Kate Albright-Hanna's Blog

Video: Listening to Our Veterans

Kate Albright-Hanna — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:57:56 EDT

Over the past year, we talked to veterans who shared their personal stories with us -- and discussed why they're searching for a new kind of leadership. One of those was John Melvin, who served in Iraq and introduced Barack at a foreign policy speech in Iowa.

Watch his story in the video below:

Video: Vote for Change in New York City

Kate Albright-Hanna — Sat, 24 May 2008 18:37:54 EDT

When we sent our cameras out across the country to film the Vote for Change kickoff, we were inspired by the footage that came back. Supporters from New York to Kansas to California felt like they were part of something bigger than one candidate or election cycle.

As one of our New York volunteers said, "We are reenergizing not just the Obama campaign, but democracy in America."

Check out the video from the New York Vote for Change -- and organize your own voter registration event.

Video: Join Michelle Obama and Make GOTV Calls Tonight

Kate Albright-Hanna — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:44:07 EDT

Michelle Obama phonebanked with volunteers to get out the vote in Louisville, Kentucky yesterday. Here's a video of one her calls:

UPDATED: Polls have now closed in Kentucky, but you can still make calls to Oregon until 8:00 PM PDT tonight.

Video: Vote for Change in Kansas

Kate Albright-Hanna — Sun, 11 May 2008 18:44:05 EDT

Yesterday, our grassroots supporters across the country talked to their neighbors about registering new voters so that their voices - and not those of the special interests - would be heard in Washington.

I dropped in on the kickoff event in Lawrence, Kansas, where volunteers were inspired by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to get involved in the campaign and change the process:

I also followed the Patterson family as they canvassed and signed up new voters:

Barack on iTunes

Kate Albright-Hanna — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:02:37 EDT

If you've visited our YouTube page recently, you might have noticed that we just passed 1,000 videos there -- thanks to our tireless video road crew that puts up clips after all of Barack's events.

We're also going to start putting Barack's greatest hits and most significant policy speeches on iTunes so you can download the video or audio-only podcasts -- and listen to Barack when you're away from your computer.

Check it out...

Video: Indiana's Road to Change

Kate Albright-Hanna — Mon, 05 May 2008 15:16:04 EDT

Before he went to law school, Barack worked for three years as a community organizer in Chicago and Northwest Indiana -- where neighborhoods had been torn apart by the closing of steel mills and the loss of manufacturing jobs.

It was the beginning of a life grounded in public service -- one that recognized that ordinary people could be empowered to change their communities. Today, a lot of the same issues that Barack tackled as a community organizer are the ones he's taking on as a presidential candidate.

"This is the first economic expansion since they've been keeping these records since World War II in which the average family income actually went down. In the meantime, your cost of everything from gas at the pump to groceries to home heating to health care to college have all skyrocketed during that same period," he says.

These videos out of Indiana recall the lessons Barack learned on the ground: listen to people, and work for a positive change.

"I wasn't led to working people because of politics. I got into politics because of working people," he says.

Find your polling location. Find the nearest office to get out the vote. Make calls.

Video: Hoosiers Switch to Obama

Kate Albright-Hanna — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:51:07 EDT

Today superdelegate Joe Andrew, the former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee under President Clinton, switched his support from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama, saying that "the tone and temperature of the race is now hurting" our party.

Across Indiana, many people are coming to the same conclusion. This week we talked to Indianapolis residents Jackie Nedell and Lou Starkey, and to Denise Sobieski, a teacher in Terre Haute, who all said that they switched to Obama because he represented a change from the divisive politics of the past.

Here's their story:

Sunday in Pennsylvania

Kate Albright-Hanna — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:36:39 EDT

Barack started the day at church in Lebanon and later got a chance to talk to Pennsylvanians in downtown Bethlehem. Here are a few pictures from today:

Video: Barack in Lancaster, PA

Kate Albright-Hanna — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:03:30 EDT

Here's a clip I just came across while going through the video we shot during Barack's Pennsylvania bus tour. Before his town hall meeting on March 31st in Lancaster, he stepped outside to talk to the overflow crowd.

"We've got an advantage that I think nobody else has," he said. "We've got grassroots support; we've got people writing $25 checks; we've got people volunteering... That is ultimately what is going to change the country."

Video: How to change politics

Kate Albright-Hanna — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:39:31 EDT

In an age of constant media chatter about soundbites and poll numbers, what does it really mean when Barack says that he thinks that "change happens not from the top down, but from the bottom up?"

It means that the people you rarely see in the spotlight are the ones who are actually driving this campaign: our field organizers and unpaid volunteers.

