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Black History Month 2012: Spotlighting a few key players in the Democratic National Convention
Behind President Obama and Mayor Foxx is an army of talented African-American political movers and shakers, not to mention a bold and rich history of righteous activism.
By Mary C. Curtis @mcurtisnc3
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Davis' work took her to Washington and across the country, from chief of staff for Congresswoman Karen Bass of California to deputy commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
When she left South Carolina, Davis' world was black and white. "So when I came back to Charlotte, I was really surprised at the diversity here," she said, "I thought, wow, this is really a progressive city." She has settled in Uptown with her two dogs — a Yorkie and a Maltese — and is impressed with "how clean the city is" and the number of "doggie stations" here.
Like many people working on the convention and host committees, Davis doesn't have much free time. She finds comfort in her faith, and attends church online or at Friendship Missionary Baptist. "I try to listen to gospel music every day," she said. Israel Houghton's "Moving Forward" is a current favorite.
And sometimes, Davis will drive the two hours to visit her small Methodist home church in South Carolina. "It was our community center, where we went to not only learn Bible study and sing in the choir but to learn about black history," lessons she remembers each time she glances at the digital gallery on her desk.
Courtney Counts
When it comes to recruiting, training and managing more than 10,000 volunteers for the 2012 Democratic National Convention, does Super Bowl experience make it any easier? Courtney Counts is the person to ask. The director of volunteer operations for the convention host committee, Counts served in a similar role for the North Texas Super Bowl XLV host committee, where she assisted in the volunteer operation during the week of, and leading up to, the NFL's biggest yearly event last year in Arlington.
With a convention, "there are a lot more moving parts, a lot more people involved," said Counts, 27. "The convention happens every four years; it's four Super Bowls that happen every day for a week."
But, she added, "What I honestly love is the big event."
The volunteer operation promises to get a lot bigger with the formal launch in a few weeks. While more than 5,000 people have reached out so far, a volunteer management system will create a detailed profile, "to tell us who they are, what languages they speak, T-shirt size," said Counts. "Then we'll be able to start putting them in different jobs."
Though the Orlando, Fla., native moved from Dallas for the job, Charlotte has been on her radar for a while. Counts' father is from Winston-Salem and she grew up visiting the state. "I love the Uptown area," she said. Counts, who completed her graduate internship in sports marketing at ESPN Wide World of Sports, also knew ESPN Regional Television was located here.
Working on the convention has reminded Counts, who majored in political science at Florida State University, "why I fell in love with politics to begin with" as a seventh grader assigned to follow the 1996 elections. "Government becomes this far-away entity that doesn't feel real. The more you become involved in the process, the more it becomes real.
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Wine & Paint @ Blackfinn Ameripub- Ballantyne
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Face to Face Foundation Gala @ The Revelry North End
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An Evening With Phil Rosenthal Of "Somebody Feed Phil" @ Knight Theater
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Queen Charlotte Fair @ Route 29 Pavilion
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