The High School Democrats of America (HSDA) is a student-led organization that seeks to mobilize young people and elect Democrats. HSDA student activists across the country engage in political activity and advance the agenda of the Democratic Party.
Although individual unaffiliated state chapters existed long beforehand, the High School Democrats of America itself was founded in December 2005, by Ahmed Kokon (NY) and Jonathan Padilla (CA), with Eddy Foster (PA) and Alicia Froio (PA) joining the board after the initial election. In June 2014, the High School Democrats of America formally ended its affiliation with the Young Democrats of America, and ceased functioning as the Young Democrats of America's High School Caucus. With the change, the position of National Parliamentarian became Development Director. The Development Director served as Parliamentarian and resolved disputes and presided over elections. The organization held its first national conference, the HSDA Strategic Summit, in Washington, D.C., during July 2015.[4] At the 2019 summer meeting of the Democratic National Committee in San Francisco, California, the party's Charter and Bylaws was amended to grant HSDA two seats on the DNC.[5][6]
HSDA members pose on the steps of the United States Capitol.
Organization
The organization and rules governing HSDA are found in the organization's Official Bylaws.
The national organization presides over HSDA as a whole. It is led by the National Executive Board, which consists of the Chair, two Vice-Chairs of different genders, the Communications Director, the Programs Director, and the Development Director. The National E-Board is responsible for overseeing the organization, expanding HSDA, and working with states to promote Democratic causes. The National E-Board is elected every year by a ranked-choice election accessible to all members regardless of location. Leadership also includes a National Committee consisting of two representatives from individual states, territories, and the District of Columbia, in addition to Chairs and Vice Chairs from each Caucus. The Executive Board employs a group of volunteer staff,[7] ranging from Financial Directors to Political Advisors. Other organizations at the national level include the Ethics Council, which resolves issues in an unbiased manner; the Caucuses, which represent marginalized communities of race, orientation, and disability; the Diversity Committee, which consists of the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Caucuses as well as the Diversity Director and promotes inclusivity; and the Adult Advisory Board, which assists the E-Board in legal and financial matters as well as long-term planning.[8]
Each state organization works with all the local chapters in their state, and is responsible for connecting chapters, expanding HSDA, working on legislation, and promoting Democratic causes at the state level. State chapters also have an extensive list of accolades, including hosting a “Unity Day” with the Teen Age Republicans to promote bipartisanship. Each state holds its own elections to determine who assumes state leadership.
Local chapters at high schools and in communities work at a grassroots level by rallying young people behind causes. Local HSDA chapters have organized marches, registered voters, and helped to elect Democrats in their own communities.[9]
Activities
The organization is involved in a number of projects, including a Huffington Post blogging project and a separate publishing opportunity through The Progressive Teen, which serves as the official magazine of the organization with a full editorial staff. Both projects are aimed at inspiring political discourse and offering members the opportunity to voice their opinions about important civic issues in a highly-visible setting. The organization has also proved instrumental and necessary in several campaigns across the country, including the election of Joe Donnelly and Elizabeth Warren to the US Senate, as well as the notable election of President Barack H. Obama in 2008.[10] The organization has taken stances on important issues throughout the political spectrum, but has been recently focused on student loan reform, immigration reform, and gun control. After the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in February 2018, HSDA members began to advocate for stronger gun control.
Since 2015, HSDA has hosted an annual summit in Washington, D.C., to train student activists and teach them to organize in their communities. HSDA has also garnered the attention of several notable politicians, including Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and President Joe Biden. In 2020, 2021, and 2022, the National Summit was virtual due to various reasons including the COVID-19 pandemic.
^Rasmusson, Jordan (2011-02-02). . Archived from the original on 2014-04-27.
^. 2015-08-21. Archived from the original on 2015-08-21. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
^Humphreys, Jackson. . Archived from the original on 2019-09-03.
^Rae, Jason (2019-09-14). "Summary of DNC Meeting in San Francisco — August 2019". Medium. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
^America, High School Democrats of (2017-04-28). "Introducing Our 2016–17 National Staff". Medium. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
^"Official Bylaws of The High School Democrats of America". Google Docs. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
^"Our Impact". High School Democrats of America. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
^(PDF). 2016-01-09. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-01-09.
