DES MOINES - Before President Obama outlines his plan to build an economy that is grown from the middle-class out at Kirkwood Community College, there will be an eventful pre-program with participants from Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Waterloo and Central City, IA.
- Band - Diplomats of Solid Sound, soul band from Iowa City.
- Emcee - Margaret "Peggy" Whitworth of Cedar Rapids. Peggy Whitworth was the executive Director of Brucemore, Iowa's only National Trust for Historic Preservation site for 20 years. She has been involved with the Obama campaign since the 2007 caucus. Peggy is an Neighborhood Team Leader in Cedar Rapids, helping to organize people for the election this fall.
- Pledge of Allegiance - Will Overstreet of Cedar Falls. Will is a member of the Iowa National Guard. He was deployed to Afghanistan, and currently is a teacher with the Waterloo School System.
- National Anthem - Mary Mathis will be a Junior this fall at Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids. She is a member of their award-winning show choir, Happiness, and of three varsity choirs. Mary has had lead roles in several school musicals, including Annie and Smile. She is currently practicing for a lead role in "Camp Rock" at Theatre Cedar Rapids with performances in August.
· Invocation - Pastor Steve Perkins of Payne Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church in Waterloo - the oldest African American Church in Waterloo.
· Welcome Remarks - Kirsten Running-Marquardt of Cedar Rapids. Kirsten was elected to the Iowa House in a special election in 2009. Prior to that, she was an organizer with SEIU, and was active in the Obama campaign in 2008. She represents southwest Cedar Rapids, including Kirkwood Community College.
- Volunteer Pitch - Andrea Marie Nemecek, Grinnell College student from Cedar Rapids. Andrea has been involved with the Obama campaign in Cedar Rapids since she was 15. She went to Kennedy High School where President Obama held his first campaign event in 2007.
· Introduction - Jason McLaughlin, Principal of Central City High School in Central City. President Obama is visiting the home of Jason and Ali McLaughlin on Tuesday morning to discuss the President's vision for an economy built from the middle-out, which reforms our tax code so it rewards work over wealth and ends loopholes and tax breaks for corporations and the wealthiest.
