The 2012 Democratic National Convention begins on Sept. 4 in Charlotte, N.C., but the celebration has already begun. Scheduled convention speakers on Sept. 4-5 at at the Time Warner Cable Arena include San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro, first lady Michelle Obama and former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will speak on Sept. 6 at Bank of America Stadium, where proceedings will close with a lineup including Mary J. Blige and Earth, Wind and Fire.
There are also various related events scheduled in the city all week. Check out The Root's guide to select events in Charlotte from Sept. 2-6, ranging from town halls, dance parties, networking receptions, convention proceedings, invitation-only parties and more.
Sept. 2
"Respect My Vote" Town Hall
Sponsored by Hip Hop Caucus
Location: Charlotte School of Law, 2145 Suttle Ave.
Time: 2-5 p.m.
Prayers for Children: An Interfaith Call to Action
Location: Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church, 1117 South Blvd.
Time: 3 p.m.
Unity Through Community Party
Location: NC Dance Theatre, uptown Charlotte
Time: 8 p.m.
Media can register for press credentials to attend.
The Friends of Fifty Committee Gala
Location: Knight Theater, 430 N. Tryon St.
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Hosted by Hil Harper
Parties for state delegations, spread across 12 area venues
Location: Check for details here.
Time: 5-8 p.m.
Check here to find out which states go to which events.
Sept. 3 (Labor Day)
National Journal/The Atlantic daily news briefings
Location: McColl Center for Visual Arts, 721 N. Tryon St.
Time: 9:30-11 a.m.
RSVP here
National Journal/The Atlantic Watch Parties
Location: McColl Center for Visual Arts, 721 N. Tryon St.
Time: 7:30-10:30 p.m.
CarolinaFest
Location: Tryon Street
Time: 10 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Performers include Janelle Monae and James Taylor. Museums will be free admission that day.
GO CLT Welcome Reception
Location: 525 N. Tryon St.
Time: 6-9 p.m.
For young professionals and Charlotte's future leaders.
DNC/DNCC Morning Prayer Gathering
Location: Charlotte Convention Center, Room 211AB-212AB, 501 S. College St.
Time: 9-11 a.m.; Sept. 4 (9:30-10 a.m.); Sept. 5 (9-10 a.m.); Sept. 6 (9-10 a.m.)
Caucus and council meetings
Location: Charlotte Convention Center:
Time: Beginning at 10:30
(DNC Youth press conference, Room 208AB, 10:30-11:30 a.m.; Native American Council, 219 AB, 10 a.m. to noon; Americans and Pacific Islanders Caucus (AAPI), 203 AB, 10 a.m. to noon; African American Caucus, Ballroom CD, 10 a.m. to noon.; Ethnic Council, 218AB, 10 a.m. to noon; Hispanic Council, Ballroom- B, 10 a.m. to noon; Disability Caucus, 211AB- 212AB, noon to 2 p.m.; Faith Council, Room 203AB, noon to 2 p.m.; Youth Council, Ballroom- B, noon to 2 p.m.; Veterans and Military Families Council, 203AB, 2-4 p.m.)
North Carolina delegates reception
Location: Crowne Plaza Charlotte, 201 S. McDowell St.
Time: 1-6 p.m.
For questions call (704) 327-7550. Parking, $15.
DNC Creative Hub Tour
Location: Packard Place, 222 S. Church St., Ste. 100
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
StartUp RockOn Concert
Location: Gallery X
Time: 8 p.m. to midnight
StartUp RockOn at the DNC will be a concert headlined by The Roots, a week-long VIP late-night lounge. Invitation only, Amos Southend.
Politico's Playbook Breakfasts
Location: Packard Place, 222 South Church St., 5th floor
Time: Sept. 3-6, 8 a.m.
Sept. 4
Official convention speakers at Time Warner Cable Arena, 333 East Trade St., credentials required: 2012 Democratic National Convention Chair Antonio Villaraigosa will gavel in to officially begin the convention proceedings at the Time Warner Cable Arena, featuring Keynote Speaker San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro, first lady Michelle Obama and President Jimmy Carter via taped video.
Energy and the Election (Breakfast forum)
Location: Ritz-Carlton, Salon I, 201 East Trade Street
Time: 8-10 a.m.
Sponsored by the Washington Post. By invitation only.
Progressive Democrats of America Forum
Location: Community Outreach Christian Ministries, 1800 Brewton Drive
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lunch and reception included
Caucus meetings
Location: Charlotte Convention Center
Time: Women's Caucus, Ballroom ABCD, 10 a.m. to noon; Progressive Action PAC, Room 213 A, 10:30 a.m. to noon; LGBT Caucus, 203AB, noon to 2 p.m.; Senior Council, 211AB- 212AB, noon to 2 p.m; Small Business Owners Council, 211AB- 212AB, 2-4 p.m.; Rural Council, 203AB, 2-4 p.m.
The Millennial Impact on the 2012 Elections
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 201 S. McDowell St.
