Article Contributed on: 10/13/2008 9:38:56 AM
What is going on in Highlands Ranch?
If you drove by the Safeway shopping center at Highlands Ranch Parkway and Broadway on Thursday night, October 9th you might have wondered what several hundred people were doing in the courtyard between the Safeway and Michael's.
There were people as young as 11 weeks and those whose ages we won't mention out of respect. Gathered were people of different heritages; African-American, Hispanic, Asian and European all sharing conversation and experiences.
People from Highlands Ranch and our surrounding communities brought together too share one vision, one goal. Thursday night republicans, independents and democrats of Highlands Ranch opened their own office for
Barack Obama's Campaign for Change.
People might not think this was such a big deal unless you realized that it was only six years ago that five people got together and created the the Highlands Ranch Democrats, the organization that started the drive for this office. That five have now grown to over two-thousand members. Only six years ago such an office would not have even been a dream but on Thursday night it became a reality because the people of Douglas County and Highlands Ranch not only said they wanted this office, but they donated the funds and work necessary to make it a reality. These people realize that this election is perhaps the most important of our lifetime and that it is important that the community of Highlands Ranch is involved and heard.
Parking was at a premium as more and more people came to the office to celebrate its opening. Crowds filled the building to overflowing getting their yard signs, bumpers stickers and buttons. People were crowded around the several tables set up in the courtyard signing up as volunteers. Highland Ranch Democrat leaders
Christian Moreau and
Maritza Carrera, the office's Obama volunteers, former congressional candidate
Bill Winter as well as several other speakers introduced the office to the community with Obama campaign co-chair and former Denver Mayor
Federico Pena being the final speaker. Pena excited the crowd by sharing his experiences with Obama and his reasons for believing why Obama should be our next President. He finished his speech by getting the crowd to join him in chanting 'Yes We Can.'
The Campaign for Change office will be open daily from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm for anyone who wishes to get more information about the Obama Campaign for Change or who wishes to volunteer their time. The number for the Highlands Ranch Campaign for Change office is 720-982-6957.