National Convening 2009

NATIONAL CONVENING 2009

PROGRESSING INTO A NEW DAWN

JUNE 12-14, 2009 ATLANTA, GA Sp e c i a l T h a n k s t o Ou r Co n v e n i n g Un d e r w r i t e r s

Open Society Institute Ambassador James Hormel The Sandler Family Supporting Foundation Jonathan and Peter Lewis Welcome

June 12, 2009

Dear Young Elected Officials and Guests:

Welcome to the Fourth Annual Young Elected Officials Network National Convening!

We are excited to have you participate in this celebrated event. The Young Elected Officials (YEO) Network, created by People For the American Way Foundation, is “for us, by us” in its focus to serve the needs of young elected officials. The goal of the YEO Network is to ensure that we are sufficiently supported as we advance positive, progressive change in our communities. We thank you for sharing our goal in moving this country in a direction toward justice, equality, freedom, and access for all people.

The mission of the YEO Network is to unite and support progressive elected leaders who share a passion for building communities that reflect values of fairness and opportunity. In your capacities as elected officials and leaders in your community, you represent a new generation of leadership this country needs and deserves.

This is an exciting time in our nation’s history. We are emerging from a long dark night of conservative control and progressing into a new dawn of fairness and equality for all people of all walks of life. We believe that the YEO Network’s Fourth National Convening will provide you with the resources and support in this fresh, innovative, and exciting era of progressive change that is upon us.

The National Convening is filled with opportunities for you to find resources that help in your challenges and build upon your strengths. Within this space, you can share experiences, gain more policy development assistance, share best practices, and expand your knowledge base, both personally and professionally. Simply stated, this convening is for you!

The value of the Young Elected Officials Network cannot be understated. This program can only succeed if you take full advantage of the resources offered to you – not only during these three days, but throughout the year. If there is anything that we can do to enhance your experience while you are here, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

We look forward to connecting and growing with you as we pursue higher levels of leadership as public servants. Again, welcome.

Yours in service,

Andrew D. Gillum Alisha Thomas Morgan Director Membership Services Manager Young Elected Officials Network Young Elected Officials Network City Commissioner, Tallahassee, FL State Representative, Georgia

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The Young Elected Officials Team would like to extend a very special thank you to program participants, workshop presenters, and everyone here at our 2009 YEO National Convening. We thank each of you for your contribution to the progressive movement and for helping to make this convening and this Network a tremendous success.

Thank you to our Young Elected Officials State Directors. We appreciate the role you have played throughout the year to ensure this program remains “for us, by us, of us.” Melvin Carter Curtis Jones Jr. Kyrsten Sinema Y. Laketa Cole Scott Kawasaki Ezra Temko Karim Camara Kevin Killer Rachel Weston Tricia Cotham Nickolas J. Levasseur Faith Winter Carmelo Garcia Evan Low David Woodward Heather Hudson Tony Payton, Jr. Anders Ibsen Carl Sciortino

Thank you to the staff of People For the American Way Foundation and our volunteer staff from the Front Line Leaders Academy. This conference would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of the People For family. Extra special thanks to: Michael Keegan Patrick St. John Desmond Seymour Sharon Lettman Drew Courtney Elisabeth Pope Nick Ucci Stacey Gates Ryan Hurst Marge Baker Jen Herrick Elizabeth Landers Robert Mayer Dennis Nelson Cierra Alexander Zachary Dryden Raquel Simon-Petley Angie and Alfonso Whitaker Aliza Bartfield Linda Morris

An extra special thank you goes out to Open Society Institute, Ambassador James Hormel, the Sandler Foundation, Jonathan and Peter Lewis and the National Education Association for their deep and continuous investment in the YEO Network. Thank you to New World Foundation and its leader Colin Greer for their ongoing support and continuing challenge to make us better. We want to thank new partners Verizon and CTIA Wireless Association for their investment in innovation and progress. We also want to thank the board, members and staff of People for the American Way Foundation who contributed to making this event a success!

In the Spirit of Democracy, Andrew and Alisha

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Dear Young Elected Officials,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to Atlanta for the fourth national convening of the Young Elected Officials Network.

People For the American Way Foundation launched the YEO Network in 2006 to fill a need in the progressive movement: a forum to bring together young progressive leaders from around the nation to share ideas, develop policy initiatives, learn new skills, and support each other. Today, the YEO Network has more than 500 members consisting of young elected officials leading the charge on many progressive causes across the country.

People For the American Way Foundation holds dear the values of freedom, fairness, and respectful pluralism. Each year, our YEOs continue to amaze us with their dedication to and perseverance in promoting these values. Your work is a resounding affirmation of what we truly believe is “the American Way” – respect for diversity; freedom of thought, expression, and religion; equal justice; and a sense of community.

This gives us immense hope and confidence in this program, the progressive movement, and the future of this great nation. The partnership of the YEO Network, People For Foundation, and young elected officials has proven highly successful, and now, more than ever, we need young progressive leaders committed to preserving, defending, and enhancing our liberties. By working together as a community of progressives, we can bring about good things for our nation.

The YEO Network and People For Foundation look forward to another year of assisting you in your professional development and helping you achieve even greater success in the future.

Sincerely,

Michael B. Keegan, President People For the American Way Foundation

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Schedule of Events

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3:30p m – 4:15p m Introductions a n d Ic e b r e a k e r White House Project

4:15p m - 5:00p m Th e Ba l a n c i n g A c t : St r a t e g i e s f o r Ma k i n g Sa n d w i c h e s , Ma k i n g l a w s a n d Ma k i n g T i m e

5:15p m - 6:30p m “So Y o u W a n t t o Ru n f o r Hi g h e r Off i c e ” Lisa Borders, Atlanta City Council President State Representative Kyrsten Sinema (AZ)

6:30p m - 7:30p m Sp a a n d Pe r s o n a l T i m e

8:00p m Di n n e r Fr i d a y , Ju n e 12 Sheraton Hotel, Augusta Room

8:30a m Br e a k f a s t a n d Op e n i n g

9:00a m - 10:00a m Eff e c t i v e Ne t w o r k i n g : Bu i l d i n g Y o u r Ba s e City Councilwoman Faith Winter

10:15a m – 11:15a m an Ou t s i d e r o n t h e In s i d e : Un l i k e l y Ca n d i d a t e s W o r k i n g w i t h i n t h e Pa r t y St r u c t u r e t o Ru n f o r Hi g h e r Off i c e Amy Morton, Georgia’s WIN List; Pat Pullar, Talkingpoints4U

11:30p m - 12:30p m Tr i c k s o f t h e T r a d e : Eff e c t i v e T o o l s T o Ru n f o r Hi g h e r Off i c e Howard Franklin, Influence Factory; Candice Coleman Franklin, Coleman LLC

12:30p m – 1:00p m Lu n c h

1:00p m - 2:30p m St r a t e g i c Pl a n n i n g : Cr e a t i n g My Ro a d m a p Commissioner Dave Woodward

