been peddling for years. And, Ohio, it is up to you to tell them we do not want what they are selling. We’ve been there before and we are not going back. (Applause.)

Let me -- I’ve been explaining to people around the country it’s as if they drove America’s car into the ditch. They drove it into the ditch, and it was a big ditch. And so I came along and Ted Strickland came along and we put on our boots and we went down into the ditch. And it was hot down there. And it was muddy. (Laughter.) There were bugs. (Laughter.)

But we said, that’s okay. Even though we didn’t drive it into the ditch, it’s still our responsibility to get that car out of the ditch. (Applause.)

And so we pushed and we pushed. And every once in a while, we’d look up. And up on the road, you’d see the Republicans standing there, fanning themselves. (Laughter.) Sipping on a Slurpee. (Laughter.) Having a latte. (Laughter.)

And we’d say, “Hey, why don’t you come down and help push a little bit, we need some help down here.” And they’d say, “No, that’s all right.” (Laughter.) They said, “But you need to push harder. You’re not pushing the right way.”

And we just kept on pushing. We kept on pushing. Finally we get this car up on level ground. It’s pointing in the right direction. We’re ready to move America forward. (Applause.) But the next thing we know, we get this tap on our shoulder, and we look back and who is it? It’s the Republicans. And they say, “We want the keys back.” (Laughter.) You can’t have the keys back. You don’t know how to drive! (Applause.)

Now, if you want, you can roll with us. (Laughter.) But you got to be in the back seat. (Applause.) I don’t know if you’ve noticed, if you want to take your car forward, you got to put it in what?

AUDIENCE: D!

THE PRESIDENT: In D. If you want to go backwards, it goes what?

AUDIENCE: R!

THE PRESIDENT: We don’t want to go backwards. We’re moving America forward. (Applause.)



Michelle & Barack's speeches:




John Legend's performance:

A Conversation with Obama @ George Washington University

Earlier this week I blogged about the Obama Youth Forum that took place today @ George Washington University. Just watched the archived footage here.

The last segment, in which President Obama walks around the room, attempting to shake the hands of all 250 guests, made me cry:

A Conversation with President Obama on MTV

Please vote on Nov 2. If you are not yet registered to vote, then do so ASAP. The deadline has passed in many states, and in others is quickly approaching - in California where I live, your voter registration form must be postmarked by Monday.

Yes, I love Taylor Swift. She Votes! :)

Excerpt from this 2008 People Magazine piece:

The 18-year-old country star waited in line in Sumner County, Tenn., for an hour and a half on the last day of the state's early voting period. "I wasn't going to be able to vote on Nov. 4 because I'm going to be in L.A.," she explains. "But there wasn't a chance I was going to let this slip away."

"The line wrapped around the building," she laughs, "but I can honestly tell you that it was worth the wait. I felt like I really accomplished something special. It's like exercising – you think about it and you're like, 'Wow, there's going to be a long line, there's going to be a lot of effort involved,' but afterwards you feel so good."

While she wouldn't tell People who she voted for, I stumbled upon this earlier tonight. Skip to 2:24 minutes.

Wind it back to 2008

Jack's 2008 Village Green @ UCSB. If you listen closely you'll hear someone speaking about voter registration in the background, at one point. I would like to think that's me:)



Obama's Celebratory Home State Ball, post the big win:

Obama on MTV :: Thurs 4pm PST

A Conversation with Obama

It'll be hour-long commercial-free program, live streaming from the Washington, DC event on MTV.com, BET.com, CMT.com and Tr3s.com

Thurs Oct 13
4pm EST/ 3pm CT (and tape-delayed at 4pm PST)

250 pre-selected young people over the age of 18 will be in the audience, able to ask questions of Obama.

Viewers can also ask questions via Twitter:
From now through the live show, Twitter users can submit questions for the town hall by using the hashtag "#ask" plus any specific issue of interest to them. So, if you'd like to ask President Obama about how he plans to create jobs, you'd tweet "#askjobs" and then your question.

The town hall will be hosted by MTV personality Sway Calloway, BET’s April Woodard, and CMT’s Katie Cook.

If you miss it, The show will also available on-demand 30 days after its initial airing.

Obama: "The Surest Path to Success is to surround yourself with Brilliant Women."

This appeared on President Obama's Facebook wall this morning.



I like that Obama referenced the young women in the room so many times during his speech. This talk focuses on access to education & jobs, and private-public partnerships that Obama has coordinated to make this happen. Obama references initiatives Race to the Top, Change the Equation, Skills for America's Future (in partnership with the Aspen Institute), & the recent White House Council on Women & Girls' Women's Entrepreneurship Summit.

