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CHICAGO–For Luca Ripani ’23, the Democratic National Convention just so happened to be in his backyard. The former Democratic Hill Staffer recently moved back to his hometown of Chicago, Illinois and wanted to get involved somehow with the convention.

“I decided that I didn’t really want a short term job, so I just decided to apply to volunteer.” A few weeks after applying earlier in the summer, and undergoing a background check by the United States’ Secret Service, Ripani was approved to serve at the 4-day long event at United Center in downtown Chicago.

Over 17,000 people, from all 50 states and Washington D.C., signed up to be volunteers at the DNC and 15,000 more were held on the waiting list. The youngest DNC volunteer was 16, the oldest was 102. For Ripani, the convention in his hometown was really the only way for him to volunteer and be involved in the event.

The Democratic party has long held sustainability efforts important to their platform, and their convention aimed to be “the most sustainable” one for the party yet. Ripani was assigned to be a green team lead, responsible for leading a team of sustainability volunteers. Their team ensured delegates, staff, media, and other patrons of the Convention were throwing waste in the appropriate garbage, recycling, and compost bins. The team also sent unused food down to the basement of the United Center, where it was repackaged for local organizations in the community that could provide the food to those in need.

Ripani’s role also allowed Ripani visuals of what most of us saw from home. “It was awesome because we got to see all the keynote speeches. I got to see Joe Biden and Barack Obama speak. To see Obama speak in our hometown of Chicago was an incredible experience.”

Later in the week, Ripani was sent out to serve as youth ambassador at local hotels, pointing patrons in the right direction for wherever they needed to go. He didn’t know it when he signed up for the role, but this was the hotel that most Senators were staying at. He was able to meet Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and see Senators. Richard Blumenthal, Ron Wyden, and Tina Smith. The next day, Ripani happened to be working at the hotel that most House members were staying, and he got to see Reps. Kathleen Clark, Jim McGovern, Steve Cohen, and Brendan Boyle.

Thursday night, for the final day of the convention and the highly anticipated speech from Vice President Kamala Harris accepting the Democratic nomination for president, Ripani was assigned to access control at the United Center. Posted at the entrance to the floor of the convention, he was making sure the delegates, staff, and media that were seeking access could enter and blocking access for protestors that were attempting to get to the floor. “It was really cool because we were close to the stage and at the end of the night, we had a great view of Kamala’ Harris’ acceptance speech. It was a really stressful day but so worth it at the end of the day to see her speech.”

Ripani grew up in the suburbs west of Chicago, but he now lives in the River North neighborhood in the city. He graduated with a degree in political science and has long been active in politics. After graduation from Notre Dame, he moved to Washington D.C. and worked as a Democratic aide in the House. Now, he’s back in Chicago to begin working in local government, and the timing was perfect. “It was so unbelievable. I’ve seen conventions on TV my whole life, but to see it live for the first time in my hometown of Chicago was unforgettable.”