2:30p m - 4:00p m Me d i a a n d Pu b l i c Sp e a k i n g Joel Silberman, Media Consultant; Jennifer Smith, Mad Dog Mail; and Alicia Ingram, ANI Communications

4:15p m Cl o s i n g

A Ne w Ge n e r a t i o n o n t h e Fr o n t Li n e s o f Ch ang e 7 Fr i d a y , Ju n e 12 Sheraton Atlanta- Athens Room

8:30 AM – 9:30 am pr e -Co n f e r e n c e W e l c o m e Br e a k f a s t “Wh a t i s t h e YEO Ne t w o r k ?” Commissioner Andrew Gillum, Director, YEO Network

9:30 AM – 11:30 am pu b l i c Sp e a k i n g Joel Silberman, Strategic Media Consultant

11:45 AM – 1:00 pm in t e g r i t y In t e n s i v e Stuart Brody, Integrity Intensive

1:00 PM – 2:15 pm lu n c h

2:30 PM – 3:30 pm le a d i n g f r o m y o u r Pr o g r e s s i v e V a l u e s Commissioner Dave Woodward, Progressive State Network

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Fr i d a y , Ju n e 12 Sh e r a t o n A t l a n t a Ho t e l 165 Co u r t l a n d St r e e t NE, At l a n t a , GA 30303 All events will take place at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel unless otherwise noted.

7:30 AM registration Se t Up

5:00 PM – 6:00 pm sp e e d Ne t w o r k i n g A c t i v i t y Sheraton Atlanta, Athens Room YEOs will speed network with each other and progressive partners, getting to know theYEO Network community.

5:30 PM – 6:30 pm co c k t a i l Re c e p t i o n Sheraton Atlanta, Garden Courtyard Poolside Network with YEOs, progressive partners, and PFAW Foundation staff

6:30 pm bu s e s d e p a r t f o r Di n n e r Sheraton Atlanta, Lobby

7:00 PM – 9:30 pm op e n i n g Di n n e r Re c e p t i o n We l c o m e t o Ge o r g i a ! Georgia Aquarium, Arctic Room 225 Baker Street, Atlanta, GA 30313 Keynote: Reverend Joseph Lowery

Sa t u r d a y , Ju n e 13

7:45 AM – 9:00 am br e a k f a s t Op e n i n g Pl e n a r y Sheraton Atlanta Grand Ballroom D&E Keynote: Governor Roy Barnes

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Sa t u r d a y , Ju n e 13

9:15 AM – 10:45 am is s u e s W o r k s h o p Se r i e s 1 Education - Teacher Quality and Compensation Ryan Balch; Vanderbilt University Athens Room Melissa Rasberry, Center for Teaching Quality Amy Wilkins, Education Trust

Education - The Role of Local Governments and Kenneth Wong, Brown University Macon Room School Boards

Economic Development - A Green Collar Jakada Imani, Ella Baker Center Savannah Room Economy Mac Lynch, Apollo Alliance

Economic Development - Urban Renewal and Rep. Karim Camara (NY) Valdosta Room Neighborhood Revitalization Councilwoman Trinity Donovan (AZ) Deborah Scott, Georgia Stand Up

Environment and Energy - Exploring Green John Dybvig, Blue-Green Alliance Augusta Room Policy Rep. Scott Kawasaki (AK) John Petro, Drum Major Institute

11:00AM – 12:15 pm sk i l l s W o r k s h o p Se r i e s 1 Fundraising for your Next Race Roland Washington, Campaign Consultant Athens Room

Camera Interview Skills Joel Silberman, Strategic Media Consultant Savannah Room

Long Term Strategic Planning Comm. Dave Woodward, Center for Progressive Macon Room Leadership

Professional Image: Making a Lasting Tracey-Ann Nelson, League of Women Voters Augusta Room Impression Georgia

12:30 PM – 1:30 pm lu n c h Pl e n a r y Innovation Generation- New Technologies for the Digital Age Grand Ballroom D&E

Shana Glickfield, NextGenWeb Kristal Lauren High, Media Foundation Group Michael Santorelli, New York Law School Debra Speed, Verizon Communications Antonio Williams, Comcast

1:30 PM- 1:45 pm yeo Ne t w o r k 2009 Gr o u p Ph o t o

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2:00 PM – 3:15 pm is s u e s W o r k s h o p Se r i e s 2 Smart Growth for Rural Communities Comm. Sean Becker (MT) Valdosta Room Selectman Christopher Flynn (MA) Lyan Pernala, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing

Juvenile Justice and Mandatory Minimums Roger Ghatt, Campaign for Youth Justice Athens Room Jeremiah Grace, American Civil Liberties Union Judge Steve Teske, Clayton County Juvenile Court

Progressive Budget and Tax Reform Rep. Mark Falzone (MA) Savannah Room Jon Shure, Center of Budget and Policy Priorities

The Census and Redistricting Anita Earls, Southern Coalition for Social Justice Macon Room Elise Shore, Mexican Legal Defense Fund

Rev. Kenneth Samuel (GA) Augusta Room LGBT Equality- The Fight for Equality Rep. Rachel Weston (VT)

3:30 PM – 4:30 pm sk i l l s W o r k s h o p Se r i e s 2 Social Networking 101 Chris Petley, Leon County School District Augusta Room Jae Scarborough, Relate Media Group

Innovation Generation- A Microview Kristal Lauren High, Media Foundation Group Macon Room Shana Glickfield, NextGenWeb Debra Speed, Verizon Communications Michael Santorelli, New York Law School Antonio Williams, Comcast

Managing the Media Drew Courtney, People For the American Way Athens Room Foundation

Leaders as Conveners: Building Consensus in Greg Wolf, Policy Consensus Initiative Valdosta Room Your Community

4:45 PM – 5:45 pm op e n Sp a c e s Se s s i o n Sheraton Atlanta, Grand Ballroom D&E YEOs will meet in the General Plenary room and then split to caucus and gather in self-identified groups.

5:45 PM – 7:30 pm wi n e & Be e r Re c e p t i o n Progressive Partner Organizational Fair Sheraton Atlanta, Grand Pre-function Area Outside Ballrooms D&E

7:30 PM – 9:30 pm br e a k o u t Di n n e r s North East – Athens Room Midwest – Augusta Room West – Macon Room South – Valdosta Room

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8:45 AM – 10:00 AM Breakfast Plenary Grand Ballroom D&E Wellness Training: Taking care of yourself so you can take care of your constituents Dr. Betty Siegel, Kennesaw State University

10:15 AM – 11:30 AM Issue Workshop Series 3 Immigration Reform: At the Local and Rafael Collazo, Democracia USA Augusta Room State Level Marielena Hincapie, National Immigration Law Center Ali Noorani, National Immigration Forum Diana Sen, LatinoJustice PRLDEF

The Courts and the Constitution Marge Baker, People For the American Way Macon Room Drew Courtney, People For the American Way Jennifer Meinig, Alliance for Justice

Election Reform- Increasing Access and Jen Herrick, People For the American Way Valdosta Room the Right to Vote Christian Smith-Socaris, Progressive States Network

