YDA

The Young Democrats of America has named Christine Pelosi, a nationally recognized expert on grassroots politics and public policy, to join the leading progressive youth organization as Interim Executive Director, effective immediately.

The author of Campaign Boot Camp: Basic Training for Future Leaders, Pelosi has conducted dozens of trainings for hundreds of candidates and thousands of volunteer activists across the country. Her Boot Camp’s emphasis on message, management, money and mobilization will help YDA develop a farm team of America’s future leaders.

“YDA is thrilled to have Christine play such a major part in shaping the future of not only our organization but the entire youth political movement,” said Rod Snyder, President of YDA. “There is not a more qualified or dedicated person to serve as Interim Executive Director, and YDA is grateful for Christine’s commitment to training and mobilizing the next generation of Democratic leaders. ”

“I am excited by this opportunity to serve as Interim Executive Director of YDA,” Pelosi said. “It’s vitally important that we build our bench of progressive leaders who are the hope of our Party and the future of our country. We plan to hit the ground running with a fifty state strategy of YDA boot camps for Young Democrats to ensure they have the tools and resources necessary to make a difference in their communities.”

Pelosi will direct the organization as it searches for a permanent executive director, grows its membership, and scales up its training and campaign efforts. Prior to being named Interim Executive Director, Pelosi served on the YDA Stakeholder Board and is an elected member of the Democratic National Committee.

As an attorney, author and activist, Pelosi brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the organization. She is a former Executive Director of the California Democratic Party. She also chaired the California Democratic Party Platform Committee for 13 years. She has been elected four times to serve on the Democratic National Committee, where she co-founded the DNC Veterans and Military Families Council. She currently conducts leadership boot camps for candidates and nonprofits across the country and teaches the Public Service Leadership Boot Camp for the University of California, Berkeley extension in San Francisco.

An avid baseball fan, Pelosi serves on the San Francisco Giants Community Fund Board of Directors. She holds a J.D. from the University of California Hastings College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in foreign service from Georgetown University.

Last week Rod Snyder, YDA Executive Vice President, and Hailey Snow, YDA Political Director, participated in a meeting at the White House about health care and young Americans.

Two things became clear. First, our generation is at the most risk of being uninsured without health insurance reform, and second, that passing a bill that provides quality affordable health care to all Americans will require Millennials to take action supporting it.

The Young Democrats of America launched yda.org/healthpledge, where young Americans from across the country can pledge to take action in support of health insurance reform. Once someone signs the pledge, they are redirected to a page where they can take one or more of the following actions:

• Write a letter to a local paper
• Write to your Senators
• Call your Senators
• Attend a town hall meeting
• Call in to talk radio
• Make a donation

Everyone that signs the pledge by Wednesday night will be invited to participate on YDA’s Health Insurance Reform update conference call with Democratic leaders and elected officials.

YDA Blog - Our Visit to the White House to Talk About Health Care
YDA Blog - Pledge to Fight for Health Insurance Reform

Last week (Aug 5 - 9) I was in Chicago, IL for the 2009 Young Democrats of America National Convention. Aside from being in an awesome city and being around tons of young people with similar beliefs, the convention proved to be an incredible learning and networking experience. YDA is more than a social club it is a respectable organization dedicated to motivating young people and making them a more powerful political force Nation wide. YDA achieves this through various training sessions offered throughout the week and bringing in great speakers like Dr. Howard Dean.

During the week thousands of Democrats (young and old) gathered in Chicago to attend the great training sessions and see the speakers. The training sessions offered at the YDA convention ranged from sessions on "Community Organizers Running for Office" to "Finance 101 and Finance 202". As a result of the top notch training many young democrats returned to their states ready to work and better trained to make a difference (full list of training sessions at the end of post).

This year the Kansas delegation consisted of seventeen great Young Democrats from various areas of the state. All of us attended multiple training sessions and we all left Chicago excited and ready to get started. The training we received in Chicago was extremely valuable and it was only because of the great donors we had statewide that we were able to go. The donors enabled all of us to return home armed with the know how needed and the hopes of helping to turn Kansas a few shades bluer.