External links
High School Democrats of America Website
The Progressive Teen
March 04, 2023
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This article relies excessively on references to primary sources Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources Find sources High School Democrats of America news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message The High School Democrats of America HSDA is a student led organization that seeks to mobilize young people and elect Democrats HSDA student activists across the country engage in political activity and advance the agenda of the Democratic Party High School Democrats of AmericaChairmanSamay SahuVice ChairmanJeffrie Chambers Claire LiuCommunications DirectorSohali VaddulaPrograms DirectorRebecca PloskiDevelopment DirectorMatan JosephyFounded2005 18 years ago 2005 IdeologyModern liberalismProgressivismMother partyDemocratic PartyMagazineThe Progressive TeenWebsitehsdems orgFormerly part of the Young Democrats of America 1 2 HSDA represents high school students at all levels of the Democratic Party 3 Contents 1 History 2 Organization 3 Activities 4 See also 5 Notes and references 6 External linksHistory EditAlthough individual unaffiliated state chapters existed long beforehand the High School Democrats of America itself was founded in December 2005 by Ahmed Kokon NY and Jonathan Padilla CA with Eddy Foster PA and Alicia Froio PA joining the board after the initial election In June 2014 the High School Democrats of America formally ended its affiliation with the Young Democrats of America and ceased functioning as the Young Democrats of America s High School Caucus With the change the position of National Parliamentarian became Development Director The Development Director served as Parliamentarian and resolved disputes and presided over elections The organization held its first national conference the HSDA Strategic Summit in Washington D C during July 2015 4 At the 2019 summer meeting of the Democratic National Committee in San Francisco California the party s Charter and Bylaws was amended to grant HSDA two seats on the DNC 5 6 HSDA members pose on the steps of the United States Capitol Organization EditThe organization and rules governing HSDA are found in the organization s Official Bylaws The national organization presides over HSDA as a whole It is led by the National Executive Board which consists of the Chair two Vice Chairs of different genders the Communications Director the Programs Director and the Development Director The National E Board is responsible for overseeing the organization expanding HSDA and working with states to promote Democratic causes The National E Board is elected every year by a ranked choice election accessible to all members regardless of location Leadership also includes a National Committee consisting of two representatives from individual states territories and the District of Columbia in addition to Chairs and Vice Chairs from each Caucus The Executive Board employs a group of volunteer staff 7 ranging from Financial Directors to Political Advisors Other organizations at the national level include the Ethics Council which resolves issues in an unbiased manner the Caucuses which represent marginalized communities of race orientation and disability the Diversity Committee which consists of the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Caucuses as well as the Diversity Director and promotes inclusivity and the Adult Advisory Board which assists the E Board in legal and financial matters as well as long term planning 8 Each state organization works with all the local chapters in their state and is responsible for connecting chapters expanding HSDA working on legislation and promoting Democratic causes at the state level State chapters also have an extensive list of accolades including hosting a Unity Day with the Teen Age Republicans to promote bipartisanship Each state holds its own elections to determine who assumes state leadership Local chapters at high schools and in communities work at a grassroots level by rallying young people behind causes Local HSDA chapters have organized marches registered voters and helped to elect Democrats in their own communities 9 Activities EditThe organization is involved in a number of projects including a Huffington Post blogging project and a separate publishing opportunity through The Progressive Teen which serves as the official magazine of the organization with a full editorial staff Both projects are aimed at inspiring political discourse and offering members the opportunity to voice their opinions about important civic issues in a highly visible setting The organization has also proved instrumental and necessary in several campaigns across the country including the election of Joe Donnelly and Elizabeth Warren to the US Senate as well as the notable election of President Barack H Obama in 2008 10 The organization has taken stances on important issues throughout the political spectrum but has been recently focused on student loan reform immigration reform and gun control After the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in February 2018 HSDA members began to advocate for stronger gun control Since 2015 HSDA has hosted an annual summit in Washington D C to train student activists and teach them to organize in their communities HSDA has also garnered the attention of several notable politicians including Sen Cory Booker Sen Elizabeth Warren Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi Rep Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and President Joe Biden In 2020 2021 and 2022 the National Summit was virtual due to various reasons including the COVID 19 pandemic See also EditCollege Democrats College Democrats of America Democratic Party United States Law School Democrats of America Young Democrats of America Teen Age RepublicansNotes and references Edit YDA YDA Structure Archived May 8 2008 at the Wayback Machine YDA Archived October 29 2008 at the Wayback Machine Rasmusson Jordan 2011 02 02 What is the High School Democrats of America Archived from the original on 2014 04 27 High School Democrats of America s Strategic Summit Application 2015 08 21 Archived from the original on 2015 08 21 Retrieved 2021 01 15 Humphreys Jackson National High School Democrats of America Gains Representation on the DNC Archived from the original on 2019 09 03 Rae Jason 2019 09 14 Summary of DNC Meeting in San Francisco August 2019 Medium Retrieved 2021 03 02 America High School Democrats of 2017 04 28 Introducing Our 2016 17 National Staff Medium Retrieved 2021 01 15 Official Bylaws of The High School Democrats of America Google Docs Retrieved 2021 01 15 Our Impact High School Democrats of America Retrieved 2021 01 15 HSDA Accomplishments PDF 2016 01 09 Archived from the original PDF on 2016 01 09 External links EditHigh School Democrats of America Website The Progressive Teen Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title High School Democrats of America amp oldid 1136674789, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