Health Care- Beyond Boundaries Desiree Hoffman, SEIU Athens Room Dr. Jay Sanders, Telemedicine Group Rep. Carl Sciortino (MA) Adam Thompson, Progressive States Network

11:45AM – 1:00 PM Skills Networking Workshop Series Running for Higher Office Stacey Chavis, White House Project Athens Room Sen. James Eldridge (MA) Rep. Isadore Hall (CA)

The Natural Next Step: Finding Work and Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), CPL, DUSA Councilwoman Augusta Room Being Elected Faith Winter (CO), White House Project Comm. Dave Woodward (MI), Center for Progressive Leadership

Constituent Services Sharing Board Member Janet Chin (CA) Macon Room Alderwoman Rebeka Gewirtz (MA) Rep. Tony Payton (PA)

Balancing Family and Elected Office Comm. Melvin Carter (MN) Valdosta Room Rep. Tricia Cotham (NC) Board Member Carmelo Garcia (NJ) Comm. Ezra Temko (DE)

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1:15 PM – 2:15 PM Lunch Championing your Issue: Accountability and Peer Mentoring Activity Grand Ballroom D&E

2:15 PM – 3:30 PM Closing General Assembly Progressing into a New Dawn- The Progressive Movement Grand Ballroom D&E

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Op e n i n g Di n n e r Re c e p t i o n 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm We l c o m e t o Ge o r g i a Georgia Auquarium Reverend Joseph E. Lowery Ci v i l Ri g h t s A c t i v i s t

Reverend Joseph E. Lowery began his career in the civil rights movement in the 1950s. After Rosa Parks’ arrest in 1955, he helped lead the Montgomery bus boycott. In 1957, along with Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Lowery founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which he subsequently led as president from 1977 to 1997. Joseph Lowery, at the request of Martin Luther King, Jr., led the Selma to Montgomery march in 1965, and later was among the first five African Americans to be arrested at the South African Embassy in Washington, DC during the Free South Africa movement. In addition to serving as pastor to several churches over the years, Rev. Lowery’s efforts to combat injustice and promote equal opportunities have been extraordinary, he has led peace delegations to the Middle East and Central American and advocated for LGBT civil rights, including civil unions. His work has led to the extension of provisions to the Voting Rights Act to 2007, the desegregation of public accommodations in Nashville, Tennessee, the hiring of Bir- mingham, Alabama’s first black police officers, and the securing of a $2 billion federal court decree for black farmers to repair the damage done by the Department of Agriculture’s discriminatory policies.

Over the years, Reverend Joseph E. Lowery has received many accolades for his work. The NAACP named him “Dean of the Civil Rights Movement” and gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. He also received the Martin Luther King Jr. Center Peace Award and the National Urban League’s Whitney M. Young, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. Ebony Magazine has named him one of the 15 greatest black preachers. Rev. Lowery has also been the recipient of several honorary doctorates from colleges and universities, including: Dillard University, Morehouse College, Alabama State University, and the University of Alabama in Hunts- ville. Joseph E. Lowery attended Knoxville College and Payne College and Theological Seminary, earning his doctorate of divinity at Chicago Ecumenical Institute. He married Evelyn Gibson in 1950, a civil rights activist and leader in her own right.

Saturday, June 13

Br e a k f a s t Pl e n a r y 7:45 am - 9:00 am We l c o m e Grand Salon The Honorable Roy E. Barnes Fo r m e r Go v e r n o r o f Ge o r g i a

Roy E. Barnes served as the governor for the state of Georgia from 1999 until 2003, having previously served in the Georgia State Senate and House of Representatives. As governor, his main focus centered on education and healthcare reform. Governor Barnes focused on lowering the number of student per classroom and raising academic standards. He also supported legislation giving patients the right to choose their physicians, and helped to pass legislation that would hold insurance companies liable for denying or delaying healthcare for individuals. Additionally, Gov. Barnes fought to remove the Confederate battle emblem from its place of prominence on the Georgia state flag.

Roy E. Barnes received his undergraduate degree in history from the University of Georgia in 1969, and graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1972. In 1970, he married Marie Dobbs, with whom he has three children. 15 Saturday, June 13

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9:15 am - 10:45 am Ed u c a t i o n : T e a c h e r Qa u l i t y a n d Compensation Athens Research shows that the quality of teaching is the number one factor in improving student achievement. This session will focus on effective strategies used around the country to impact teacher quality and compensation. Presenters will discuss the latest in teacher residency programs, pay for performance, and traditional efforts to impact teacher effectiveness and compensation.

Ryan Balch Va n d e r b i l t Un i v e r s i t y Ryan Balch graduated from Duke University with a BA in psychology and finished a master’s degree in science education through Georgia State University’s TEEMS program. He taught biology, physics, and psychology at Riverwood High School in Fulton County for six years. He also served as the department chair for science for two years at Riverwood before leaving to teach physics and math at the American Overseas School in Rome. He returned to the States to begin a doctoral program in leadership, policy, and organizations at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education. He currently works as a research assistant for the National Center on Performance Incen- tives at Vanderbilt, an organization that examines the use of incentives in all aspects of education.

Melissa Rasberry Ce n t e r f o r T e a c h i n g Qu a l i t y Dr. Melissa A. Rasberry is a policy associate at the Center for Teaching Quality (CTQ). Prior to joining the staff at CTQ, she was a third grade teacher and a principal intern at two diverse elementary schools in an urban district. While completing graduate work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Ms. Rasberry taught two required courses in the school’s undergraduate elementary education program (Learning and Development in the Elementary Classroom and Culture, Society, and Teaching). At CTQ, her primary duties include managing numerous projects that merge policy and teacher leadership; collecting and analyzing qualitative research data; facilitating vir- tual learning communities; and developing research and policy reports. Melissa Ras- berry holds an EdD in educational leadership from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Amy Wilkins Ed u c a t i o n T r u s t Amy Wilkins is an experienced political and community organizer with a special skill in media communications. She oversees the Education Trust’s media, data, government affairs, and coalition work. She has sharpened her skills in advocacy over years of successful work for the Children’s Defense Fund, the Democratic National Commit- tee, the Peace Corps, and the White House Office of Media Affairs.

16 Time SessioN location 9:15 am - 10:45 am Ed u c a t i o n : T h e Ro l e o f Go v e r n e m t Macon a n d Sc h o o l Bo a r d s In large urban school districts across the country, many municipalities are playing a more hands-on role in public education – from stronger partnerships to a complete takeover. How has this affected our students’ education? Have cities that have taken over schools closed the achievement gap? Is it true that managing road projects and teacher recruitment don’t mix? YEOs will hear from all sides of this issue so they can take fully-informed positions on this growing movement to restructure public education. Kenneth Wong Br o w n Un i v e r s i t y Kenneth Wong, PhD, is the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Chair for Education Policy at Brown University. He has conducted extensive research in the politics of education, federalism, policy innovation, outcome-based accountability, and governance redesign (including city and state takeover, management reform, and Title I school-wide reform). His research has received support from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. De- partment of Education, the Social Science Research Council, the Spencer Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, the Broad Foundation, the British Council, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and the Rockefeller Foundation. He has advised the U.S. Con- gress, state legislature, governor and mayoral offices, and the leadership in several large urban school systems on how to redesign the accountability framework. Currently, he is co-editor of a major educational policy journal, Education Evaluation and Policy Analy- sis.