Kansas Delegation list: Tyler Longpine, Colin Curtis (me), Skye Coleman, Chris Terry, Jamie Epstein, Chelsea Mertz, John Moreau, Merriam Langdon, Erin Doughty, Ben Cohen, Andrew Rickel, Amar Gupta, Molly McGuire, Andrew Mertz, Shane Gagnebin, Jimelle Austin, Anthony Martinez.

Part of the Kansas delegation is pictured below

YDA presents youth from all over the Nation with the opportunity to make connections, receive the training needed to organize their community, the know how to be an extremely valuable member of their community, become a more effective activist, or prepare them for a career in political campaigns and public service.

Among all the exciting training sessions and all the great speakers there was also an election that took place. Their were two slates running for the leadership positions in YDA. Sarah Burris brought you the first announcement of election results in her post. The slate elected to lead YDA for the next two years was referred to as YDA Works (which includes fellow Everyday Citizen writer William Isaac Robinson). YDA Works has identified problems with in the organization and has committed to improving YDA over the next two years in a multitude of ways.

What we have to work on:

-The number of local YDA chapters created online has skyrocketed in the past few years, but our ability to engage those new chapters has not kept up with our growth.

-YDA Partnership Programs, until recently, have only worked with State Organizations – leaving the creativity and passion of local chapters out of our national organization and the best practices and campaign resources of the national organization away from local chapters.

-Many local chapters do not feel connected to the national organization, each other, or the broader youth movement, limiting our collective effectiveness.

-YDA’s technological infrastructure is inefficient and can not sustain the growth of YDA. Our local chapters feel the pain of this inadequacy when trying to perform general administrative duties and while communicating with their members.

How we will make YDA work better:

-Make sure YDA has an operational online membership management system for all local chapters.
Invest in a peer-to-peer partnership program for the 2009 elections in Virginia that provides opportunities for all chapters around the country to develop young voter contact skills to be utilized in their states for the 2010 elections.

-Continue to expand the partnership programs to local chapters and caucuses in order to get YDA resources on the ground.

-Rely on the creativity and ingenuity of our local chapters and their leadership when it comes to creating programming.

Pictured: YDA Works team (left to right) Rod Snyder, Executive Vice President, Renee Hartley, First VP, Isaac Robinson, Second VP, Colmon Elridge, Third VP, Emily Robinson, Secretary, Mark Newman, Treasurer and at the podium is Crystal Strait, President.

Fellow Future Majority writer, Kevin Bondelli, also deserves a great amount of credit in this election. Kevin was the campaign manager for YDA Works and the newly appointed YDA Chief of Staff.

I believe my involvement in YDA has and will continue to help me grow politically and help me to become a more active member of society and for the causes I believe in. I am currently in the aspirations to be elected as the President of the Kansas Young Democrats, for you Kansans I hope I can count on your support in my race. I encourage all Young Democrats to reach out to their local YDA chapter and get involved because only through our involvement will we be able to ensure our voices are heard.

As promised from above- Complete Training list with descriptions:

Community Organizer Large Training Tracks:

-Community Organizers Running for Office
So you think you want to run for office? Come learn exactly what it takes; from the initial gut check, to developing a campaign plan, to actually getting out the vote for yourself. Hear from Young Democrats from across the country that have run campaigns like this and/or have been elected to office themselves.

-Community Organizers Take On Election Reform
We can continue to increase youth turnout by removing certain barriers from our elections. Learn about same day voter registration, online registration, changing the voter registration age, and early voting- and how to get these things in your states.

-Community Organizers Take On Global Warming
It’s a great day to go green. It’s time for young people to lead the discussion on why global warming and the environment is an issue and how we plan to lead the charge. Learn everything from current and new technologies, to green, sustainable jobs. It's time to discuss how federal policy and energy initiatives directly affect young people and our communities and how we can be effective in communicating these new ideas!

-Community Organizers Take On Higher Education
With less than 25% of young people in college it's time we make Higher Education a frontline issue. Learn about the access and affordability barriers students are facing, and legislation around the issue.