Because Michelle asked me to.

I just received this email from Michelle Obama. It went out to everyone who receives the Organizing for America emails. It inspired me to give (again).

Nicole --

I've always said that 2008 was an amazing journey. But nothing from that election struck me more than seeing so many giving their time and lending their voices because they were ready for change.

Two years ago, in state after state -- no matter where I went -- I saw grandmothers out canvassing, college kids traveling to swing states and sleeping on gymnasium floors, and people using their lunch breaks to make a few more calls. So many got involved for the very first time, each one bringing others along with them.

It was inspiring to witness.

Now, Barack and I need you to help show that energy again. Because this is such a critical moment, a group of grassroots donors are ready to match any contribution you can give.

Across the country, teachers and firefighters, truckers and nurses have made pledges of support hoping to inspire you to take the next step. Because of them, a $3 contribution will become $6.

Donate today and answer your fellow supporter's pledge to match whatever you can give.

Here's how it works:

-- You choose the amount you are able to give and another supporter willing to match that amount doubles it.

-- You can choose to write a note to the individual who matched your donation and tell them why you decided to own a piece of this movement.

Since the day Barack announced his plan to run for office, supporters like you have made everything we've achieved possible.

That's as true now as it was on Election Day in 2008.

You're the reason we reformed a health care system that was broken, progress that means so much to so many. You're the reason we reined in Wall Street banks that were out of control.

But Barack can't keep making progress without strong allies in Congress. And now the same people who've opposed us at every turn are targeting the folks who voted to make change real. They think we can't do it again.

But they're wrong.

If the folks who I saw in 2008 -- those of you who packed up your bags and slept on floors and made calls and talked to voters day after day -- are ready to stand with us again, then I'm ready for any challenge that lies ahead.

That's why we're asking you to help grow this movement once again.

The plan for this election is based on the lessons we learned two years ago. Our organizers and volunteers are knocking on doors every weekend, making calls every night. Your support will help to fund this work.

Another supporter is asking you to join them today -- and has pledged to match whatever you can give.

Please donate $3 or more to help grow this movement before November 2nd:

https://donate.barackobama.com/MichelleMatch

Thank you,

Michelle Obama


Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Contributions or gifts to the Democratic National Committee are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes.

U Wisc Recap: YES WE CAN. but are you registered to vote at your current address?

I was streaming President Obama's Rally @ the University of Wisconsin live, yesterday, via the Barack Obama website. According to Rachel Maddow, the University police reported that there were 26,000+ people in attendance at the Rally.


photo: University of Wisconsin Sept 28, 2010

Prior to the start of the Rally, Ben Harper shared his thoughts on voting with Organizing for America.


photo: Ben Harper @ sound check yesterday

Ben Harper: I’m here in Madison to beat back my own apathy and be proactive. It’s crucial to get out and vote. If you don’t vote, you don’t have the right to complain. I pledge to vote. I always vote. It’s one of the great American opportunities. And although I can’t sit here and tell you to vote, to be an active member of the community you’ve got to vote. Direct action beats bureaucracy nine times out of 10. Imagine if you didn’t have the right to vote. One of the most crucial social and political statements you can make is to take the time to put pen to paper or to punch the paper.

During the Rally, Ben played "Two Hands" and "Better Way." I haven't found video of his performance, yet. But I did finally locate a video of the President's speech:




Here's my favorite part of his speech. If you want to hear Obama say it himself, it starts at approx 30:00 min into the above video.

So me and Russ Feingold and Tammy Baldwin, we all went down into the ditch. And we put on our boots, and it was muddy down there and dirty and dusty and we were sweating and we’re pushing the car out of the ditch. And every so often, we’d look up and see the Republicans standing there. They’re just standing there sipping on a Slurpee -- -- and waving at us. And we’d say, “Well, come on down and help.” They’d say, “No, no, no, but you should push harder. You’re not pushing the right way.”

But we understood we had to get the car out of the ditch so we’re pushing and we’re pushing. Finally -- finally -- we get it up on level ground. Finally we get it up on level ground. And look, let’s face it, it’s a little dented and a little busted and it needs a tune-up and the fenders all need to be hammered out a little bit, new paint job. But we’re finally on level ground, we’re moving. Suddenly we get a tap on the shoulder and we look behind us and who is it? It’s the Republicans. And they’re asking for the keys back.

And we’ve got to tell them, you can’t have the keys back. You don’t know how to drive. You don’t know how to drive. You don’t know how to drive. You can’t have them back.

I mean, I hope everybody has noticed when you want to go forward in your car, what do you do? You put it in “D.” When you want to go backwards, you put it in “R.” Don’t go back into the ditch. That’s not a coincidence. That’s not a coincidence, people.