9:15 am - 10:45 am Ec o n o m i c De v e l o p m e n t - Savannah A Gr e e n Co l l a r Ec o n o m y The movement to create innovative jobs that preserve our environment has added a new term to our vocabulary: green collar jobs. These jobs span professional, vocational, and trade-level employment. Green collar jobs include work to improve conservation and sustainability by implementing environmentally conscious design, policy, and technology. In this session, policy experts and YEOs will discuss green policies, programs, and partnerships to boost economic development. Jakada Imani El l a Ba k e r Ce n t e r Jakada Imani has been a leader at the Ella Baker Center for eight years, most recently serving as the director of the Books Not Bars campaign. He has led that initiative to im- pressive victories and a dramatic expansion over the past two years. During his tenure at the Ella Baker Center, he has helped to shape and advance four main initiatives: Bay Area PoliceWatch, Silence the Violence, and Reclaim the Future, in addition to Books Not Bars.

Mac Lynch Ap o l l o A l l i a n c e John “Mac” Lynch joined the Apollo Alliance in December 2007 as program assistant. During his brief and very productive career, he distinguished himself as immensely ca- pable in every facet of public interest research, communications, and program management. Before joining Apollo, Mr. Lynch worked as education and outreach intern for the Lake Champlain Basin Program in Grand Isle, Vt., and as outreach intern for Forest Watch in Montpelier. He graduated with honors from Hamilton College with a BA in environmental science and communications. While at Hamilton, he co-led the Hamilton Environmental Action Group and continues his involvement as an active member of Graduates for a Greener Hamilton. 17 Time SessioN location 9:15 am - 10:45 am Ec o n o m i c De v e l o p m e n t : valdosta Ur b a n Re n e w a l a n d Neighborhood Revitalization Urban areas were once the heart of America’s cities and counties, pumping life into our varied and wonderful communities. These neighborhoods are losing their populations and support at an alarming rate. In this session, we will develop strategies that will not only serve as catalysts for renewal but also as conduits for sustainable activities in these communities. For example, we can learn much from Boston’s innovative approach, which is turning abandoned properties into affordable homes. YEOs will be presented with proven strategies that bring vibrant economic and cultural activities back to these neighborhoods. Karim Camara Ne w Y o r k St a t e A s s e m b l y Assemblyman Karim Camara was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2006. He served as the New York State faith director of Senator Barack Obama’s historic run in the Democratic primary and was one of the first New York State elected officials to endorse Senator Obama’s candidacy. He received his BA in English literature and chemistry from Xavier University of Louisiana and his MDiv from the New York Theological Seminary.

Trinity Donovan Ch a n d l e r Ci t y Co u n c i l Trinity Donovan was elected to the Chandler City Council in 2006, and currently represents the City of Chandler as chair of the Maricopa Association of Governments Human Services Coordinating Committee and as a board member for both the Arizona Munici- pal Water User’s Association and the Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Au- thority. She also represents the city through her involvement in the National League of Cities’ Community and Economic Development Committee and the Council on Youth, Education, and Families. Councilmember Donovan holds a bachelor’s degree in comparative studies in race and ethnicity, and a master’s degree in sociology – both from Stanford University.

Deborah Scott Ge o r g i a St a n d -Up Deborah Scott currently serves as the executive director for Georgia Stand-Up, an alliance of community, labor, and faith organizations that promote economic justice and smart growth strategies.

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9:15 am - 10:45 am En v i r o n m e n t a n d En e r g y Augusta Ex p l o r i n g Gr e e n Po l i c y Our country has reached a point where elected officials must tackle environmental issues and create green policies in order to sustain our economic, as well as our natural resources. After years of federal inaction, cities are leading the way towards a sustainable future by crafting innovative policies that address energy and the environment. In this session, policy makers and experienced advocates will discuss building successful partnerships to bring about innovative and environmentally sustainable policies. Policy examples will include cities like Aspen and Boulder, which are taking bold steps to finance energy efficiency improvements; Berkeley, which is intro- ducing an innovative model to help property owners install solar power systems; and Chicago, which is turning the concrete jungle into a green urban oasis by promoting green roofs.

John Dybvig Bl u e -Gr e e n A l l i a n c e John Dybvig is the economic development director for the Blue Green Alliance (BGA), based in Minneapolis, where he works with stakeholders in cities across the country to coordinate green economic development initiatives. Prior to joining the BGA, he served as the policy aide to Minneapolis City Council Member Scott Benson. While with the city, he helped with the development and implementation of sustainability indicators, environmentally preferable cleaning policy, purchasing policy, and LEED silver require- ments for municipal buildings. Mr. Dybvig also collaborated with Mayor R.T. Rybak and city staff in the establishment and execution of the Minneapolis Climate Change Micro grants and Innovation grants. That program received the 2009 Environmental Initiative Award in Energy and Climate Protection from the Minnesota Environmental Initiative.

Scott Kawasaki Al a s k a Ho u s e o f Representatives State Representative Scott Kawasaki is currently serving his second term in the Alaska State House. Elected first in 2006, Representative Kawasaki is the youngest member of the legislature. He currently serves as interior delegation chairman and is a member of the House Resources Committee, Fisheries Committee, and the Military and Veterans Af- fairs Committee. He focuses on energy, environmental, and ethics policy for the House Democratic Caucus. Rep. Kawasaki works in hospital administration during the interim session. He received his BS in biomedicine from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

John Petro Dr u m Ma j o r In s t i t u t e John Petro joined the Drum Major Institute in 2008 as an urban policy analyst. He runs the Progressive Urban Model Policies (PUMP) Project, a first-of-its-kind initiative to organize and share best practices in policy design and implementation. The goal of PUMP is to enable model progressive polices in particular cities to be replicated in other cities with similar needs. His writing on urban issues has appeared in the San Francisco Chron- icle and he has been a guest blogger for Next American City. He previously worked for the Research and Evaluation Division of the Child Welfare League of America in Wash- ington, D.C., where his research focused on child welfare and juvenile justice systems. He earned his BA in political science from the University of Central Florida and his MA in international relations from Seton Hall University.

