In a scene that could have been lifted from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Denver Democrats rolled up their sleeves last Friday and got to work in an inspiring clean-up project in West Denver, proving the work we're not "obliged" to do is often the most satisfying.

The project perfectly captured the essence of the Democratic Party of Denver’s goal of “investing in the future,” taking responsibility for our communities by putting hard work in to improve them, literally at the “grassroots” level, and planting the seeds for future stewardship with the residents of the neighborhood.

Click the image to the left to go to the Democratic Party of Denver's new Window to the White House, a resource page with links to some of President Obama's notable speeches as well as releases from the White House of special interest to Denver Democrats.

Most recent posts: A New Beginning--President Obama's Speech in Cairo, Egypt, June 4, 2009

Sebelius Releases New State-By-State Reports Highlighting Urgent Need For Health Reform, June 27, 2009

The Executive Committee of the Democratic Party of Denver made an emphatic statement in support of immigration reform at its monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 16, calling on Congress and the President to act boldly and swiftly to bring 21st century perspectives to an immigration system steeped in 44-year-old assumptions dating back to legislation created in 1965 that no longer addresses contemporary realities.

The resolution cites the United States’ legacy as a nation of immigrants and recognizes that too many families are separated for decades, with parents and children torn apart, while hard-working, tax-paying immigrants make key contributions to our nation without being offered a clear path to full citizenship.

“Immigration reform is arguably one of the foremost Civil Rights issues we face in the United States and in Colorado today,” said Democratic Party of Denver Chair Cindy Lowery.  “No longer can we sit idly by and insist this issue be resolved on the federal level.  I am proud that the Democratic Party of Denver has passed this resolution calling for a humane, fair, and comprehensive response from our elected officials on immigration reform.”

Recent stories of special interest to Denver Democrats.

Click the pic to peruse the news.

Top stories:  Legislators Meet To Reform Financing of Colorado Schools

Denver Democrat Among Six Finalists to Fill Two Vacancies on Denver Federal District Court Bench

And Now, Climate Bill Supporters Try Counting To 60 In Senate

 photo (c) Jeffrey Goggin

 Building A Strong Middle Class Through A Green Economy

A Town Hall Meeting from The White House Task Force on the Middle Class

Click the following links for more information:

• Vice President Biden's opening comments.
• A slideshow from the Town Hall.
• Labor Department Announces $500 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Green Jobs Training
• Vice President Biden Calls for Report on Green Opportunities for the Middle Class
  

Denver Democrat Pat Steadman won the race to fill a vacancy in the State Senate seat from Senate District 31 on Wednesday, May 20th, rising from a field of 10 candidates to claim victory by a margin of 20 percent over his closest rival.

A passionate fighter for Civil Rights and justice in his capacity as a lobbyist at the State Capitol, Steadman united one of Colorado’s most diverse senate districts, covering parts of both Denver and Adams Counties.

“It is an awesome responsibility to represent all of you and to carry our values forward and make sure that we remain Democrats, we remain true to our Party platform, and we do things that we can all be proud of the next day,” Steadman told the crowd of Democratic Party activists at Morey Middle School Wednesday night.“I hope I can count on all of you to be part of my team going forward, because this is one Senate District, and it doesn’t matter what county you live in, or your race, or your gender, or your religion, or your sexual orientation. We’re all Democrats, we all have a common purpose, and we’re all going to be in this together." 

The Democratic Party of Denver adopted a resolution at its most recent Executive Committee meeting voicing their strong support of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) and urging Congress to pass the act. 

The EFCA represents an opportunity to restore balance in the workplace and protect the rights of Colorado workers.  If passed, the EFCA would arguably be the most significant and necessary piece of labor legislation since the National Labor Relations Act of 1935.

“Historically, unions have fought to protect worker safety, to establish the 40-hour work week, and to ensure more working families have benefits including health care coverage,” Chair Cindy Lowery said.  “I am proud that the Democratic Party of Denver has now shown unwavering support of the Employee Free Choice Act, which will ensure continued support of working families and the rights of Coloradans and Americans to freely, without intimidation, join unions.  We call on our elected officials to do the same.”

In a stunning first round victory Monday night, Mike Johnston won the State Senate seat previously held by Senate President Peter Groff, who resigned at the end of the legislative session last week to accept a post in President Obama’s administration.  Johnston will represent Senate District 33 in the Colorado General Assembly.

“The idea of the promise of equality was easy,” Johnston said as he took the stage at Smiley Middle School to accept victory. “What we knew was going to be hard was actually the courage and conviction to live out that promise every day. What we knew was going to be hard when we wrote that Declaration was the idea that Americans would have to walk arm-and-arm into battle to defend that promise, that Americans would have to walk arm-and-arm into fire hoses and onto picket lines to defend that promise.

“Now today, Colorado faces a new challenge,” Johnston said. “And the question is, how will we answer that age old promise of equality? If you believe, as I hope you do, that it’s actually possible for us to rise to that promise now, then I thank you so much for standing with me tonight, but more importantly, I ask you to stand with me tomorrow, when the real work begins.”