Goals & Objectives

Goals

We strive to:
• Elect Democratic candidates, esp. current or former YDs running for office
• Empower young people through voter registration, campaign activities, petitions, and grass-roots lobbying efforts
• Support the ideals of the Democratic party
• Provide our members with valuable skills and information about jobs and internship opportunities
• Ensure that the youth related concerns are addressed by elected officials at all levels of government
• Instill our peers with the values of the Democratic party and teach them to pass these values along
• Provide young people with the social and political education & experiences they will need to be leaders
• And, of course, to have fun in the process!

Objectives

Build Future Leaders
We bring together a diverse group of people who are under the age of 36 and get them involved in the democratic process. We create opportunities for them to become active participants in their communities.

Community and Public Service
Young Dems actively participate in our communities. We conduct voter registration drives, get out the vote campaigns, and work on community service projects:

Adopt-A-Highway (Industrial Blvd in Cumberland)
Give Back Before You Give Thanks (Thanksgiving Community Service Project)
Playground Beautification
Recycling Program

Issues
We work to identify issues of importance to our members and other young people. We coordinate lobbying and public awareness efforts to draw attention to them. We hold issue forums, develop our own platform and resolutions, and make our positions known to state leaders and the general public.

Campaign Work
We support Democratic candidates and initiative-related efforts by giving our time and energy to their campaigns. During election season, Young Democrats can be found walking precincts, working phone banks, managing campaigns and even running for office themselves. Although the work of the campaign volunteer isn't always glamorous, it is crucial to a campaign's success, and it's a great opportunity to meet and bond with other Democrats.

Skill Training and Development
ACYD sponsored trainings give young peopel the opportunity to learn about campaign techniques, grass roots organizing tactics, and the state party structure. Members take their skills practical applications and learn how to plan projects/events, implement projects, tailor a message to the audience, motivate people, build coalitions, and organize. Whatever your professional or personal goals may be, the skills you'll gain through your involvement in Young Democrats will be invaluable.

Democratic Party Activism
Young people who haven't learned the ropes often feel intimidated by the state and local party structure. ACYD is a good place for newcomers to Democratic politics to learn how the system works from their peers who've been involved in the party for a while. By working together, we can ensure that party policies are youth-friendly and the state party platform reflects our values.