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Sk i l l s W o r k s h o p Se r i e s 1 11:00 am - 12:15 pm Fu n d r a i s i n g f o r y o u r Ne x t Ra c e Athens The nuts and bolts of fundraising are ever-changing. How effective is online fundraising? How has the Obama campaign affected the fundraising tactics that you will use – and that others will use against you? YEOs have made it this far with the skills they have, but they often need guidance in getting to the next level. Whether you are fundraising for re-election or for your next elected position, industry professionals will share how to up your fundraising game, cultivate relationships, employ innovative strategies to grow your fundraising base, and more. Roland Washington Ca m p a i g n Co n s u l t a n t Roland Washington is a seasoned, national-level campaign strategist with 22 years of marketing and general management experience. A former international labor organizer and teaching fellow for the AFL-CIO, Mr. Washington lead several grassroots initiatives and actions while managing training projects designed to develop a corps of international organizers for community, political, non-profit, and labor organizations. Additionally, he is distinguished as the campaign manager and general consultant for the only two Afri- can American women to serve in Congress from the state of Georgia. He continues to manage noteworthy campaigns of mayoral, gubernatorial, and congressional candidates across the country, in addition to providing consulting services to several other political aspirants and policy makers. Roland Washington is currently the founder and managing partner of Lawson & Associates, LLC, with its business portal at MobilizingPeople.org.

11:00 am - 12:15 pm Ca m e r a In t e r v i e w Sk i l l s Savannah The camera is an unforgiving medium – your every word and move are scrutinized and recorded for posterity. Media experts will teach YEOs effective ways to create a strong and professional camera presence. This interactive session will also provide training on how to work with the media as an elected official, the dos and don’ts of talking with the media, knowing when to accept or deny an interview, and putting your best face forward.

Joel Silberman St r a t e g i c Me d i a Co n s u l t a n t Joel Silberman is currently a strategic media consultant for the People For the American Way Foundation. Other consulting clients include Working Assets, Young People For, the Center for Progressive Leadership, and the National Women’s Law Center. As a special event director and producer, his credits include People For’s Spirit of Liberty; The Manhattan Theatre Club’s 30th Anniversary Spring Gala; Broadway Applauds Lincoln Center; Ignite the Light for UNICEF; and Leonard Bernstein’s A Classic Evening for AIDS Research. Joel Silberman serves as associate artistic director for the O’Neill The- atre Center’s Cabaret and Performance Conference. He is a frequent guest lecturer at the Juilliard School giving master classes in musical theater performance. As a concert artist he has appeared in the Spoleto Festival of Two Worlds in Italy, The Chelsea Festival in London, The Four Winds Festival in Australia, and the Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall in New York.

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11:00 am - 12:15 pm Lo n g T e r m St r a t e g i c Pl a n n i n g Macon As soon as you reach elective office, you are expected to plan your next professional move. Putting a plan together while still focusing on the job you have now can be a challenge. This session will help you strategically develop your plans for one, five, and ten years from now. It will require YEOs to create unique plans, think critically about how to reach their goals, and give tips on what steps to take along the way. Whether you are running for a leadership position, running for higher office, or planning your exit strategy, this session will help you think about and create a long term strategy for your professional future. Dave Woodward Oa k l a n d Co u n t y Co m m i s s i o n / Ce n t e r f o r Pr o g r e s s i v e Le a d e r s h i p Dave Woodward is a county commissioner in Oakland, Mich. where he was born and raised. He served as former chairman to the Oakland County Democratic Party between 2003 and 2009. Mr. Woodward was also elected to the Michigan House of Representa- tives from 1999 until 2004. He is a graduate of Wayne State University with a BS in mathematics and a minor in economics. Because of deep rooted commitment to his core values, he continues to be active in his community in a number of ways. He is president of Oakland Health Plan, Inc., which manages health care services locally for the very poor of Oakland County. He also is a board trustee of the Northwood Credit Union, and he is an associate trustee of the South Oakland Boys and Girls Club.

11:00 am - 12:15 pm Pr o f e s s i o n a l Im a g e : Augusta Ma k i n g a La s t i n g Im p r e s s i o n Have you ever been mistaken for an intern? Do you find yourself pigeon-holed into an issue because of your age or your stances? While all elected officials could use a session on image, YEOs have unique image issues to deal with. This session will cover topics such as the impressions you make by how you dress or carry yourself, new strategies to broaden your appeal beyond your comfort zone, and creative tricks to keep your image fresh and uniquely you. Tracey-Ann Nelson Le a g u e o f W o m e n V o t e r s Ge o r g i a Tracey-Ann Nelson has been a public relations consultant specializing in public affairs for the past seven years, providing media relations/strategy, crisis communication development, and lobbying services for public affairs, business-to-business, consumer, and health care clients. She has been a media relations consultant to several prominent public relations and marketing communications firms, including Crumbly & Alba and Matlock & Associates. As director of census policy for Governor Roy Barnes, she was responsible for the statewide communications program managing a budget of $2.1 million while developing and implementing Georgia Census 2000. Tracey-Ann Nelson has a bachelor’s degree in political science, a MPA, and certificates in economic development and Euro- pean Union finance policy.

21 Time SessioN location Lu n c h Pl e n a r y 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm In n o v a t i o n Ge n e r a t i o n Grand Ballroom Ne w T echnologies f o r t h e Di g i ta l A g e In this age of ever-changing technology, the ways elected officials can receive information and communicate with constituents are constantly expanding. This session will focus on reviewing advanced applications of current technology, such as sophisticated cell phone usage and information advances. In addition, trainers will present and preview new technologies coming down the pike. Shana Glickfield Ne x t Ge n We b .o r g Shana Glickfield is the online community director of NextGenWeb.org, a site dedicated to exploring all of the innovative ways that broadband is improving our quality of life with cutting edge applications. Ms. Glickfield has spent several years involved in the public policy process in Washington, DC, and is currently leading NextGenWeb’s Social Media for Staffers, a biweekly workshop series to improve how Hill staff use social media tools in the course of their jobs. She is the founder and author of The DC Concierge, a renowned local blog, and is one of the top 100 Twitters in Washing- ton, DC.

Kristal Lauren High In n o v a t i o n Ge n e r a t i o n Kristal Lauren High is a founding co-chair of Innovation Generation, a digital advocacy policy organization that works to enhance the value proposition of broadband and advanced communication technologies as a way to change our lives for the better. She is also the president of Media Founda- tion Group, a production and design firm specializing in multi-media production, identity systems, and new media consultations. Ms. High is the Founder of Pocketbook Protest, a digitally-based advocacy organization that uses technology to help empower minorities.

Michael Santorelli Ne w Y o r k La w Sc h o o l Michael Santorelli is a director of the Advanced Communications Law & Policy Institute (ACLP) at New York Law School. In that capacity, he oversees all aspects of the ACLP’s research and schol- arly writing, and coordinates student outreach efforts. He writes widely on broadband, telecommunications, and Internet law and public policy issues. Most recently, he co-authored a series of studies for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that examines the impact of broadband on senior citizens, telemedicine, people with disabilities, and education. Immediately prior to joining the ACLP, he was the policy director for the New York City Council’s Committee on Technology in Government.

Debra Speed Ve r i z o n Communications Debra J. Speed is the director for strategic alliances for Verizon Communications. She is responsible for public policy development and outreach to civil rights groups, women, and multicultural and education organizations. Ms. Speed began her career with Bell of Pennsylvania in 1989 as a management trainee in the company’s executive development program. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Bethune-Cookman University and a master’s degree in mathematics from Clark-Atlanta University.

