Every four years, the Democratic Party assembles a “platform” that outlines the party’s position on a variety of issues. Traditionally, the platform is written by paid professionals and then presented to the American people. This year, instead, the Obama campaign is encouraging people to host and attend “Listening to America” meetings to develop this year’s Democratic Party Platform.

Here in New York the national campaign has chosen three larger events - July 22nd in Queens, July 23rd in Manhattan, and July 29th in Brooklyn - to film for inclusion in their presentation of the platform. Brooklyn for Barack will be helping to host the Brooklyn event.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008
4:30pm - 9:00pm
Medgar Evers College
Founders’ Auditorium, Bedford Building
1650 Bedford Avenue @ Crown Street
Subways: 2/3, Franklin and President Street.

This is your chance to share your views, ideas, and suggestions, or just to hear what your fellow New Yorkers think is important for New York and for the country. The results of these Platform Meetings will be incorporated into the formal process that culminates in the adoption of the platform at the Democratic Convention in August. A few participants may even be invited to appear and testify at the National Hearing and at the Convention.

To RSVP or submit a written statement prior to the event (strongly encouraged), or for more information about the Queens and Manhattan events, please go to:

http://www.nyobama.com/platform

Or feel free to contact us at info@brooklynforbarack.org with questions.

Our summer voter registration drive is well under way, and I’m pleased to report that we’ve already registered hundreds of new voters. We are currently focused on registering voters at special events throughout the borough, and are putting into place a smaller voter registration drive geared toward registering the formerly incarcerated.

We registered voters at 7 events last week. The organizers of AfroPunk were gracious enough to offer us a table, and we registered voters at 5 days of the AfroPunk music festival. We also registered voters at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket, and the St. Marks (b/w Classon & Grand) Block Party (pictured).

Come watch the results from the last two primaries of the election season with your fellow Obama supporters.

Brooklyn for Barack is hosting a watch party at Brooklyn Tavern. 8pm.

31 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn (b/w Atlantic & State) About 2 blocks from the Atlantic/Pacific St stop

or

ObamaNYC is hosting a watch party at Dewey’s Flatiron Bar & Grill 7pm.
210 5th Ave in Manhattan (b/w 25th & 26th)

Brooklyn for Barack will concentrate on voter registration this summer. We are in the process of putting together the details of our voter registration plan, and expect to make more information public over the next week (week of June 1st). We will focus on registering young voters and the formerly incarcerated and will also have a presence at local street fairs.

If you are interested in assisting with voter registration, please contact info@brooklynforbarack.org or check back soon for more information.