-Community Organizers Hit The Field
Learn everything about field plans, how we utilize the peer to peer model, and how to manage your volunteers during a campaign.

-Community Organizers Utilize New Media and Online Organizing
We don’t just tweet to tweet. Learn about new media outlets, organizing online, and how to build new media into a coordinated campaign plan.

-Community Organizers Take on Healthcare
Over 15 Million young people are uninsured. Healthcare reform is a main issue right now in our communities and within government. Learn how you can represent the youth voice and ensure you are insured.

-Community Organizers Take on Marriage Equality
Marriage Equality is the civil rights battle of our time. Learn how we can pass marriage equality in every state and how to keep the momentum for this issue going strong!

-Community Organizers Take On Housing
We have all heard about the crisis in the housing and lending industries, but what does it all mean? Demystify the housing issue, how we found ourselves in this situation, and how it is affecting young people.

-Community Organizers Take on Redistricting
2010 is almost here and that means we can gain or lose Democratic districts. Learn how we can ensure congressional districts are drawn fairly and how we can mobilize young people and Democrats in these districts during an election.

Round Table Discussions and Briefings:

-YDA 101: New Member Orientation
New to YDA? Come find out a little bit about our history, our structure, what peer to peer is, and how the convention works. Meet YDA leaders, staff, and other new members like yourself and find out how to get more involved.

-Dream Act
Learn about the thousands of undocumented students in this country and the obstacles they face around Higher Education. We will discuss current legislation as well as grass roots advocacy that can be taken within your communities to ensure access and affordable education for ALL students.

-Foreign Policy
Learn what issues young Democrats are facing on a global scale and how we can take a stance on foreign policy and partner with young Democratic leaders from around the world.
Discussion Groups on Chapter Building
Starting a new chapter or simply want to grow your existing chapter? Brainstorm with your fellow chapter members and leaders: different leadership and meeting structures, best practices on recruitment and retention, and how to mobilize your chapter for YDA within your communities.

-Finance 101 and Finance 202
101: Learn the basics of fundraising and developing a workable finance plan for your chapter.
202: Put your fundraising trainings and best practices into action. Learn about Call Time and practice actual fundraising with your peers.

-Writing a Voter Registration Plan
Before we can begin turning out the vote for Democrats we have to make sure they’re registered! Learn how to write a voter registration plan that you and your chapter can enact in your communities.

-Religion in Politics
Engage in discussions with fellow Young Democrats of ways that religion intersects with politics.

-Demopolis 101 and Demopolis 202
101: Become more familiar navigating yourself around the site and all the ways it can benefit your chapter. Learn how to manage your lists, send out eblasts, and how to set up events.
202: Learn how to set up targeted actions, advocacy campaigns, petitions, and LTEs

-Community Service this Summer Summit
Learn how to get your chapter signed up for a National Day of Service project and who you can partner with to make sure your community benefits from your service project.

-How to Get on the 6 o'clock News and Look Good
Get interviewing techniques from a former CNN producer on how you can get yourself on the news and look good.

-So You Want To Host A Meeting?
So you think you want to host a YDA meeting, conference, or convention? Well we want you to as well, but we want you to know what you’re getting yourself into! Come to this training and hear from state and local chapter leaders that have hosted a meeting and see exactly what it takes.

Pictured: YDA Political Director Hailey Snow leading the new member orientation.

Pictured: Two great people who made sure the convention ran smoothly. YDA's own Hailey Snow and Katie Ford

A big congratulations to Crystal Strait for being elected as the new president of Young Democrats of America. As we receive information about the other office holders I will update.

Other Winners:

• Rod Snyder as Executive Vice President
• Renee Hartley First VP
• Isaac Robinson Second VP
• Colmon Elridge Third VP
• Emily Robinson Secretary
• Mark Newman Treasurer

The YDA Works coalition has announced a series of four phone forums to discuss what needs to be done to improve the way the Young Democrats of America works.