Many were inspired to join the campaign after reading Barack describe his experiences as a community organizer in "Dreams from My Father." That was true of the young organizers I filmed in Pittsburgh -- Ashley, Kristen and David.

In this behind-the-scenes video of our field operation at work in Pennsylvania, you can get a sense of what's different about this campaign. As the organizers explain, their motivation isn't just getting Barack elected; it's about empowering ordinary people to demand more from their government. And that requires organization.

"Ordinary citizens can have an enormous influence in what happens in Washington. The problem is is that they're just not organized right now," Barack says.

"And so, those that are organized -- the corporations, the special interests, the big lobbies -- they have a disproportionate influence. And part of what hopefully this campaign is about is to tilt the scales a little bit more in favor of ordinary people."

Video: Bronx students say "Yes we can"

Kate Albright-Hanna — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:51:48 EDT

At the beginning of the school year, Bronx high school teacher Jackson Shafer says his students were beyond apathetic about politics - many couldn't even name the Vice President.

But something happened around the time of the Iowa caucuses - a realization that they were living in the middle of history, that change was possible and they had a role to play in making it happen.

Shafer says his students started coming to school early - and even suggested an extra homework assignment inspired by Barack Obama's "Yes We Can" speech after the New Hampshire primary.

Freshman Anna Boateng performed her speech for the class, beginning: "People say that South Bronx kids will never amount to anything, but I say, 'Yes We Can.'"

On the same day I filmed their speeches, Barack was delivering his speech about racial reconciliation in Philadelphia. The Bronx students took up the challenge to talk about race and how their generation is already breaking down old barriers.

Here's their story:

Video: Rural Mississippi for Obama

Kate Albright-Hanna — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:53:22 EDT

On his farm in northeastern Mississippi - where his family has resided since the Civil War - Mike Murphy planted his Obama sign and hopes that unity will again prevail at this turning point in American history. All across Mississippi, we've talked to voters hungry for change.

Video: Estudiante por Obama

Kate Albright-Hanna — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:50:33 EST

Alvaro Corral, un estudiante de la Universidad de Texas en Austin, explica su apoyo por Barack.

Video: Hayne's Story

Kate Albright-Hanna — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:40:07 EST

Video: Hayne's Story

When critics try to dismiss this movement as a fad that's not grounded in reality, I hope they'll actually take the time to listen to the stories of our supporters. Long before they were filling stadiums to listen to Barack's speeches, they were canvassing their neighborhoods and having in-depth conversations about what "change" and "hope" really mean to them.

As a public defender who sees a lot of hopeless situations in her daily work, "hope" means something very concrete to Hayne Yoon. While she worked in the juvenile court in East L.A., she saw children who were caught up in the race wars and afraid to go to school – clients who later returned to the courts as adults.

"It seemed like patterns that would continue across generations... The system had failed them," she said.

We met up with Hayne when she was canvassing an immigrant neighborhood – mostly Korean and Salvadoran – last October. She said she was inspired by Barack's history as a community organizer to actually get out in the neighborhood herself and talk to people about how to change the country.

Part of Barack's leadership, she says, is to show us "what we can be."

She recognizes that it's "so easy to go back into these entrenched positions where it's black against white, or black versus Latino, where everybody's kind of fighting it out." But she believes that Barack "transcends racial politics" and hopes to see an end to the division in her lifetime.

Video: The AlamObamans

Kate Albright-Hanna — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:40:10 EST

As early as last June, our grassroots volunteers in San Antonio, Texas were organized and spreading the word about Barack.

"One of the things I like about Texas is that we're the friendly state," says supporter Carolyn James. "Politics has gotten to be very cut-throat and vicious... And one of the things that Barack Obama can do is to bring back friendliness into politics, so that people work together for a cause."

Video: "A new political generation."

Kate Albright-Hanna — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 22:08:16 EST

Here's another video that shows the sweep of Obama's support among young people in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina... and beyond:

Video: Boston College for Obama

Kate Albright-Hanna — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:43:49 EST

Back in April - now almost a year ago - we noticed something stirring on college campuses that felt different than other election cycles.

On the eve of the Massachusetts primary, here's a look back at how some Boston College students were able to become the early adapters of a nation-wide movement:

Video: What Victory in South Carolina Looked Like

Kate Albright-Hanna — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:34:36 EST

A little over a week ago, we won South Carolina because grassroots supporters took the campaign into their own hands and convinced their friends and neighbors that their votes counted. Two hours before the polls closed that night, we caught up with students at Benedict College as they made a final push to convince their classmates to vote. Here's their story:

It was a dramatic ending to the story of Joshua Stroman, who has been critical to building the movement on his campus for Barack:

As Josh's Obama group heads down to Georgia to help get out the vote there tomorrow, it's overwhelming to think that their energy and commitment will be echoed in states across America - by moms and dads, teachers and truck drivers, first-time voters and former Republicans.

