Dear Fellow Democratic Women,

 

On behalf of the Democratic Women of North Carolina, it is my honor to issue this call to convention for our 63rd Annual State Convention, September 22-24, 2023 in Charlotte. Inspiration for this year’s theme, Aflame and Unafraid, came from Amanda Gorman’s The Hill We Climb, the poem she composed for President Biden’s inauguration: 

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“When day comes, we step out of the shade, aflame and unafraid.

The new dawn blooms as we free it.

For there is always light,

if only we’re brave enough to see it.

If only we’re brave enough to be it.” 

 

The past year brought many challenges for the women of this state and this country, but the coming year presents an opportunity for us to step out of the shade of the backwards policies and rhetoric advanced by the GOP, and into a new day.  The Democratic Women are ready to see the light, we are ready to be the light.  We are aflame with the righteous anger that comes from seeing years of progress reversed one bill at a time, one opinion at a time.  We are aflame with the energy we need to change things and the knowledge that we stand on the right side of history. And we are unafraid to speak out when our rights and liberties are being taken away.  We are unafraid to contribute our time, our talent, our voices, and our efforts toward making that brighter, lighter, new day come sooner rather than later. 

 

We are planning a fantastic convention for you, that will give us all an opportunity for fellowship, sharing ideas, learning new tactics, and going home energized and ready to organize.  We have keynotes from State Senator and candidate for Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt and US Representative Jeff Jackson, among others.  We are planning another speed dating lunch with the candidates. We will have opportunities during our breakout sessions to learn more about voting rights and the voter ID law, legislative priorities and lobbying, tips for campaign finance law compliance, and more. 

 

It all kicks off with your attendance, aflame and unafraid, at our “Fire and Ice” themed welcome reception with the candidates (we hope you’ll don your fiery-ist and iciest outfits to help us celebrate) and karaoke after-party!  And, of course, we will honor the sheroes among us at our annual Stars Banquet. 

 

I look forward to hosting you in my hometown of Charlotte.  Get ready to set the world on fire with the Democratic Women of North Carolina! 

 

Warmly,

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Elizabeth Goodwin

President, DWNC