Girls Rule! News: Obama/Biden - How two Girls Rule Members Helped to Make History!

Submitted by:
Ladon Brumfield
Executive Director
Girls Rule!
www.girlz-rule.org

Girls Rule! members were very excited about the 2008 Presidential Election. Many of our girls worked with their parents and local communities to support the campaign to elect Barack Obama to the highest office in the land, President of the United States of America.

Two of our members took their support a step further. They joined Girls Rule Executive Director, Ladon Brumfield as she traveled to the election battle ground state of Indiana where they spent two days supporting local efforts to Barack the Vote!

On November 4, 2008 not only did Barack Obama make history by becoming the Nation's first African American President, but he won the battle ground state to Indiana by fewer than 5oo votes! This was the first time that a Democratic Presidential candidate had won the state in 44 years.

Below is Miora's story...

October 25th, 2008

Today Maya, Ms. Ladon and I went campaigning for....BARACK OBAMA! We awoke at around 6:00am to get ready. BIG YAWN! I was sleepy - but soooo excited! I've never been involved in supporting a political campaign before and wasn't quite sure what to expect but I really wanted to help out. My friend Maya, our Girls Rule Chaplain also liked Barack Obama and asked if she could go to Indiana with us so we picked her up at about 7:30am. After stocking up on donuts and milk we hit the road toward Indiana. I read on http://www.barackobama.com/ that a Democratic candidate had not won in Indiana for 44 years! WOW. But since a lot of people there liked Barack Obama the Democrats and Republicans are running neck and neck for the Presidency. As we drove to the headquarters Maya and I talked about all of the abandoned houses we saw along the road. My mom said that many of them were forclosed on because of the economy, the flooding that they had there and as a result of the steel mill industry dying years ago. What the heck are steel mills, right? I asked my mom the same thing but it's too long to write about! But a lot of people lost their jobs and didn't have money to spend at the businesses there. Sad.

We made it to the headquarters and they helped us to understand what early voting was and why it was important to be a part of the voting process. When we left there we began canvassing....and boy was I nervous when we went to the first door! It was easy though! Plus my mom likes talking to people. We probably pass hundreds of people on the street every day and don't say a word so today it was interesting to see what happens when we do talk. Some people are going through so much. We met one man who was 52 years old and had never voted but he said that he was motivated to become a part of this election so he registered a few months ago! We met another family who had been hit very hard by floods in their neighborhood. Their daughters were soooo cute! The dad was also really motivated to be a part of the voting process. We met soooo many people and it was a really long, cold day but it was fun and for a good cause. It seemed like Mr. Obama had a lot of support in Indiana. I prayed that he would win on the ride home.

We want Barack! Gotta have Barack!
We want Barack! Gotta have Barack!

Miora B, age 11
Treasurer, Girls Rule!
http://www.girlz-rule.org/