Everyone has a story, and all the stories lead to the same conclusion, as Barack said in his South Carolina victory speech: "That out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope; and where we are met with cynicism and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people in three simple words: Yes. We. Can."

Video: Rosa's Story

Kate Albright-Hanna — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:59:39 EST

Growing up in California, Rosa didn't always have enough to eat - except when her parents, immigrants from Mexico, were able to find union jobs. Today she's a labor union advocate and an attorney.

We met her at the Women for Obama event in San Francisco last fall, where she explained how her immigrant background influenced her decision to get involved in the Obama campaign.

"For the first time in my life, I feel like there's someone who is honest and who has a true interest in really understanding where people are coming from," she says.

Video: The House Meeting

Kate Albright-Hanna — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 15:52:27 EST

Here's another peek into our strategy in South Carolina - the way we think politics ought to be done. As Jeremy Bird, the SC field director, explains, it's about developing leadership among our volunteers and actually listening to what people have to say.

When we say this is "truly a grassroots campaign," we mean it in a very concrete way. Since last summer, we have encouraged South Carolinians to hold house meetings with their friends and neighbors and talk about the change they want to see in the country.

"People's stories are what matter," Bird says. "People are moved to act based on what it is that shaped who they are."

The philosophy is summed up by what one house meeting participant said about the young field organizer in Florence who helped lead the discussion there.

"See, this is what really is inspiring me about him - is you."

And this is our favorite interview of all time: Grace, who hosted a house party and talks about how it reminded her of a time when neighbors actually counted on one another.

Video: The Barbershop

Kate Albright-Hanna — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:48:47 EST

"The Barbershop" is one of our favorite pieces. It captures so many aspects of our movement in South Carolina - including the road many people took from fear and doubt to embracing the possibilities of this historic campaign, and believing in it.

It makes sense that a campaign focused on bringing back a sense of community to our neighborhoods would employ what Barack calls our "barbershop and beauty shop" strategy.

As barbershop owner Emerson says, "In the barbershop, you can just be yourself. We talk politics, religion, we talk everything.

"If people go to the jailhouse, you'll see the bad of the community, all bad. If you go to church, everybody gives you their good side. But you come to the barbershop, you get the real side."

Video: An American Dream

Kate Albright-Hanna — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:02:11 EST

I met Joshua Stroman for the first time last April. At the time, I was looking to profile someone who represented an issue like education or health care. But when Josh jumped onstage at a debate watching party to tell the mostly-student crowd why he connected with Barack, he struck me as someone who represented more than a set of issues; he seemed to embody the spirit of the campaign.

I caught up with him the next day - while he walked for the March of Dimes, attended a meeting at his church, checked in on the student government office (where he'd just been elected president) and waited to hear back about his acceptance to a Harvard summer program for social justice (he got in a week later).

There are more twists and turns to his story that make his journey incredibly unlikely and remarkable. It's a story about struggle, about the way things are, and the way things they could be - if Josh and all of us decide that we're not only going to take responsibility for improving our own lives, but also for bridging the divides that have kept us apart for too long.

As Barack says about the anniversary of the march from Selma during the civil rights movement: "When I came back from that celebration, people would say, oh, what a wonderful celebration of African-American history that must have been. And I would say, no, that wasn't African-American history. That was a celebration of American history - it's our story."

You could say the same about Josh's American dream.

Video: Getting Out the Vote in SC

Kate Albright-Hanna — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:28:30 EST

Last week, we got some behind-the-scenes insight into our organizational strength in South Carolina. After sitting in on get-out-the-vote training, we followed our volunteers into the field while they talked to voters - and what we saw was very exciting.

Our guide was the Rev. Randolph Scipio, a resident of North Charleston who embodies the best of Barack's community organizing principles. He calls himself a "foot soldier" in the movement to strengthen schools, bring back jobs and help veterans get reestablished in their neighborhoods.

He was joined by Kathleen Fox, who was leaning toward supporting Hillary Clinton until she saw Barack speak at the College of Charleston. She said Barack made her want to be part of something bigger than herself. She found that his "strong sense of integrity and doing what's right" was a "refreshing experience" after "that Clinton and Bush era and same old politics."

The energy in the community was palpable - and the volunteers knew they were part of something bigger than a traditional campaign. Kathleen and the Reverend aren't just getting out the vote for Barack; they're building a movement.

