The Democratic Party’s goal is to make this summer’s convention in Philadelphia “the most inclusive convention in the history of conventions.”
The push for greater “inclusivity” and “diversity” comes as the Democratic National Committee prepares to approve Hillary Clinton as the first female presidential nominee of a major political party, to succeed America’s first black president.
“Diversity is kind of ingrained in our DNA throughout this whole process,” said Kevin Washo, executive director of the Democratic host committee and the Pennsylvania Democrats’ former executive director. “And we use it as a lens to look through everything.”
He’s not exaggerating. The Democratic host committee released a series of “Philly Welcomes You” videos in numerous languages aimed at people of different ethnicities, including Spanglish (not Spanish), Creole, Bengali and Greek.
Democratic officials, including convention CEO Rev. Leah Daughtry, have taken a liking to referring to Philadelphia as the “City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection,” a formal title officially adopted by former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. “Sisterly Affection” was reportedly an allusion to the sex trade in 19th-century Philadelphia, but using the full title in 2016 presumably ensures women feel included in the city.
And the Democrats will look to paint Clinton’s history-making nomination against the backdrop of Philadelphia’s own rich history. The Democratic convention’s nightly official proceedings will take place at the Wells Fargo Center, which is nearly four miles away from Independence Hall, the site of the Constitutional Convention little more than 230 years ago.
PoliticalFest, developed by the Democratic host committee, will look to capitalize on the city’s history with exhibits at seven locations around town, each centered around a specific theme related to American politics, government and history.
The host committee will also orchestrate Philly Feast, a “food truck festival,” on the first day of the convention.
“Delegates as well as local Philadelphians can just come and grab lunch and there’ll be music and there’ll be food trucks, and they can be a part of it,” said Julie Coker Graham, the CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Graham is working closely with the local host committee as well as the Democratic National Convention Committee to ensure that delegates and visitors have a pleasant experience. Part of that experience created by the host committee will include the installation of 57 fiberglass donkeys across town.
Visitors will be encouraged to use an app to hunt down the 57 fake animals, which represent the 50 U.S. states, five U.S. territories, Washington, D.C., and Democrats living abroad.
In planning for the convention, the Democrats have looked to the Republican convention held in Philadelphia in 2000, but Graham said residents are even more excited about the Democratic convention because Philadelphia is a Democratic city.
Washo said he has a good relationship with David Gilbert, the CEO of the Cleveland Republican National Convention host committee, and has looked at a number of different models to determine what will work best. Upon arrival in Philadelphia, attendees of the Democrats’ convention will find out what makes the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection different from Denver in 2008 and Charlotte, N.C., in 2012.
“They’re going to get a uniquely urban experience, they’re going to get a uniquely historical experience and I think it’s going to be a very exciting time for the delegates,” Washo said.
Approximately 50,000 people will attend the convention. Coming after the GOP convention, the Democratic convention’s message of “inclusivity” and “diversity” has a chance to set the tone for the start of the general election matchup with Republicans.
