Earlier this evening a small group of Organizing for America Illinois volunteers gathered at the Pegasus Restaurant on S. Halsted in Chicago to take part in a video shoot for an upcoming Democratic National Committee project.
Everyone involved had a great time - Stephanos, the owner of Pegasus, was more then accommodating, and the lunch we had prior to the shoot was absolutely delicious.Here are some "behind the scenes" pictures from the days event.
Saturday was a busy day for everyone involved with Organizing for America Illinois. The Organizing for America Illinois office in Rogers Park served as headquarters for one of the many training sessions running across the state.
Brian Gorman, an OFA Illinois regional field organizer, hosted this event and provided us with a summary of what the group was able to get accomplished:
"Saturday's training was an excellent blend of community organizers, neighborhood team leaders and new volunteers to OFA Illinois. If I had to choose one word to sum up the day’s events it would have to be productive. We as a group have a full two months of activities planned, taking us through January and we made sure to place a hard emphasis on recruiting and developing new volunteers. The goal is to find new folks to lead yet unplanned events throughout the month of February. This group really gets the long term view of OFA and I'm really excited to see what we can do."
This past weekend, OFA Illinois hosted training events across the state as part of the National Training Weekend being conducted by Organizing for America. In the end, over 100 attendees successfully completed the session and are ready to hit the field running, with many of the attendees having already planning their first phone banks, canvasses and organizational meetings.
Organizing for America National Training "Supporter Sound-off" is a collection of highlights from the attendees in their own words.
"The camaraderie that we the participants developed during the training session was amazing and refreshing. All of the personal stories were very inspiring and educational as well."-Gwendolyn, 12/05/09, attended the Hyde Park training event.
"I've never felt more hopeful of contributing positive, constructive change to America- OFA has once again given me hope! Many thanks to OFA and the memory of the great Ted Kennedy!"-Bob, 12/05/09, attended the Brighton Park training event.
"I really enjoyed the personal story section of the training, as well as learning how one's personal story is a strong building block for making connections with people in the community." -Leroy, 12/05/09, attended the Homewood training event.
"The event was absolutely tremendous! There was a great deal of positive reactions to the materials shown and the format of the training. People were really excited and impressed with the individual “break-out” sessions."-OFA Illinois Community Organizer Camille, 12/05/09, hosted the Hyde Park training event.
"Being a Vietnam veteran, I am really excited to create a stronger connection between Homeless and Disabled Veterans. The training taught me that many of our wounded warriors may benefit from the grass root level where door knocks can and will make a difference. I am looking forward to making sure veterans like me keep voting for change."-Virgil, 12/05/09, attended the Brighton Park training event.
"Sharing war stories from the campaign with other volunteers was great fun -- almost as fun as discussing ways to beat back health care opponents!"-Michael, 12/06/09, attended the West Loop training event.
"We had a compact but mighty group at the OFA Greenleaf office on Saturday! The networking was brilliant, we outlined some exciting events already on the calendar for 2010"-Janet, 12/05/09, attended the Roscoe Park training event.
On Tuesday, November 24 the Organizing for America Illinois Springfield team spent time with the Holy Family Pantry at their Thanksgiving Food Bank. Holy Family Food Pantry is an organization that provides food, clothing, shelter and resources to the homeless and low-income families.
Holy Family Food Pantry is a community outreach program that provides food basics for meal preparation to an average of 800 families per month to those in need, their soup kitchen is a community outreach program that provides a meal for 165 families per night, four nights per week to those in need in the surrounding area. October marked a record month for Holy Family Food Pantry as they served a total of 964 families.
Joshua Blessman, an Organizing for America Illinois Community Organizer who works out of the Springfield area writes about the teams volunteer efforts:
"The OFA Springfield Team donated food and helped to serve families in the community for Thanksgiving. Thirteen Team Members volunteered to donate food and serve at the Holy Family Pantry. The team and the pantry staff bonded well. Camaraderie was luminous; some team members served, while other others were dropping off food items for the Thanksgiving baskets. Enthusiastically performing designated duties; the team shared the activities of sorting and serving an assortment of Thanksgiving foods. While cars were pulling up the team members proudly wheeled out baskets brimming with Thanksgiving trimmings and the spirit of the helping hands permeated throughout the holy pantry."
