Becky Miller Updike is the Director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives at Tennyson Center for Children as well as the Director for the Colorado chapter of Every Child Matters. She is fortunate enough to be attending the Democratic National Convention this week. Becky will be doing a daily blog about what she is encountering at the convention. Here are her thoughts from Day 1.

Above left: Becky with Tennyson Center and ECM supporter Debbie Peek of Vail, CO.
Above right: Tennyson Center President/CEO Bob Cooper and Matt Elder with Every Child Matters distribute "I'm Voting for KIDS!" fans and stickers outside of Invesco Field.

Day 4:  The final day of the Democratic National Convention in Denver
Thursday, August 28, 2008

I can’t believe it’s the 4th and final day! We were just getting good at this!

Today was all about packing 84,000 people into Invesco field, which takes some time, especially due to all the street closings.  I along with Matt Elder, ECM Colorado Field Director, and Bob Cooper, CEO Tennyson Center for Children, headed to Invesco just after noon.  The line was already growing for Barack’s 8:15 pm speech.  Security began in the parking lots, where we walked in with our Every Child Matters stickers and fans.  It took us about an hour to cross all the security hurdles, the final one being just like airport security complete with metal detectors.  The waiting was made easy thanks to the live music, free water bottles being distributed to all, and the anticipation building within the crowd.

Once past security, we spent an hour in front of the stadium, offering free Every Child Matters fans and lapel stickers. (For the record, the fans were a 5 to 1 favorite.)  I shot some video of folks with their comments about the election.  The crowd was comprised of people from all over the nation, and several children attended. 

Once our ECM stuff was all distributed, we headed inside where our tickets allowed us into 3 different parts of the stadium.  I was honored to be a guest of friends in the front row of section 311, which is the first balcony on the 50 yard line—aka killer seats.  The stands were about 20% full when we settled in at 3pm.  My friend and I went into the stadium for a final t-shirt run, and passed Spike Lee, Ted Koppel and a few elected officials. 

The session was called to order at 4, and time flew from that point on.  We enjoyed speakers and musicians including Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, Michael McDonald, Al Gore, a group of military generals and several others.  Just before Obama was due to speak, a group of 6 “regular folk” took turns speaking about their life stories and why they supported Obama.  The stadium was mostly full when they spoke, almost fell silent during their stories.  They were normal people with real stories… one woman spoke of their loss of health insurance causing loss of life savings in North Carolina… one man told about the plant closing in Indiana leading a whole town to financial despair… a woman from New Mexico explained that her grandmother had encouraged her to do her homework and engage in school, and she realized in the 3rd grade that her grandmother could not read.  The support and encouragement she received from her grandmother inspired her to earn a doctorate in education.  Their stories were compelling because they were about real issues of hardship and success— and are directly impacted, whether we realize it or not, by public policy and the policy makers.

You probably saw Barack Obama’s speech and know that it took place on the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s historic “I have a dream” speech.  I think all Americans of all political affiliations are proud to be in a country where Dr. King’s dream is being reached, as an African-American man runs for president… and where Hillary Clinton’s mother was born in a time when women did not have the right to vote, and her own daughter Chelsea, just 2 generations later, was able to cast a vote for her mother, a Presidential candidate.  We should remember those stories when we loose faith and interest in government and in the system… because they really are spectacular achievements.  And they should fuel us to push ahead to make our country a place where no children should have compromised health because they can’t access health care, and where no child should go to be hungry or in fear of the next incidence of abuse.

The speeches were amazing, as were the celebrations.  It all finally did end though, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi adjourned the convention session.  So 84,000 of us, with our CHANGE signs and flags in tow, worked to exit the building and find a way home.  My colleagues and I decided that walking back to Denver via Colfax Ave was our best (and only) option.  Colfax is a huge 6-lane street that was closed for this event.  I’ve never traveled that street any slower than 50 mph, and would normally never consider setting foot on it—let alone walking to Denver on it.  So this walk was a strange treat.  We hailed a cab, and were lucky enough to land a Black Car. (I used caps on ‘Black Car’ because it’s the kind that hauls the officials and dignitaries. We just got lucky as the driver was cruising town to make a little extra dough.)  The driver told us he’d just driven Katie Couric and she was very nice but exhausted.  I sympathized with her, as I held my CHANGE sign and flag on my lap and looked out the windows at the celebrations and beautifully dressed people.  What a week.  I am honored to have been a part.

To read Becky's blog from Day 1, click here.
To read Becky's blog from Day 2, click here.
To read Becky's blog from Day 3, click here.

©2008 Tennyson Center for Children at Colorado Christian Home
Tennyson Center for Children at Colorado Christian Home
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