Convention Updates--12.08.08

The Summit team wanted to share with all our readers recent updates to Constitutional Convention: Building Democracy 2.0.

First, we launched an innovative web platform this week, www.democracyupgrade.com, where users can engage an interactive online community in a discussion about upgrading American democracy. Among the features is a Wiki with the text of the Constitution which users are invited to edit. Participants can exchange ideas about building grant summit teams for projects, collaborate on post-election issues, and are invited to submit YouTube videos proposing upgrades to the Constitution.

“Using Web 2.0 platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, we are providing a platform to engage in a discussion about Democracy 2.0 before the Constitutional Convention begins,” said Nick Troiano, 19, Mobilize.org Technology Officer. “All content submitted and discussed on the site will be integrated in deliberative dialogue sessions during the Convention,” noted Troiano.

Second, in addition to exciting technology, both Generation WE and 18 in ’08 have joined the host of sponsors for the Convention. 18 in ’08, led by 19 year-old David Burstein, will be filming a documentary of the Convention, collecting video from Convention participants and working to get participants flip cameras to document their post-election experiences.

"Now that voters have made their voices heard, the Constitutional Convention provides a unique post-election opportunity for young voters to remain engaged in democracy," said National Constitution Center President and CEO Joseph M. Torsella. "We are proud to host this event at the Constitution Center in Historic Philadelphia, the birthplace of democracy."

Constitutional Convention: Building Democracy 2.0 will give Millennials the opportunity to sustain the election momentum they created to ensure that the civic and political dialogue around major issues affecting them continues and results in action that causes systemic and lasting positive change.