During the last six months of our work around the country, it became evident to us that potential activists who lived in cities did not have the opportunity to receive state-of-the-art political training. At 21st Century Democrats we believe that an essential component to Get-Out-the-Vote activities in urban areas is a trained force of people in precincts and Wards who know how to speak to voters in their neighborhoods. We have been fortunate to work in partnership with Congressmen Jesse Jackson, Jr & Danny Davis in Chicago, Emanuel Cleaver in Kansas City, Missouri, Donald Payne in Newark, New Jersey, and Congresswomen Yvette Clark in Brooklyn, NY and Barbara Lee in Oakland, California.

Our plans call for training 500 urban activists in field skills such as targeting, door-to-door communications, canvassing, data collection and analysis, message development and other important elements for winning elections. We’re excited about the political potential of all the people who have signed-up for these trainings. We look forward to working with everyone in the coming days and, of course, we strongly believe that these efforts will make our cities a better place to live in with equality for all.

1. Detroit, Michigan, with Chairman John Conyers

   
   Time and Date: 9am – 4 pm, September 6th, 2008
   Venue: Wayne County Community College, Room 236, 801 West Fort Street (at 3rd Street), Detroit, Michigan (map)




2. Newark, New Jersey, with Congressman Donald Payne (pdf)

   
   Time and Date: September 13th, 2008; 10am-4pm
   Venue: Palm Garden Community Center, 939 Bergen St, Newark, NJ 07112 (map)




3. Oakland, California, with Congresswoman Barbara Lee; co-chair Congressional Progressive Caucus

   
   Time and Date: 9am – 4 pm, Saturday, September 20th, 2008;




4. Mississippi with Chairman Bennie Thompson

   
   Time and Date: 9am – 4 pm, Saturday October 4th, 2008;




5. Chicago, Illinois, with Congressman Danny Davis

   
   Time and Date: 9am – 4 pm, Saturday, October 11, 2008;




6. Chicago, Illinois with Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.

   
   Time and Date: 9am – 4 pm, Sunday October 12th, 2008;
   Venue: 1925 East 96th St, Chicago, Il (map)




7. Majority Whip James Clyburn

   
   Time and Date: 9am – 4 pm, Saturday October 18th, 2008;




8. Los Angeles, California, with Congresswoman Linda Sanchez

   
   Time and Date: 9am – 4 pm, Saturday, October 25, 2008