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African Americans
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Staff:
Name Role Email Phone
- Rick Wade Director rwade@barackobama. com 312-520-5404
- Alaina Beverly Dep. Director abeverly@barackobama. com 803-727-5665
- Simeon Talley Dep. Director stalley@barackobama. com 816-206-0704
- Lamar Baker Spec. Projects lbaker@barackobama. com 312-343-7683
· Jason McCall Spec. Projects jason. mccall@barackobama. com 240-832-5361
- Corey Ealons Coms. Direc. cealons@barackobama. com 312-718-5860
Targets:
- National Population-37, 051, 483 12. 4% of overall population
· 25, 829, 688 eligible AA population
· 8, 144, 453 unregistered AA population
- Target states
- Virginia: 1, 390, 293 14%; unregistered population 432, 150
- North Carolina: 1, 737, 545 21%; unregistered population 386, 182
- Florida: 2, 335, 505 15%; unregistered population 590, 801
- Ohio: 1, 301, 307 11. 8%; unregistered population 269, 759
- Pennsylvania: 1, 224, 612 10%; unregistered population 333, 071
- Indiana: 510, 034 8%; unregistered population 147, 355
- Missouri: 661, 535 11. 3 %; unregistered population 52, 328
- Michigan: 1, 412, 742 14%; unregistered population 269, 567
Achievements to date:
- Barack Obama Events
- AME General Conference: Addressed the AME General Conference
- NAACP Convention: Addressed 99th Annual NAACP Convention
· BO Clutch with state chapter presidents from battleground states where BO emphasized importance of voter registration in the AA community
- National Urban League: Addressed National Urban League Convention
· BO Clutch with NUL CEO’s from battleground states where BO emphasized importance of voter registration in the AA community
o African American Leadership Council Conference Call where BO emphasized importance of voter registration
- Michelle Obama Events
o AA Organizational meetings in battleground states (GA, MI, PA, IN, CO, IA, VA)
- National Barbershop and Beauty Salon Program Launch
o National B& B program Launch in Atlanta, Georgia at the Bronner Bros. International Hair Show August 4th; over 1, 000 stylists signed up to support the B& B program
Ø B& B Canvasses garnered earned media coverage in GA, FL, and MI.
- AA Organizational Structure in States
o AA Vote Team Target states have designated political and outreach staff that are executing AA specific programs (B& B program, faith outreach, AA statewide leadership teams, institutional voter registration in AA community)
- Working with the Hip Hop community
o Artists such as Mary J. Blige, Robin Thicke, & Earth Wind & Fire are promoting voter reg and allowing our staff to register voters at performances in battleground states.
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Plan for the next 60 days:
- Important Dates and Events:
o September 17th-20th - National Masters in Business Administration Association Annual Conference
o September 24th-27th – Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference
o September 28th – Call to Chapel “Super Sunday”; deployment of AA surrogates (national and in state), staff and volunteers to black churches to push voter registration
AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE CALLS
AA leadership (state elected officials, mayors, civic organizations/HBCU’s/Fraternities and Sororities, and business leaders) calls every week to engage leaders in voter registration activities.
· Two national calls with MO near the voter registration deadline and to promote voting early in the AA community. National call with BO during the GOTV period closer to Election Day.
URBAN TOWN HALLS
Planning to hold urban policy town hall meetings in 3-5 cities in September and October as a messaging opportunity and help remind voters of commitment to urban communities.
VOTER REGISTRATION RALLIES AND CONCERT
We are planning three large voter registration rallies targeting African-American voters using hip hop artists and entertainers in Florida, Pennsylvania and Missouri, as well as one large concert in IN.
MO VOTER REGISTRATION EVENTS
We are working with MO’s team to schedule at least three voter registration events targeting the African American community. Dates and location are TBD.
CONSTITUENT PRESS OPPORTUNITIES
September 15- Anniversary of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham
October 29- Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education II (with all deliberate speed ruling)
· Urban Town Hall Meetings: panel led by an Obama policy expert with local elected officials
· Vote for Change Initiative: Barbershop & Beauty Salon Voter Registration Canvasses; Jocks Vote
These events are included as part of the campaign’s nationwide voter registration efforts from August 29 – October 6.
· National and Local Radio Warriors: national radio DJs to communicate the importance of voting
· Legends of Leadership Tour of 5 major cities featuring icons of the Civil Rights Movement
· “I know Barack” Validator Campaign: series of op-eds by those who know BO over his life
· National Music Tours (Hip Hop and Gospel): Artists from across the country put on a series of concerts in targeted urban areas
· Media Surrogate Program: standard media tour with three surrogates available a week
· Church Surrogate Program: should have national surrogates visiting African American churches
· Columnist Pitches: Key local and national columnists should be pitched on different potential topics based on the message and personal history of Senator Obama.
GOTV
During the month of October we are working with states to conduct large Early Voting events targeting the AA community.
In the final week before Election Day, we will recruit elected officials to have a significant church presence to remind our community to get out the vote. We will ask these same elected officials to vote early and greet their communities at the polls on Election Day.
We will also work with states to develop a non-canvass GOTV plan in African American precincts.
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Text Program—we will push African American supporters to text a GOTV message to friends in their phone book.
OUT OF STATE VOLUNTEERS
· Will recruit volunteers to travel to neighboring battleground states at National Conferences including: the Congressional Black Caucus; the National Black MBA Conference in Washington, D. C.; and the Black Expo in Jacksonville, Florida during October 23-25 2008.
· National team will work with national organizations to recruit and deploy volunteers to battleground states. We will work with states and African American leadership networks in non-battleground states
GOALS
· 30% increase in AA voter turnout
· Recruit and develop AA grassroots volunteer base
· Communicate BO’s message of hope and change as well as substantive urban policy agenda to AA community
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