Honoring Alaysha Claiborne, the youngest Pennsylvania Delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention, for her faith and commitment in the political process.

WHEREAS, Alaysha Claiborne has been recognized as the youngest Pennsylvania delegate attending the 2012 Democratic National Convention where she quickly became the heart, soul, and inspiration of Pennsylvania Democrats; and

WHEREAS, Alaysha Claiborne was introduced by Senator Bob Casey who shared the honor of announcing Pennsylvania's 242 delegate votes for President Obama; and

WHEREAS, Alaysha Claiborne ran for delegate at the age of 17 before she could legally collect signatures, but with the help of local volunteers who circulated petitions on her behalf she was elected; and

WHEREAS, Alaysha Claiborne is the daughter of two Navy veterans, was raised in York, Pennsylvania, attended Dallastowne Area Senior High School and is now in her freshman year at Temple University pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Sociology; and

WHEREAS, Alaysha Claiborne has been a political activist throughout her high school years, knocking on doors in the summer of 2008 for Obama's Presidential campaign, organizing her peers, who were dubbed the “Barack Stars,” to talk about issues and make posters; and

WHEREAS, Alaysha Claiborne also founded her high school's Gay Straight Alliance and joined the Planned Parenthood Federation of America's youth advisory council. She became a Planned Parenthood peer educator, running teen talks and condom demonstrations, and won a $1,000 college scholarship from the National Organization for Women; and

WHEREAS, Alaysha Claiborne raised $1,000 to pay for the convention trip by hosting a “celebrity scoop” at the Rita's Italian Water Ice where she worked featuring York's Mayor and her aunt, a Special Olympian; and

WHEREAS, In 2012, Alaysha Claiborne is injecting an energy that allowed veteran politicos to experience the convention through her young eyes; now therefore,

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

, That it hereby honors Alaysha Claiborne, the youngest Pennsylvania Delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention for her faith and commitment in the political process.

FURTHER RESOLVED

,

That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Alaysha Claiborne as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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