CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Organizers of the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) here say the big political gathering will energize Chicago from two very active venues.
Of course, the big speeches, music, balloons and such will be at the United Center for the Democratic convention's primetime activities, but Christy George — the executive director for the DNC 2024 Host Committee — said the party business will be handled at McCormick Place during the day.
“There’s so many different councils that will be working together in their individual groups to talk through their party platform, to talk through issues that are important to the party and to really set the stage for Kamala Harris,” George said.
Although the convention won’t be taking place all over the city, Chicago will be well represented at the convention.
“One of the other really key things that we have going on at McCormick Place is we'll have an expo happening, where we will be highlighting our 77 community areas over at McCormick Place,” George said.
“We’ll have business organizations represented over there; we’ll have activations happening there; and we’re doing that in partnership with the DNC.”
From the beginning, National Democratic Party Chairman Jaimie Harrison has insisted that any convention held in Chicago must have lasting benefits for the city.
To that end, George said they are creating databases of diverse local businesses and cultural resources that will be shared with Choose Chicago, the tourism agency. The city will also be spruced up, physically she said.
“We do believe that the city has done an extensive amount of infrastructure investment, but what we have also been thinking about is: ‘How can we invest in our people?’” George said. “So, in each one of our vendor contracts, we have mentorships and internships. What we have also noticed, with the city of Chicago, they started a Junior Laborers’ Program, where they were able to hire on 70 [Chicago Public Schools] to become junior laborers.”
George added that those junior laborers will work with the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation and will eventually “become card-carrying members of Laborers Local 1001.”
She said the volunteers and workers for the convention will be from all parts of the City as well.
Hear more about the Democratic National Convention on this week’s edition of “At Issue,” which airs every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m.
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