* Brittney and David are homeless. He’s a native Toledoan who is a business owner, and she is pregnant with their first child due in June. Brittney and I were doing data entry together yesterday (I’m convinced that Obama is going to become the president of the United States because of data entry!) and were discussing election night party options and dreaming about attending Obama’s inauguration in January. Not knowing that she was pregnant I told her that I work at the Homeless Prenatal Program in San Francisco, and she told me that she was both. Apparently she and David are staying at a church through Catholic Charities in Toledo, but may have to leave because they don’t normally house couples.

* Christina is a freshman in high school who is an incredible canvasser and Obama volunteer. She and her sister who is a year older have been living with a foster mother since June. She has good grades, but got kicked out of one Toledo’s high school because of a fight with a boy and is now attending another.  She is in the office everyday and will be the next Stephanie Tubbs.

* Mary is the one to go to when you have a question. She always knows the answers. She worked on Toledo’s Kerry campaign and houses out-of-state volunteers. She brings in delicious food for all — omnivores, carnivores, vegans. You’ll be phonebanking and suddenly she has blessed you with an apple or a tootsie roll. She’ll whisper in your ear so you know that there is a fresh delivery of food. She cleans up the place and is a DATA CRUNCHER extraordinaire. She’s originally from Buffalo, but has raised her children in Toledo. Thank God for Mother Mary! 

* Originally from Ann Arbor, Shimaa has been in Toledo since August to work on Obama’s campaign. Her turf is Sylvania, a suburb of Toledo. I am delighted that I have been paired to work with her. She has a great story. Read about it here: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/19/obama-calls-muslim-women-barred-from-stage/

I’ll post pictures when I get the chance.

My favorite part at the Toledo rally today was when Senator Obama stopped us from booing when McCain’s name was mentioned. “No. We don’t need that. All we need to do is vote,” Obama said. Such a classy man, a great speaker and the leader we need.

Over the weekend, I canvassed in African-American neighborhoods where every side of the block has at least 1 or 2 abandoned, boarded up, decaying houses. It was not unlike the neighborhoods I saw in New Orleans in June except that Toledo was not hit by flooding, just an economic tornado that doesn’t seem to end. I think many of those houses have been abandoned long before the subprime mortgage fiasco.

The residents are big-time Obama fans, but we are working to make sure they vote. Thursday night we all are attending the Get Out The Vote Training at the UAW Local 12 hall. 6 pm-9:30 pm, 2300 Ashland Ave. near Bancroft. Please JOIN US!!

Go Union! GOTV!

Made with lifesaver candy

For posters go to http://deeperarts.com/

Hopeful Hearts Club

Mike Cuffe just finished  “The Hopeful Hearts Club.” 
http://www.TheObamaExperiment.com

Surge Sue, Obama and Iraq War Veteran

Tomorrow, I fly to Ohio to volunteer for Obama. Follow my journey and surges here.

In my world, a surge is about life — “a strong, wavelike, forward movement, rush, or sweep.”  Surges bring babies not bodies. Obama is best for babies!  http://yeswecanholdbabies.wordpress.com/