Crystal Strait and the YDA Works Candidates have traveled to 31 states and had hundreds of conversations with leaders around the country about their thoughts and ideas for making the Young Democrats organization better. From these conversations it was clear that YDA leaders are interested in four main topics: local programs, direct issue advocacy, infrastructure/finance, and leadership development/accountability.

The calls are scheduled for Wednesdays at 9pm EST for the four weeks following the YDA National Conference in Houston. The topics and dates are:

I. June 17th: Focus on Local Chapter Programs

IV. July 8th: Help Leaders Have Impact

If you are interested in participating in any or all of the forum calls, there is a sign-up form that will let you choose the calls you would like and get the call-in information.

You can learn more about the YDA Works coalition on YDAWorks.com and the Facebook Page.

The Young Democrats of America have two major events coming up in the next few months.

The 2009 YDA Spring National Conference will take place from June 12th to 14th at the Hilton Americas Hotel in Houston, TX.

Those interested in attending can register for the conference online and download the conference schedule.

The conference will feature the All Hands On Deck Fundraising Seminar: a 3 hour training session on fundraising strategies to help chapter leaders raise money to build their organizations and to send delegations to the National Convention in Chicago. I will be running the online fundraising component of the seminar.

Another highlight of the conference will be the Presidential Farewell Roast of David Hardt. The previous Presidential Farewell Roast for Chris Gallaway was extremely successful two years ago in Omaha and I'm excited to be on the panel of roasters again. The amount of money roasters raise for YDA will determine the amount of time they get on stage, so if you want to add another 30 seconds to my time you can make a $15 contribution at my page. (You'll also get to see a picture of me dug up online from Boy Band Night back in college).

If any organizations are interested in sponsorship opportunities for the conference check out the sponsorship packet.

The 2009 YDA National Convention will be held in Chicago, IL from August 5th through 9th. The convention will feature the election of national officers, trainings, great speakers, a major community service initiative, and the opportunity to meet Young Democrats from across the country. The Convention is being held at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place.

The Convention website is now live at ydachicago2009.com and online registration is open.

You can stay connected by following the convention account on Twitter (@ydachicago2009) or by joining the Facebook group.

I hope to see many of you at one or both of these events.

I want to give a big shout out here on the blog to some excellent online organizing on the part of the Manhattan Young Democrats. Those of you following the many gay marriage battles across the country will likely know that New York State Assembly recently passed a gay marriage bill, but that similar legislation faces an uphill battle in the state senate, despite the fact that Democrats now control the senate and the bill is supported by the Governor.

A few days ago, a diarist at the Albany Project, one of the most influential NY State Politics Blogs, threw down the gauntlet and called-out New York state advocacy orgs for pulling their punches on this issue and failing to put together a creative, coherent online strategy in support of the legislation. Not one day later, the Manhattan Young Democrats rushed in to fill the void, launching a new website, New York Equality, and an online campaign to pressure swing senators to vote in favor of equal rights for all New Yorkers.

From the MYD press release:

“Newyorkequality.com is making it easy for New Yorkers to get involved and to have their Senators take seriously their views on the importance of marriage equality,” said Al Benninghoff, MYD President. “Our strategy is to inundate the Senators who oppose the bill, regardless of what party they represent, with messages from their own constituents asking them to change their opinions.”

Newyorkequality.com has a powerful assortment of online organizing tools that allow individuals to send targeted emails and handwritten letters to their State Senators based on the district they live in and whether their Senators support or oppose the bill. MYD and its partners have established this website to create an easy conduit for legislative outreach to Senators in New York who still refuse to act on this crucial issue. Along with the sent emails, MYD will hand deliver to Albany a copy of every letter generated by the site.

In just one day, the Manhattan Young Dems have met with great success. So far:

• 30,000 40,000 people have visited Newyorkequality.com.
• 300 400 fans have joined their Facebook page.
• Elicited over a hundred Tweets, including some from major progressive bloggers, using their #nyequality hashtag.
• The campaign was featured on The Albany Project (Update) and now Perez Hilton and the Politico.
• MYD assembled a coalition of about a dozen New York political organizations including ACT-NOW, Bronx Community Pride Center, College Democrats of NY, DL21C, Drinking Liberally NY, Human Rights Campaign, Marriage Equality New York, Queens County Young Dems, Richmond County Young Dems, Rockland County Young Dems, and Westchester County Young Dems.