Antonio Williams Co m c a s t Antonio “Tony” Williams currently serves as director of government affairs for Comcast Cable. In this position, he works to align Comcast’s local, state, and federal government affairs teams with Comcast’s video, high speed data, phone, and interactive media business units, as they develop political strategies to institute new products and technologies. Before working in the U.S. Senate for Senator Norm Coleman, Mr. Williams had a long career in politics working in the trenches as a campaign volunteer, at the Republican National Committee as a public affairs specialist, and at the Department of Veterans Affairs as a speechwriter and policy advisor. 22 Time SessioN location Is s u e s W o r k s h o p Se r i e s 2

2:00 pm - 3:15 pm Sm a r t Gr o w t h f o r Ru r a l Co m m u n i t i e s valdosta Across the nation, development patterns are shifting, requiring elected officials to focus on “smart growth” beyond urban centers. This session is geared to discussing the cultivation of intelligent growth and maturation of rural communities. Attendees will have an opportunity to brainstorm and share smart growth ideas that can be implemented in their own communities. Sean Becker Bo z e m a n Ci t y Co m m i s s i o n Sean Becker works as an economic development market analyst for a small business in Bozeman, Mont. In this capacity, he has worked with hundreds of city, state, and federal agencies. He has served since 2005 as a city commissioner for the City of Bozeman. After graduating from Denison University and working as a health care provider in Ne- pal, Sean Becker moved back to teach, conduct research, and complete graduate work at Montana State University in 1996.

Christopher Flynn To w n o f Br i d g e w a t e r Se l e c t m a n Christopher Flynn was elected in 2007 and is currently the youngest selectman in history to be elected in Bridgewater, Mass. Along with holding his current office, he serves as vice chairman of the Bridgewater Democratic Town Committee and is a member of several civic organizations, such as Lion’s Club International.

Lyan Joy Pernala Co u n c i l f o r A ff o r d a b l e a n d Ru r a l Ho u s i n g Lyan Joy Pernala currently serves as the director of policy and advocacy at the Council for Affordable and Rural Housing. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, with a BA in political science, a former fellow of the Front Line Leaders Acad- emy, and a former public policy and international affairs fellow at the Woodrow Wilson School, where she will pursue a master’s in public affairs in the fall of 2009. Outside of school, work, and fellowships, she is a tutor with the Wright to Read Program, a mid- fielder on the Cal alumni soccer team, and a coffee and chocolate connoisseur.

2:00 pm - 3:15 pm Ju v e n i l e Ju s t i c e a n d Ma n d a t o r y Mi n i m u m s Athens Despite the decline in crime committed by both youth and adults, states have maintained “tough-on-crime” and “tough-on-youth” policies developed in the early 1990s. More than a decade later, elected officials are seeing the terrible impact of these policies on their communities. This session will bring together policy makers and practitioners to discuss more effective ways to keep young people out of trouble and to create productive citizens rather than hardened criminals. Roger Ghatt Ca m p a i g n f o r Y o u t h Ju s t i c e Roger Ghatt is the chief operating officer at the Campaign for Youth Justice, which is a national organization dedicated to ending the sentencing of youth in adult prisons. He attended the American University with a degree in business.

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Jeremiah Grace Am e r i c a n Ci v i l Li b e r t i e s Un i o n Jeremiah Grace is an education commissioner from Elizabeth, New Jersey. In January 2007, he became head of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey’s newly launched Racial Justice program. Mr. Grace has recently been promoted to field manager, where he leads the non-legal advocacy at the ACLU-NJ, which includes grassroots organizing, lobbying, and public education projects on all civil liberties issues for the affiliate. Leading New Jersey’s Unlock the Vote Coalition, Mr. Grace has lobbied legislators, overseen the production of a short documentary, held successful public events, and created publications.

Judge Steve Teske Cl a y t o n Co u n t y Ju v e n i l e Co u r t , Ge o r g i a Judge Steven C. Teske, prior to going into the practice of law, was employed with the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles as a parole officer in the inner city of Atlanta, and was later promoted to chief of the Atlanta Parole District and deputy director of field services responsible for offender program development. Judge Teske created a resource website, at the request of numerous child advocates and juvenile justice practitioners in Georgia and across the country, to access information about detention reform in juvenile justice and the developments of the detention alternative initiative started by Judge Teske and supported by his judicial colleagues in Clayton County, Ga.

2:00 pm - 3:15 pm Pr o g r e s s i v e Bu d g e t & Ta x Re f o r m Savannah In these tough economic times, the demand for government services is growing just as the recession reduces the resources available to meet those needs. In this session, YEOs and policy experts will discuss how to approach budget reform and progressive tax policies, both during the recession and afterward. They will discuss tax and budget strategies that can address today’s needs and build for the future through reforms that can provide ad- equate revenues and do so fairly. YEOs will also be provided information on the Streamlined Sales Tax effort and have an opportunity to discuss their own budget and tax reform efforts. Mark Falzone Massachusetts Ho u s e o f Representatives In addition to his work in the Massachusetts Legislature, Mark Falzone is vice chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Budgets and Revenue Committee, and vice chair of the NCSL Executive Committee Task Force on State and Local Taxa- tion of Telecommunications and Electronic Commerce. Falzone received a MPA at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and has a BA in political science and communications from Boston College.

Jon Shure Ce n t e r o n Bu d g e t a n d Po l i c y Pr i o r i t i e s Jon Shure is deputy director of the State Fiscal Project at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. He joined the Center in 2009 after 12 years as president of New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP), a state research organization he founded in 1997. Mr. Shure began his career as a reporter for The Record newspaper of Bergen County, NJ. He has also served on the staff of the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Com- merce, Competitiveness, and Consumer Protection. He was communications director for New Jersey Governor Jim Florio from 1990-1993, and formerly the vice president at the Twentieth Century Fund, a nonprofit engaged in research on national policy issues. He is a visiting associate at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. 24 Time SessioN location

2:00 pm - 3:15 pm Th e Ce n s u s a n d Redistricting Macon Preparations for the 2010 Census are now under way, and it is crucially important for the Census Bureau to achieve an accurate count. The census is used to apportion political power and determine the distribution of $300 billion annually in federal funds. However, many populations, such as communities of color and immigrants, are traditionally undercounted. This session will give YEOs an overview of current census and redistricting developments and tell them how they can work to ensure an accurate count in their own community. Anita Earls So u t h e r n Coa l i t i o n f o r So c i a l Ju s t i c e Anita Earls has been a civil rights attorney for over 20 years, working on issues of struc- tural racism, voting rights, and community empowerment. She is an adjunct professor at UNC School of Law, where previously she was director of advocacy for the Center for Civil Rights. Ms. Earls served as deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice from 1998-2000. She also worked for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in Washington, DC. Ms. Earls is a 1988 graduate of Yale Law School, where she was a senior editor for the Yale Law Journal.

