PRESS
RELEASE
from Charlotte in 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
Contact:
Suzi Emmerling
Charlotte Welcomes
30,000 People to Historic CarolinaFest
Convention
Kick-Off
Event
Welcomes
Tens of Thousands of Americans to Heart of
Convention Activities
Charlotte,
NC - Charlotte law enforcement officials estimate that roughly 30,000
people attended the historic CarolinaFest 2012 today in Uptown
Charlotte. Despite the heat and rain, the mood was high in Charlotte
today as delegates, members of the media, and local residents enjoyed
the free, family–friendly festival. Festivalgoers enjoyed Charlotte's
annual Labor Day Parade, musical acts, childrens activities, engaging
exhibitions that support Mayor Anthony Foxx's legacy programs in the
"Legacy Village," and food trucks and food vendors, many of which
represented the Carolinas.
"I
am so happy that Charlotte was able to have the opportunity to open the
convention experience to tens of thousands of more people than ever
before. It was great to see both local residents and convention
visitors pack Uptown Charlotte streets, frequent local restaurants,
experience the Legacy Village, and -- most importantly — have a
great
time. Uptown was certainly alive today," said Charlotte in 2012
Executive Director Dr. Dan Murrey
CarolinaFest
2012 featured two stages with live performances and speakers. The Main
Stage was located at the intersection of Trade and Tryon Streets in
Uptown Charlotte and the “Carolina Stage” was located at the
intersection of Levine Avenue of the Arts and Tryon Street. The Main
Stage featured Janelle Monáe, Jeff Bridges and the
Abiders, Simplified,
and James Taylor.The Carolina Stage featured The Blue Dogs, Chairmen of
the Board, Simplified, and West End Mambo. Speakers on the Main Stage
included Governor Bev Perdue, Senator Kay Hagen, Massachusetts
Governor
Deval Patrick, Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie
Wasserman
Schultz, Congressman Mel Watt, Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, and
Charlotte in 2012 Executive Director Dr. Dan Murrey. Each speaker
welcomed conventioneers to Charlotte and spoke enthusiastically about
the historic opportunity that CarolinaFest offered in opening up the
convention to more Americans. With the safety of festivalgoers
being
first priority, the final act of James Taylor ended about 30 minutes
earlier than planned. The rain didn't dampen spirits, however, and
guests didn't leave until it became clear that the rain would not abate.
Throughout
the day, the Legacy Village provided an opportunity for conventioneers
and the people of this region to see firsthand just how much this
community works together to solve our greatest challenges. Over 70
individuals, organizations, and public-private partnerships will
represent the spirit of the Mayor’s four convention legacy projects.
Plans for the Legacy Village included:
- Craftsman
House United- Along with Ty Pennington, Rebuilding Together of the
Carolinas, Craftsman, NextGen, Heroes at Home, a home will be built
throughout the week and then given to a local veteran in need.
- Everyday
Edisons Pitch Booth allowed entrepreneurs to pitch their product ideas
in one of the four legacy areas with the hope that one of those ideas
will be featured on the show and, that one day, an idea incubated at
CarolinaFest will become a product.
- Charlotte
Mecklenburg Housing Coalition & Street Soccer USA conducted
tournaments on a pop up soccer stadium and promoted their programs that
combat homelessness and provide job-training opportunities.
- GenerationNation gave
youth a hands-on civics lesson with activities such as ‘What’s Your
Civics IQ?’, Kids’ Voting, ‘Build Your Own Campaign!’, and mock
television interviews with the assistance of the YMCA.
- Discovery
Place featured their high school Electric Vehicle Conversion Challenge
and converted a conventional vehicle into an electric car.
- Time
Warner Cable’s Connect a Million Minds basketball-playing robot
taught
participants about engineering concepts. In addition, a tornado
simulator and interactive brainstorming games encouraged festivalgoers
to think creatively and invent new products.
- USGBC
& Habitat & Goodwill will build a LEED Registered Habitat
House
during Convention week that will be left as a legacy to a community
member after the Convention.
- Girl
Scouts, Hornets' Nest Council- Girls Are IT! Mobile technology bus
with
interactive components that exposed youth to careers in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math.
- Mayor's
Youth Employment Program presented by Bank of
America- The World of
Work Wheel allowed festivalgoers to explore different industries and
career opportunities. A “GameTruck” Party showcased new
media, graphic
design and computer science technology as potential careers for youth.
- The
Smart Energy Now (Envision Charlotte) interactive kiosk depicted
in
real time energy usage in Charlotte and recommended how we, as
individuals of a greater community, can live more sustainably.
- Festival Guests helped create Que-Os Recycled
Interactive Art Sculpture made out of recycled materials.
- Friendship
Trays, Friendship Gardens exhibited a community garden, displayed their
recently launched Mobile Market, and put on workshops to teach
festivalgoers the ABC’s of sustainable gardening.
- The Field
to Fork program taught cooking and eating healthy and allowed
festivalgoers to create, prep, and sample their own healthy pizzas.
- Fitness
and wellness activities for youth with Charlotte Mecklenburg
Schools,
Girls on the Run, Peace In Peace Out, and The NFLPA Charlotte Former
Players.
- Local
artists created works of art on site that will seek participation from
festivalgoers. The artists created their interpretation of what it
means for Charlotte to have a diverse, inclusive economy.
Mayor Foxx
announced the convention’s legacy programs to help ensure that the
convention leaves a positive, lasting impact on the local region. By
leaving a legacy, the convention has the potential to be more than an
event; it can be a galvanizing moment for citizens to pull together and
work to provide a strong future for the community. The four convention
legacy programs are; Healthy Children, Healthy Families; Youth
Employment and Civic Education; Building a Broader, More Inclusive and
Diverse Economy; and Energy, Technology, and Sustainability.
###
The
Charlotte in 2012 Convention Host Committee is a non-profit,
non-partisan organization established by the city of Charlotte to
fulfill obligations of the master contract with the Democratic National
Convention Committee. In addition to those obligations, Charlotte in
2012 works to engage the citizens of Charlotte and the Carolinas
through business and civic opportunities, ensure that the Convention
leaves a positive lasting legacy, and tell Charlotte and the region's
story to the nation and the world. For mo