HRC Blog

Today the Obama transition team announced that Lisa Hazirjian and her partner Michelle are one of the 16 American families that have been chosen to participate in the Delegation of Americans joining the Obamas and the Bidens on their historic train trip from Philadelphia to Washington, DC.  Lisa and Michelle will participate in all official Inaugural events as honored guests of the President-Elect and Vice President-Elect.

Lisa is a member of the Equality Ohio board and was a participant in HRC's 2008 Camp Equality election skills training in Columbus.

According to her bio at Equality Ohio:

Lisa’s record of involvement in progressive causes runs the gamut from combating mortgage redlining by analyzing Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data, to holding HIV prevention workshops in migrant farmworker camps, to leading the campaign to establish same-sex partner benefits for graduate and professional students at her alma mater, to coordinating the Obama campaign’s LGBT outreach activities in the greater Cleveland area. While she remains passionate about many other issues, right now nothing surpasses her determination to see the passage of fully-inclusive employment non-discrimination legislation.

(Not to mention Lisa attended Duke University, the alma mater of your Back Story blogger...GO DEVILS!)

Here's the official press release:

President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden Invite Guests on Inaugural Whistle Stop Tour

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee announced that a group of everyday Americans has been invited by President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden to join them on the Whistle Stop Tour to Washington, D.C. the Saturday before the Inauguration.

These everyday Americans from all walks of life have made extraordinary contributions to the life of this country - the worker who became a champion for workers’ rights, the soldier who became an advocate for servicemen and women suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; those who have lost their jobs and struggle bravely to cope in economic turmoil, and those who work tirelessly to make real the dream of a better future for their children.

“Each one of these families has their own remarkable story to add to our American story, and we’re thrilled they’ve agreed to join us as we travel to Washington,“ said Josh Earnest, PIC Communications Director. 

The invited guests include the following:  Mark Dowell, Crestwood, KY; Matt Kuntz, Helena, MT; Jim and Alicia Girardeau, Kansas City, MO; Juliana Sanchez, Albuquerque, NM; Rosa Mendoza, Las Vegas, NV; Lisa Hazirjian, Cleveland, OH; Kirsten Meehan, Dover, NH; Roy Gross, Taylor, MI; Shandra Jackson, Arlington, TX; Quincy Lucas, Dover, DE; Patricia Stiles, Parker, CO; Gregg Weaver, Fairless Hills, PA; Tony Fischer, Cinncinati, OH; Lilly Ledbetter, Jacksonville, AL; Mike and Cheryl Fisher, Beech Grove, IN; and Randy Wehrman, LeClair, IA.

The PIC previously announced details of the Whistle Stop Tour.  In the tradition of past Presidents-elect, there will be a series of events open to the public as the First and Second families make their way to the nation’s capital.  The group of Americans traveling with the Obamas and Bidens will also appear on stage with them at the public events.

In keeping with the theme of the 2009 Inauguration, “Renewing America’s Promise,“ the President-elect and Vice President-elect will hold events in some of the cities instrumental to that promise: Philadelphia, where that promise was realized; Baltimore, where that promise was defended, then immortalized in our national anthem; and Washington, where Americans of all backgrounds will gather over four days, united in common purpose and resolved to renew that promise once more.

Saturday morning, January 17^th, President-elect Obama and his family will hold an event in Philadelphia before boarding a train for Wilmington, Delaware, where they will be joined by Vice President-elect Biden and his family.  Together, the families will travel to Baltimore and hold another event, before finally arriving in Washington, D.C.

For the latest information on the 2009 Presidential Inauguration, please visit http://www.pic2009.org

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