Elise Shore Me x i c a n A m e r i c a n Le g a l De f e n s e a n d Ed u c a t i o n Fu n d Elise Shore began her legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Jaime Pieras, Jr. in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. In 1995, Ms. Shore became a Fulbright Scholar and Professor of Law at La Universidad “Dr. José Matías Delgado” in El Salvador. As a Fulbright professor, she lectured and presented seminars on oral advocacy and the United States legal system. Before becoming regional counsel of MALDEF’s Altanta Office, Ms. Shore served in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice investigating, litigating, and settling cases under a variety of civil rights statutes including the Voting Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act.

2:00 pm - 3:15 pm LGBT: Th e Fi g h t f o r Eq u a l i t y Augusta The tide of legal equality for LGBT people in the United States is starting to rise. This panel of elected officials, policy experts, and grass roots activists will review recent successful campaigns to achieve LGBT equality and address the needs for similar change in states across the country. Their experience and guidance will help YEOs introduce and advocate for similar efforts in their communities. Reverend Kenneth Samuel Vi c t o r y f o r t h e W o r l d Ch u r c h Kenneth Samuel graduated in 1978 from Wesleyan University with a BA degree in American history. He continued his academic pursuit at the Candler School of Theology of Emory University in Atlanta, where he received the Benjamin E. Mays Theological Fellowship Award. In 1981, he received his MDiv degree. In 1996, he received a DMin degree from the United Theological Seminary. His theological focus is in the field of homiletics and social ethics. Dr. Samuel is an adjunct professor in the Religion and Phi- losophy Department at Clark Atlanta University, and has served as a teaching assistant in homiletics at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University. Dr. Samuel is the author of Solomon’s Success: Four Essential Keys to Leadership. He is also serves as the governor for DeKalb County NAACP, governor for the Georgia Council on Adult Literacy, and was appointed to the Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism.

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Rachel Weston Ve r m o n t Ho u s e o f Representatives Rachel Weston was first elected to the Vermont House in 2006. Rep. Weston serves on the Executive Committee of the Vermont Democratic Party, the Board of Directors for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, the Advisory Council for the University of Vermont Community-University Partnerships, and as president of the Vermont Young Democrats.

Sk i l l s W o r k s h o p Se r i e s 2 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm So c i a l Ne t w o r k i n g 101 Augusta The social networking community is the new epicenter for reaching colleagues and constituents in the 21st century. It’s one thing to start a social networking account, but it’s another to use it to the best capacity possible. This session will teach YEOs how to effectively use online tools like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and YouTube as powerful tools in reaching their community, getting their message out, organizing volunteers, and communicating with the media. Chris Petley Le o n Co u n t y Sc h o o l Di s t r i c t Chris Petley, communications director for the Leon County School District in Tallahas- see, Florida, is a seasoned campaign veteran. Having run campaigns at almost every level of state government, including governor, state representative, city commission, and circuit judge, his focus has always been on finding creative ways to communicate with voters. He was previously political director for the Florida Democratic Party where he launched groundbreaking youth outreach campaigns, At Your Door in 2004, UrbanPoli- tix, Donkey’s Rock, and Campout for Change. With the rise of social media, he has been at the forefront of combining politics and instant communication embracing Web 2.0 platforms. He was most recently featured in the Tallahassee Democrat and the Florida Channel for his innovative use of Twitter to connect the school board with parents and the community.

Jae Scarborough Re l a t e Me d i a Gr o u p Jae Scarborough’s experience includes developing unique and strategic online media plans. At Monster.com he managed interactive online media campaigns for external brands and agencies. Scarborough also managed multiple platforms (Homepage Take- overs, Run of Site / Network buys, Micro-sites, and Email & Newsletter Campaigns) and user based targeting tools. Mr. Scarborough managed multiple types of Online Media Advertising Campaigns, creating and reviewing media proposals utilizing online sta- tistical research measurements such as Unique visitors, Page Views and Demographic Profiles. Jae Scarborough received his BBA in Marketing from the University of Notre Dame.

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3:30 pm - 4:30 pm In n o v a t i o n Ge n e r a t i o n - A Mi c rov i e w Macon Room This session will allow session participants to go further into detail with the lunch plenary panel. This “microview” of the Innovation Generation will focus on reviewing advanced applications of current technology, the ways elected officials can receive information and better ways to communicate with constituents. Shana Glickfield Ne x t Ge n We b .o r g Shana Glickfield is the online community director of NextGenWeb.org.

Kristal Lauren High In n o v a t i o n Ge n e r a t i o n Kristal Lauren High is a founding co-chair of Innovation Generation, a digital advocacy policy organization.

Michael Santorelli Ne w Y o r k La w Sc h o o l Michael Santorelli is a director of the Advanced Communications Law & Policy Institute (ACLP) at New York Law School.

Debra Speed Ve r i z o n Communications Debra J. Speed is the director for strategic alliances for Verizon Communications.

Antonio Williams Co m c a s t Antonio Williams currently serves as director of government affairs for Comcast Cable.

2:00 pm - 3:15 pm Ma n a g i n g t h e Me d i a Athens Dealing with the media is one of the most essential and challenging skills for a public official. This session will help YEOs better understand the media and how it works, learn techniques for managing challenges and how to message around them, maximize the kind of media exposure that will advance policy goals, and strengthen skills in getting the kind of stories YEOs want. Drew Courtney Pe o p l e f o r t h e A m e r i c a n W a y Fo u n d a t i o n Drew Courtney is press secretary at People For the American Way Foundation. Prior to joining People For, he worked in the office of Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and at an NGO dedicated to sustainable development in Africa. He also worked as a public school teacher in rural Arkansas as a Teach For America Corps Member.

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3:30 pm - 4:30 pm Le a d e r s a s Co n v e n e r s : valdosta Bu i l d i n g Co n s e n s u s i n Y o u r Co m m u n i t y It is critical for state and local leaders to develop a collaborative system of governance, which this session will help provide. In addition to working across the aisle and dealing with conflict resolution, this session looks at consensus building in the community as well as in government bodies. YEOs will learn to create and support collaborative governance capacities, structures, and networks. Trainers will offer a nationally recognized source of information on collaborative governance, consensus building, and conflict resolution. Greg Wolf Po l i c y Co n s e n s u s In i t i a t i v e Until his appointment as PCI / NPCC Director, Greg Wolf worked for seven years as the community policy advisor for Oregon Governor Kitzhaber. In this capacity, he had primary responsibility for programs in the Departments of Transportation, Economic Development, Land Conservation, and Development and Housing. In the Governor’s Office, he also served as the Governor’s sustainability and dispute resolution advisor. Prior to this, Mr. Wolf served as the assistant director of the Department of Land Con- servation and Development. Mr. Wolf brings 23 years of experience working in state and local government and expertise in consensus processes. Greg Wolf co-founded Oregon’s Dispute Resolution Program in 1989.