So ultimately, whether they get the keys back is up to you. Look, there is no question the other side is excited. They have been pumped up to think that Obama is a socialist, and he’s this and he is that, and he’s for big government, and he’s responsible for all the -- look, they have been fed a lot of information.

And there’s some well-meaning people out there who are understandably scared of debt and deficits, and they see what’s going on. They see jobs being shipped overseas, and they’re not sure what’s happening. And we are in charge. And they’re saying, well, why hasn’t change happened faster?

And so you can persuade them maybe to give the Republicans the keys back if they’re not hearing the other side of the argument. So a lot of them are fired up. And thanks to a recent Supreme Court decision, they are being helped along this year, as I said, by special interest groups that are allowed to spend unlimited amounts of money on attack ads. They don’t even have to disclose who’s behind the ads. You’ve all seen the ads. Every one of these groups is run by Republican operatives. Every single one of them -- even though they’re posing as nonprofit groups with names like Americans for Prosperity, or the Committee for Truth in Politics, or Americans for Apple Pie. I made that last one up.

But this is why -- look, this is why we’ve got to work even harder in this election. This is why we’ve got to fight their millions of dollars with millions of our voices, voices who are ready to finish what we started in 2008.

Because if everybody who fought for change in 2008 shows up to vote in 2010, we will win. We will win. The polls say the same thing. We will win.

For the full transcript of the speech go here.

ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE? Have you moved since the last time you voted? Changed your legal name? If so, then you need to fill out a new form. You cannot register to vote online. You must go to this website, print out the form for your state, put it in an envelope, and mail it in. Deadlines for some states are as early as Oct 1 if you plan to vote on Nov 2.

Not going to be home on Nov 2? No problem. You can still vote, but you must request an Absentee Ballot from your home state, and have it sent to you at college, or wherever you will be on Nov 2, so that you can vote by mail. Go here to request your Absentee Ballot.

Need a reminder phone call before Election Day, to make sure you get to the polls? Pick your favorite musician from this list and they'll call you to remind you to vote.

How about Willie Nelson? He'll call you ...


I know which musician this car owner would want to get an Election Day reminder phone call from:)


PS - I discovered that Obama made a surprise visit to Madison, Wisconsin's La Follette High School yesterday, too. I love these photos of Obama with the students! Here's my favorite:

Ben Harper & Obama College Student Rally Tomorrow. Watch Live.

Ben Harper will appear with President Obama at the University of Wisconsin's Madison campus tomorrow (Tues) to encourage young people to vote on Nov 2.

This rally, the first in a series of college campus rallies Obama has scheduled in order to get young people who voted for him in 2008 to the polls this Nov 2, is free and open to the public. Gates open @ 4:30pm EST, and event is scheduled to begin @ 5:45pm EST. But the live stream won't begin until 6:30pm EST - you can watch here. VP Biden, Members of the Cabinet, and DNC Chairman Tim Kaine are holding events at other college campuses on Tues, and 100+ campuses are holding watch parties. Find one near you here.

Tomorrow's event will last several hours. If you're near Wisc & want to attend in person, then Ben has all of the details up on his website here.

Ben Harper has also partnered with HeadCount to encourage music fans to get out to vote on Nov 2. Check out the PSA featuring Ben:



To sign up to receive a free, non-partisan Election Day reminder phone call from your fave artist, go here.

For more info about Obama's message for young people check out the transcript of the conference call that he held earlier today with college journalists, here.

Note: I couldn't find any specific info about the rest of Obama's college tour, but I hope that he comes out to the San Francisco Bay Area:) Michelle Obama will be touring California at the end of October, though, to support Democratic women who are running for re-election! Michelle's tour will also include stops in New York, Chicago, Denver, Seattle and Milwaukee.

New John Legend & The Roots Album on its way : Wake Up Everybody

John Legend covering "Wake Up Everybody", originally performed in the 1970's by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, with Teddy Pendergrass singing lead vocals.



Grabbed the above video from this HeadCount blog post:

In the lead up to the Midterm elections, John Legend and The Roots are dropping an album of covers called "Wake Up Everybody!" with the explicit intention of encouraging civic awareness amongst young people.

The album will also include this leaked track by The Roots & John Legend, "Hard Times", originally performed by Baby Huey and the Babysitters:



The album comes out September 12. You can pre-order it here. Looking forward to it! I've loved John Legend since his involvement with the 2008 Obama Campaign.



If you're out there ...

Pledge to vote in the next US elections on November 2, 2010 and get a reminder phone call from one of your favorite artists. Sign up here.