Fellow President Obama Supporters and Former Ones"
AS the founder of the Obama Group named YESWECANSOLVEIT...
I have taken the liberty of forming still another group called
AmericaNOchange. I doubt this one gets approved.
Thought I'd better hurry and write this and send it to all groups that
I am still a member of before I am banned here forever. Why would
that happen? you ask. Because I just formed a new group with a little
kid yelling "Hey You" while flipping off the viewer. Hope the president
and his staff gets the message.
The esculation of the war in Afghanistan is the last straw. Three strikes
your out!
First, he keeps the same people on the payroll that got us into this
financial disaster. He let's Bush and Cheney walk scot-free. He continues
to bail out the banks, "all too big to fail" why they screw us in every way.
And tonight on national tv he will try to convience us all that the way to
end the war in Aftganistan is to exculate it. This did not work in Vietnam,
I know, because I volunteered to go there, and it will not work in Aftganistan.
To add insult to injury. The powers that be, the ones backing McCain in
my city in Northern California, are all meeting to determine what the same
good ole boys get to do with local stimulus funds...So my question is?
WHAT THE HELL HAS CHANGED IN AMERICAN PRESIDENT OBAMA?
I am so damned mad right now, I swear, if I could afford it, I'd trade in
my next presidential ballot for a passport.
Al Boek, Ex-Supporter of a One-Term President
earlallenboek@yahoo.com
530-549-4315
Redding, California
On December 5th and 6th OFA Illinois will be holding multiple training sessions across the state. These trainings are a great chance to learn how to make the biggest impact in your community, ask questions, and learn specific skills such as how to talk with your neighbors about health reform and use OFA's technology to organize most effectively.
During the election last year, we learned that when we build a dedicated community of volunteer leaders, we can bring about powerful change.
RSVP now to reserve your spot in an OFA National Training event near you.
This training is part of building our momentum on the ground -- strengthening our community in every part of the country by bringing volunteers together, learning and sharing best practices, and refining our plan to move forward with our vision for the future.
After countless meetings with constituents, and hearing their health insurance horror stories, (D-11th) Rep. Debbie Halvorson's mind was made up - change was needed.
Organizing for America Illinois would like to thank Rep. Debbie Halvorson for her strong support of health insurance reform, and share a brief video put together by Rep. Halvorson and her staff that relays some of the health care stories from the Illinois' 11th Congressional District.
Organizing for America Illinois vounteer, and long time Obama supporter Jeremy Cohen held "By the People: The Election of Barack Obama" watch party earlier this evening in Chicago with a group of 15 friends and fellow supporters. Here are some of the event highlights that Jeremy provided for us:
A group of fifteen of us gathered tonight (November 4, 2009) in the West Loop of downtown Chicago for a watch party of the documentary "By the People: The Election of Barack Obama." Prior to viewing the film, we reminisced over the events of the past year. While November 4, 2008 at Grant Park seemed like an eternity ago, we realized the great strides Organizing for America, the President, and our country has gone through. At the same time, we all realized the hard work that still needs to be done to achieve the change we need. The attendees had a real upbeat attitude on health care reform. While the specifics still need ironing out, we all plan on continuing to voice our support of reform to our elected representatives until it is signed into law.After our discussion, we began the documentary. The film brought back emotionally powerful memories of the entire 2008 presidential campaign. Whether it was the Iowa primary or the announcement of Barack Obama becoming President-elect on election night, all of the memories from one-year ago came back to the surface. The watch party had members who worked the voting stations, campaigned on the President's behalf, and/or were in Grant Park one-year ago to the day. For that reason, the memories were particularly strong and personal. Overall, we all greatly enjoyed the film. It rekindled warm memories from the past, but also re-focused the need to create the change we voted for going into the future.