Time: Noon
Free. Must register at rsvp_iop@hks.harvard.edu
ArtsSpeak
Location: Mint Museum, James B. Duke Auditorium, 2730 Randolph Road
Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Building Healthier Cities
Location: McColl Center for Visual Arts
Time: 2:30-4 p.m.
Compare the Candidates Forum
Location: McColl Center for Visual Arts
Time: 3-4:30 p.m.
RSVP here
The One World Comedy Jam, featuring D.L. Hughley, Tommy Davidson
Location: Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon Street
Time: 9 p.m.
UFuture: A Summit for Innovative Thinkers
Location: Johnson C. Smith University, 100 Beatties Ford Road, Brayboy Gymnasium
Time: 10 a.m. to noon
Panel: The African American Electorate and the Race for North Carolina
Location: Google space, West 3rd Street
Time: 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Panel: How Communities of Color are Capitalizing on the Technology Economy
Location: Google space, West 3rd Street
Time: 3-4:30 p.m.
Cocktail Reception Honoring African American and Latino American Leadership
Location: Google space, West 3rd Street
Time: 4:30-7 p.m.
Attendance is subject to venue capacity.
20th anniversary of Bill Clinton's nomination
Location: The Westin Charlotte, 601 S. College
Time: 5 p.m.
Special guests: Bill Clinton and will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas
Politics & Pints pub trivia
Location: RiRa, 208 N. Tryon St.
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Free
Planned Parenthood Action Fund Sex, Politics and Cocktails party
Location: 223 S. Brevard St.
Time: 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Free
People for the American Way Foundation celebrates the right to vote
Location: 210 E. Trade St.,
Time: 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Event space is limited. RSVP required, but does not guarantee entry unless confirmed. Contact: Courtney Brown, 202-467-2351, cbrown@pfaw.org
ArtsJam
Location: McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square - Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
Time: 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.
A pre-concert cocktail fundraiser meet-and-greet with celebrity guests will be held from 9:00-10:30 pm. Ticket prices vary. Contact information: Victoria Baatin, 202-371-2830. vmurraybaatin@artsusa.org
Musicians On Call's 2012 Presidential Convention Charity Benefit
Location: The Fillmore
Invitation only
Sept. 5
Health Care Visionaries and Voices from the Front Lines of Care Forum
Location: NASCAR Hall of Fame Museum, 400 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Time: 9:30-11 a.m.
Free and open press. Media RSVP to DLemmon@familiesusa.org.
Women Are Watching…and Voting: A Panel Discussion
Location: The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts & Culture, 551 South Tryon St.
Time: 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Council meetings
Location: Charlotte Convention Center
Time: Native American Council, 219AB, 10 a.m. to noon; African American Caucus, Ballroom- CD, 10 a.m. to noon; Hispanic Caucus, Ballroom- B, 10 a.m. to noon; Americans and Pacific Islanders Caucus, 203AB. 10 a.m. to noon; Ethnic Council, 218AB, 10 a.m. to noon; Faith Council, 203AB, noon to 2 p.m.
EMILY's List Campaign and Champagne Town Hall
Location: Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St.
Time: 12:30-5 p.m. Sold out.
Domestic Policy Forum: "21st Century Campaigns,"
Location: Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
Time: 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Equality and Economic Opportunities in 21st Century Cities: "Lessons from the U.S. and Around the World" Panel
Location: Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
Time: 3 p.m.
Conversations with the Next Generation with Chelsea Clinton, a Town Hall
Location: Discovery Place's 3D Theatre, 301 N. Tryon St.
Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Media RSVP to register@theatlantic.com
The NewDEAL Toast to the Future Reception,
Location: Mint Museum, 500 S. Tryon St.
Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
Closed press. Tickets are publicly available.
Changing Political Demographics and the Future of the Democratic Party- Panel Discussion
Location: Bank of America Center
Time: 4-5:30 p.m.
(Media are asked to pre-register, Megan Piccirillo at (617) 514-1665 or megan.piccirillo@jfklfoundation.org.)
Charlotte's Young and Powerful for Obama fundraising event
Location: Dressler's Restaurant, 1100 Metropolitan Ave.
Time: 6 p.m. $44 donation to Obama for America campaign
Rock the Vote 2012 DNC Convention concert, Foo Fighters.
Location: The Fillmore Charlotte, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd.
Time: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
The Creative Coalition Benefit Gala
Location: N.C. Music Factory Osso Restaurant and Fountain Plaza.
Invitation only.
Sept. 6
Official convention speakers at Bank of America Stadium, 800 S. Mint St:
Vice President Biden and President Obama.
Musical lineup for convention closing: Mary J. Blige; Earth, Wind and Fire; Foo Fighters.
Other happenings:
*National Journal/The Atlantic daily on-site roundtables and events:
*Community events featured on host committee site
*Tavis Smiley's "America I Am: The African American Imprint" at Harvey B. Gantt Center African-American Arts and Culture
*"Hard Truths: The Art of Thornton Dial" at Mint Museum Uptown
Check here for information on street closures and transportation options in Charlotte.