Vintage metallic microphone on a wooden podium, warm brown and orange tones, blurred background

Convention Speech

Ilana Wexler, a 12-year-old from Oakland, California and founder of Kids for Kerry, was the youngest person to speak at the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004. Her speech inspired kids across the country to believe they could make a difference in the election.

Watch & Listen

The convention speech is available in the following formats. RealMedia versions are more compact for visitors on dialup connections.

Format Type Best For
RealMedia Video Dialup visitors — smaller file size
QuickTime Video Higher-quality playback
MP3 Audio only Listening on the go or slower connections

About the Speech

Ilana took the stage in Boston to tell the country that kids care about the future — and that they have a voice worth hearing. She spoke about why she started Kids for Kerry, what the election meant for children and families, and how young people could get involved in the campaign.

Her appearance drew national attention and was covered by major news outlets. It remains a highlight of the Kids for Kerry story.

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