Organizing for America Illinois volunteer Tiffany reflects on her 2008 Election Day experience:
"November 4th 2008 starter as usual, I headed in to the OFA office located in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago where a large groups of volunteers myself gathered for the final push of the campaign. As the day began we had a steady stream of people of all ages come into the office we were working out of asking if they could help.Throughout the day we focused mainly on phone banking into neighboring states such as Indiana and Wisconsin. I will never forget watching all of the kids who had come into the office looking to help, and wondering if they realized the historic nature of what they were taking part in."As they day progressed on groups of people left and began their journey to Grant Park where the post election festivities were going to take place. A handful of us decided to instead stay back in the office and make last minute phone calls to make sure everyone had made it to the polls. I spoke with a few people who wanted to get out and vote, but needed a ride to the polls due to their age and lack of transportation Needless to say; we managed to get them to their polling place in time to cast their votes."By this time we had a feeling our hard work had paid off, and let me tell you – it was a feeling I cannot really describe other then saying it is something I will never forget. We had done it – our new leader was President Barack Obama."
University of Chicago student and Organizing for America Illinois intern Juan, recants his 2008 election day experience:
"Throughout 2008, I had some odd, subconscious feeling that Barack Obama was going to win. So as then Senator Obama cleared each major obstacle, I had a sense that events were flowing in the path of least historical resistance. This of course culminated on Election Day, which I was lucky enough to be in Chicago for.”"As I arrived at Grant Park, I began the trek past the winding mile of security checkpoints. It was during this time that screen confirmed President Obama’s victory – and needless to say crowd erupted in cheers."As the atmospherics cooled and the crowds scattered, I caught a glimpse of the distant stage: a blurry miniature in a blue suit, taller than the others and even then, the Obama presidency still hadn’t sunk in.”"Since the election, I haven't experienced that single, overpowering moment of being struck by the magnitude of the event. Its meaning has come gradually, in quieter guises in various forms such as the outright reasonableness of much of foreign policy. Its instances like this that make me realize how nice it is to have a President like Barack Obama.”“ I feel as though the tide has turned - that there is finally the possibility of addressing the mounting challenges that burden this country, and I look forward to the passing of health insurance reform legislation. The historical achievement that bill will represent may be the only thing comparable to what so many of us felt one year ago on Election Day."
Cathy Foster has been involved with Organizing for America Illinois since day one. Below she talks about her 2008 Election Day experience:
"On Nov. 4, 2008, I voted early. I was on pins and needles all day. I felt like Obama was going to win, but I hardly dared believe it. I had a ticket to Grant Park, but it was already jam-packed when I got there. I will never forget that night. Shoulder to shoulder with people who had fought, worked, prayed and hoped for Obama's victory just as I had. We cheered as election results from CNN showed state after state going to Obama.At 10 p.m., I saw the words "Barack Obama elected president" beamed on the jumbo screens. It was real. We had done it. Tears started trickling down my face. Was anybody NOT crying? The jubilation, the euphoria, the electricity was like nothing I'd ever experienced before. But Obama's quiet, low-key, almost somber address helped underscore the enormity of the task that lay before him and us.I'm 53 years old and I've never been moved to get involved in a campaign before or follow the issues as closely as I do now. I write letters to the editor that have been published and call and write my legislators. I'm always exhorting my friends and family to do the same. I've gone to rallies for health care. I hosted my first call party on Oct. 20. It's not much compared to what others are doing, I know. But this is Obama's true gift that he inspires people like me, people who never bothered to do anything at all before. I have taken to heart his words:"I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington. I'm asking you to believe in yours."On the one-year anniversary of Obama's election, I renew my commitment to working for the change that only we can help make possible--Obama can't do it without us.
Organizing for America Illinois Sarah Frankiewicz shares some of highlights from last night's event "By the People: The Election of Barack Obama" which took place at the Clarion Inn, in South Holland, IL:
Sheena Patton, the OFA Field Director and I started out planning for the November 3rd Watch Party of the documentary By the People expecting a decent turnout, weeks ago. We began building for this event by inviting former election volunteers and supporters, as well as current Organizing for America Illinois volunteers from all across Chicago. People began to arrive at 7:00pm, there was plenty of food and drink, all of which was donated by local area businesses and the volunteers themselves. I was amazed at how many people showed up to the event and the level of excitement they had over what they were about to watch. Former election volunteers spent a good chunk of time before and after the film getting reacquainted with one another, rehashing campaign stories, and updating each other on their post election life. Eventually the film began, and the reactions of those in attendance were priceless. There were tons of laughs when the film gave a glimpse into President Obama's candid side, one of the attendees even said that it made her feel like she was more like the President then she thought. "He is a real man, with real issues, like every-one else, family, bills, and life." She also commented that the film reaffirmed for her that the President had her best interests at heart, as he serves the greater community. There were a few teary eyed moments, one in particular came when candidate Barack Obama addressed a crowd of people and mentioned the passing of his dear grandmother. All attendees said the really connected with the film, and they felt it truly embodied the electoral experience.Leaving that night I have to admit, I felt good – really good about the outcome. Everyone was charged up and ready to go forward in volunteering for Organizing for America.