Inspired? There's still time to play an active role in the movement that's going Get-Out-the-Vote and win South Carolina for Barack this Saturday, but you need to sign-up online now.

Video: Generation Obama

Kate Albright-Hanna — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:04:47 EST

Before the Iowa caucuses, many pundits were dismissing the idea that young people could actually be inspired to get involved in politics again. But we knew as early as last spring that a profound, game-changing shift was taking place.

That's when we dropped in on the Boston College chapter of Students for Obama - and took some time to find out what they were thinking and how they saw their generation. We interviewed them soon after the shooting at Virginia Tech, which made the yearning for hope and the need to connect with one another even more urgent.

Since then, we've interviewed students all over the country, and a common theme always emerges: This generation is done with the old battles and fear-mongering. It's finding its voice - and demanding change.

Check out the story of Josh, Alexandra, Meg and Richard - and let us know us know what you think about what they say.

Video: New Hampshire's Road to Change

Kate Albright-Hanna — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 13:50:50 EST

When he was speaking to a huge crowd at Dartmouth last May, Barack said, "How did this happen? What is the path that led me to this place?" Three days before the New Hampshire primary, it's worth taking a look back at the long, amazing journey that Barack -- and all of us -- have been on to change the country.

The Women for Obama Story

Kate Albright-Hanna — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:26:27 EST

One of the best things about being on the Obama video team is that "issues" like Iraq, health care and education get names and faces and stories. Sam, Jessica, Chris, Arun and I have been traveling across the country for about nine months now - putting on microphones, sitting in living rooms, and listening to people talk about their fears and hopes.

In this short documentary, the Iraq "issue" becomes the story of a woman whose son and grandson both went to Iraq. The health care "issue" is a story about a college student whose mother suffered breast cancer - and didn't have the right insurance to get proper care.

Their stories - combined with the stories of so many others we've heard on the road - have motivated us to keep fighting for this movement. When things get rough (like when Arun crashed our car into a ditch outside of author Alice Walker's house), we'll do an interview that puts it all in perspective.

"I think of [Obama] as someone who is quite real. And that's refreshing because so many of the people are set before us are deeply unreal. They have a persona that they dance out there and they do all of the photo op things," Walker said.

"With Obama, there's this feeling that, here is someone who is a father. He's got his children, he thinks about his children, and through his children he's thinking about all the children. This is so rare."

As the working mom of a two year-old, this project was personal for me. I am a "Woman for Obama," but more than that, I'm someone who needs to connect to something real. This video allowed me to do that. Thanks for watching.

Kate

Change We Can Believe In: Roundtable on women's issues

Kate Albright-Hanna — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:58:13 EST

Today Barack talked to a roundtable of Iowan women about issues that directly impact their lives: the lack of affordable day care, the stress of balancing a job with caring for a sick parent, and the impossible choice of saving for a child's education at the expense of saving for retirement.

Barack said that these were issues that were hardly on the radar in Washington, DC - where politicians talk about family values but do little to actually help families achieve the American dream. As the son of a single mother, he pledged to keep the real concerns of women at the forefront of his agenda.

Video: Women for Obama

Kate Albright-Hanna — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 15:05:17 EDT

Last week in San Francisco, Women for Obama brought together over 1,500 women to hear Barack's message of change. "This year, your voice -- your vote -- will be the deciding factor in forging a new future," Barack told the crowd.

Watch the video:

Let New Orleans become the example

Kate Albright-Hanna — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 16:02:47 EDT

Before I joined the campaign, I spent over a year on a documentary about everything that went wrong in New Orleans after Katrina. I sat in a living room while a family walked me through the death of their father, crying and singing about how much they loved him. They'd been scattered across the country after the storm, but they came home to support each other.

Over and over again, I heard the phrase "This was paradise" from people who didn't have much before the storm - except for a strong sense of family, of neighborhood, of place.
Coming from a city where people pass through on their way up and down the ladders of power - Washington, D.C. - I began to envy New Orleanians for what they had. And I saw what was at stake if they didn't get it back.

So when Barack Obama stood in the First Emmanuel Baptist Church in New Orleans on Sunday morning and said, "Let New Orleans become the example of what America can do when we come together, not a symbol for what we couldn't do," I began to feel pain turn into strength, despair into hope.

He also said, "If we don't get this right, then it tells me that we as a nation have forgotten how to look out for one another." That's why I'm working on this campaign.

Sam and I put together this short film based on Barack's visits to New Orleans over the past year - and his plan to restore the city's foundation. Let us know what you think.