Young Adults Behind the Scenes: The Unsung Heroes of the 2024 DNC

As thousands poured into Chicago neighborhoods for the highly acclaimed Democratic National Convention, hundreds of residents mobilized to support their efforts.& Women, men and teens all volunteered to distribute signs in hopes of encouraging the community to vote in the 2024 election. However, a small group of young adults played a more crucial, intimate and less appreciated role in the convention’s overall success. The designated staff at United Center and McCormick Place consisted of a group of 18- 26-year-olds. For much of the year, these team members staff Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks games, school events like proms or even business conferences. But these are nowhere near the magnitude of the convention. McCormick Place was used for daytime DNC business and downtown hotels for delegates, while the United Center served as a space for official proceedings and primetime programming. “We are honored and excited for our campus hotels to serve as the headquarters for the 2024 Democratic National Convention,” Larita Clark, CEO of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, owner of the Marriott Marquis Chicago, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, and McCormick Place Convention Center said after securing the headquarter deal. “With our 23 union partners and nearly 3,000 campus employees, we...