Not bad for a day's work. I'm told that if this endeavor is successful, it will likely become a model for all future Manhattan Young Dems work. Regardless of the final vote in the New York Senate, this campaign should probably become a template for all online organizing by Young Democrats across the country.

(Hat tip to MYD Julie Blitzer for alerting me to this story)

As we move further from the election cycle (and into the next), more and more folks are moving on from the youth vote world to work on other projects. Most recently Al Acker, the Executive Director of the Young Democrats, has announced that she will be moving on at the end of the week. Best wishes to Al and thanks for all of her hard work on behalf of young voters.

Here's a quick look at some of what Al has accomplished during her spulled from her "goodbye" email sent this morning to friends and partner organizations):

I am so proud of what this organization has accomplished. Since 2006, we grew from a staff of four at the national office and three state Executive Directors to six national staff and six state EDs, plus the hundreds of people who worked on our campaigns. We nearly doubled our budget from $750,000 in 2007 to $1.4 million in 2008. DEMopolis, our online member system, grew from 150,000 users to nearly 250,000. We went from 1,500 chapters to over 2,300. National Committee meetings of 150 people morphed into conferences with over 400 attendees. Nearly 8,000 members took action in one of our many online advocacy campaigns. Our Young Voter Revolution campaigns contacted nearly 200,000 young voters in 2008 and hundreds of Young Democrats across the country helped elect President Obama and candidates up and down the ballot.

Not too shabby at all.

As I mentioned, Al is not the only one moving on. A few months back, Tony Cani, the YDA political director took a job with SEIU, as did Jane Fleming Kleeb of the Young Voter PAC. While I was away on my honeymoon, the always insightful Kat Barr took her leave from Rock the Vote. These were all great talents in our movement, who have been around since the early days in 2002 and 2003 when the tide first began to turn among young voters. They will be missed.

So the question now become "who will replace them?" Anyone have thoughts or suggestions? Who are the up and coming talent that will continue to drive this movement in future elections?

Craig is taking the weekend off. Here's some Quick Hits for today, and I'll have a post up tomorrow. --Mike

• USA Today reports that young adults health is either static or declining.
• Earlier this week, Sarah blogged about Meghan McCain and the GOP's (lack of) internet strategy. Jason Linkins at Huffington Post picked up the story as well, and he's not buying what Ms. McCain is trying to sell.
• At The Nation, Peter Rothberg previews Power Shift '09.
• It's Getting Hot in Here grades the green energy provisions in the recently passed stimulus package.
• Still trying to make heads or tails of the credit crisis? Check out this amazing video.
• At HuffPo, Jason Pollock (The Youngest Candidate) explains the importance of Shepard Fairey.
• Listen to network information economy guru Yochai Benkler talk about social production in this podcast.
• A new blog is tracking the Young Democrats Presidential election.
• As part of his campaign, YDA Presidential Candidate Chris Anderson has launched Your YDA, a site designed to elicit comments about all aspects of YDA's operations.
• Future Majority friend and Students for Barack Obama cofounder Tobin Van Ostern is making YouTube videos about the campaign. Check out the first one here:

Bumped. This is in my backyard next weekend. --Mike

I wanted to write about an upcoming conference which I am very excited about: The Young Democrats of America Winter Conference in New York City. The convention will start on Friday Feb 20 and last until Sunday Feb 22. Online Registration is $35; on-site registration is $45. On site registration will open Feb 20 @12pm and last until Saturday Feb 21 @12pm. The Conference will take place at the Sheraton hotel in Manhattan.

For more info about the Convention and to register, here is the link: http://www.yda.org/events/375/2009-winter-national-conference-in-new-york-city

The schedule of events is posted on the YDA website. I believe the featured speaker is the new New York State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith.