Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean and members of the Democratic National Convention Committee picked up paintbrushes to help refurbish a classroom at a local school Thursday.
The paint and plaster job at Manual High School was part of a Volunteers of America project to renovate the building and to keep the community interested in the school.
Manual was closed for a year due to declining enrollment and low student performance, but faculty, alumni and community organizers were able to get it re-opened.
"This is a very gutsy, risky thing to do," said Dean about the re-opening of the school. "This could be a model for the rest of the country, if it works. That's the challenge for the principal and school board, making it work."
Shalifa Williamson of Aurora said she's enjoying doing public service projects with other Democratic staffers from around the country.
"It's like a big happy family now," she said. "But see my paint stroke? It's getting more and more polished. My dad will be impressed."
And there is a Shalifa Williamson who is married to a local Denver boxer named DaVarryl, nicknamed "Touch of Sleep" according to wikipedia
Hmmm ... how many Shalifa Williamson's do you know in Colorado?