Organizing for America Illinois Community Organizer Camille Mitchell talks about last year’s election, and everything that has changed in her life happened since:
“I guess it started around November 3rd - I have to admit I was skeptical - not of Barack’s ability but of his chances with the American public. Then it was the big day - November 4th. I woke up and immediately ran out to vote and then returned back home with buzzing with excitement. Some of us in the neighborhood (and yes, unfortunately this included me too) still thought that this couldn’t happen -- THANK GOD I WAS WRONG!!!!!As the day turned to night I decided that my daughter Jolie and I had to get downtown. By some stroke of luck we managed to find an AMAZING spot and began to watch as history was being made. The atmosphere in Grant Park was electric, and even with the crowd as large as it was I did not see any arguing or fighting what so ever - and that my friend is A LOT to say about any large crowd in Chicago.Once the Grant Park celebration began winding down Jolie and I decided to head over to one of my friend’s house to immerse ourselves in more of the news. As my friend and I watched, we both began crying and jumping around singing “Obama…Obama…Obama…Obama”.I have to admit that my volunteer numbers weren’t all they could have been. I had an 8 year old and was working full time in the financial district downtown - I guess you could say that I was even somewhat apathetic. However on that night, I vowed to myself that I would do more - serve more, and not ask for anything in return.This past July I was became a Community Organizer with Organizing for America Illinois and have treated it as though it was a full time job. While there has been rough times for me and my daughter over the past year, I have to admit that this ride, and working within my community – from working food banks, to organizing my neighborhood – has really changed my life and now that light at the end of the tunnel, no longer looks too far away. And for that thank you Mr. President, Organizing for America – you have changed my life forever.”
Organizing for America Illinois volunteer Kathy G looks back at last year’s historic election and shares her November 4th memories:
“Many of us volunteers brought cameras to the office and throughout the day photos were taken. We also exchanged hugs. We all wanted the campaign to end but many of us did not want the experience to end. I think you can understand what I mean.We wanted Sen. Obama to be elected, and we wanted the negativity to end. We didn't want to lose the spirit and the relationships we volunteers had developed. We spent some of the time reminiscing of the experiences we had shared over the last 18 months.”"We watched the results for each state and cheered as one by one they were called for Sen. I don't remember exactly when MSNBC and CNN called Pennsylvania for Sen. Obama, what I do remember is that we suddenly heard a cheer from the room next door and within a minute Pennsylvania was called for Sen. Obama. What was next door? The people who were monitoring the exit polls and precinct totals, which was a really big moment because we felt we were on the way to a win." "Shortly thereafter one of the staffers started a cheer. He said, "Whose house?" The response to this is "our house." He then said "what house?" We then responded the "White House." The first time I'd heard this cheer was the night of the Iowa caucuses, needless to say I got chills.""About 8:30 Katy called and we were able to meet nearby and head to the rally at Grant Park. We walked through the crowd across the bridge to the south and were able to find the entrance for people with tickets and got in. As the electoral vote count rose for Sen. Obama, it became clear that 10:00 would be the magical moment, and the crowd was very anticipatory. The roar from the crowd when his election was announced was electric. I shed a few tears with a smile on my face. We cheered and hugged and took photos."Civility was the order of the day; strangers talked to and hugged strangers. Entrepreneurial vendors were selling new t-shirts and buttons. On the way out they were half price. The streets were awash with people, moving like lemmings to the sea but with smiles on their faces. People stopped and sat on the medians on Michigan Avenue. People danced; people sang. I had a feeling that the country had somehow changed in one evening. AMAZING."
While there is nothing to celebrate until job numbers turn around, the President cites the recent dramatic turnaround in gross domestic product as a sign of better things to come. He also applauds the fact that the Recovery Act has now created or saved more than a million jobs.