Sunday, June 14

Br e a k f a s t Pl e n a r y 8:45 am - 10:00 am We l l n e s s T r a i n i n g : Grand Ballroom Ta k i n g Ca r e o f Y o u r s e l f So Y o u Ca n T a k e Ca r e o f Y o u r Constituents Research shows that the quality of teaching is the number one factor in improving student achievement. This session will focus on effective strategies used around the country to impact teacher quality and compensation. Presenters will discuss the latest in teacher residency programs, pay for performance, and traditional efforts to impact teacher effectiveness and compensation. Dr. Betty Siegel Ke n n e s a w St a t e Un i v e r s i t y Dr. Betty Siegel is currently the president emeritus and distinguished chair of leadership, ethics, and character at Kennesaw State University. She is the former president of Kennesaw State University, and was the first female president of the University System of Georgia. Her involvement in the education community includes assistant professor at the University of Florida and dean at the school of Education and Psychology at Western Carolina University.

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Is s u e s W o r k s h o p Se r i e s 3 10:15 am - 11:30 am Im m i g r a t i o n Re f o r m - Augusta At t h e Lo c a l a n d St a t e Le v e l Local and state elected officials are increasingly faced with a wave of punitive, anti-immigrant legislative mea- sures while challenged as leaders to help their communities embrace diversity and build understanding. YEOs and leaders on immigration reform will lead a discussion on how to reframe the debate, combat the negative proposals, and enact progressive policies for immigrants at the state and local level.

Rafael Collazo De m o c r a c i a U.S.A In 2006, Rafael Collazo joined Democracia USA as a Pennsylvania State director and was promoted to national field director. Now as national deputy director, he oversees all national operations. Mr. Collazo is a Latino political and media activist who has dedicated his career to helping the Hispanic community raise its collective voice in the electoral process and civic life. After being an active member of ASPIRA as a youth activist, he was a co-founder and CEO of The Latino Online News Network (LATNN).

Marielena Hincapié Na t i o n a l Im m i g r a t i o n La w Ce n t e r Before assuming the position of executive director in September 2008, Marielena Hincapié served as National Immigration Law Center’s (NILC) director of programs, managing the organization’s employment, public benefits, and immigration work. Ms. Hincapié specializes in and has dedicated her legal career to protecting and advancing the rights of immigrant workers. Before joining NILC, she worked for the Legal Aid Society of San Francisco’s Employment Law Center, where she founded the Center’s Immigrant Workers’ Rights Proj- ect. She serves on the American Bar Association’s Commission on Immigration, and on the Executive Committee of the National Lawyers Guild’s Labor and Employment Committee.

Ali Noorani Na t i o n a l Im m i g r a t i o n Fo r u m Ali Noorani is the executive director of the National Immigration Forum, one of the nation’s preeminent pro-immigrant advocacy organizations. Before coming to Washington in 2008, he was with the Boston-based Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), where he served as executive director. Over the years, he has been a guest on a number of local and national radio shows. Born in California, Mr. Noorani is the son of Pakistani immigrants and one of the few national leaders of Muslim heritage. He is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and received his MPH from Boston University, where he received the University’s Young Alumni Award in 2007.

Diana Sen La t i n o Ju s t i c e PRLDEF Diana Sen is an associate counsel for LatinoJustice PRLDEF, where she heads their South- eastern U.S. Practice. She primarily works to safeguard the civil rights of Latinos in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC. Prior to LatinoJustice, Ms. Sen was a senior litigation associate with the international law firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP in New York, specializing in general commer- cial and white-collar litigation for six years. In between her time at Fried Frank, she was a staff attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund (MALDEF) for two years in their Atlanta office as a Fried Frank/MALDEF Fellow.

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10:15 am - 11:30 am Th e Co u r t s a n d t h e Constitution Macon

If you care about the environment, education, racial justice, women’s rights, LGBT equality, protections for workers, or civil liberties, you should care about the future of the Supreme Court. The decisions made by the Court affect ordinary Americans in virtually every sphere of life and will profoundly shape the course of our nation. This session will discuss what’s at stake in the Supreme Court and how you, as elected officials and community leaders, can make a direct difference.

Marge Baker Pe o p l e f o r t h e A m e r i c a n W a y Marge Baker is the Executive Vice President for Policy and Program Planning at People For the American Way/ Foundation.

Drew Courtney Pe o p l e f o r t h e A m e r i c a n W a y Fo u n d a t i o n Drew Courtney is press secretary at People For the American Way Foundation. Prior to joining People For, he worked in the office of Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and at an NGO dedicated to sustainable development in Africa. He also worked as a public school teacher in rural Arkansas as a Teach For America Corps Member.

Jennifer Meinig Al l i a n c e f o r Ju s t i c e Jennifer Meinig is a 2008-2009 Dorot Law Fellow for the Alliance for Justice’s Judi- cial Selection Project, focusing on researching judicial nominees to the federal appel- late courts. She graduated from the West Virginia University College of Law in 2007. While in law school, she clerked for the ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Project in New York City and Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC, in Charleston, West Virginia. She spent her final semester of law school externing for the Honorable Judge Robert B. King on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from West Virginia University in 2002. She has served on various boards and advisory committees, including Planned Parenthood Health Systems, West Virginia University Department of Political Science, and as current president of WV FREE - West Virginia’s only statewide, pro-choice coalition.

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10:15 am - 11:30 am El e c t i o n Re f o r m valdosta The strength of our democracy depends on free and fair access to the ballot for all Americans. In this session, policy experts and experienced advocates will lead a discussion on ways we move from simply responding to disenfranchising bills to proactively increasing the ability to vote. Focus areas for this session include: Election Day Voter Registration, Early Voting, and Voter Identificaton. Jen Herrick Pe o p l e Fo r t h e A m e r i c a n W a y Fo u n d a t i o n Jen Herrick graduated from the Honors Tutorial College at Ohio University in June 2004 with a degree in communication studies and a certificate in political communication. Her undergraduate honors thesis was titled, “Civil Disobedience as Entertainment: Michael Moore and the Awful Truth.” She moved to the Washington, DC area in July 2004 and subsequently began work at People For as a full-time Public Policy intern. She now serves on staff as legislative representative. Prior to People For, Jen Herrick interned with the Washington, DC office of Representative Marcy Kaptur and served as a student assistant to a 2003 city council campaign in Athens, Ohio.

Christian Smith-Socaris Pr o g r e s s i v e St a t e s Ne t w o r k Before coming to the Progressive States Network, Christian Smith-Socaris spent many years supporting the New York Civil Liberties Union’s legislative efforts. Serving as an advocate, lobbyist, and policy analyst, he focused on a broad range of issues including voting rights, criminal justice reform, civil rights protections, as well as privacy rights. He was a key participant in the campaign to establish pro-voter implementation of the Help America Vote Act in New York State. Beyond his professional work, Christian Smith-Socaris is a visual artist.

10:15 am - 11:30 am He a l t h Ca r e - Be y o n d Bo u n d a r i e s Athens Crushing health care costs, lack of proper access, and a declining economy make it incredibly difficult for strug- gling families and businesses to make ends meet. This session will focus on innovative strategies to reform our current health care system, to ensure access to quality and affordable health care for all. In this session, YEOs, universal health care advocates, consumer advocates, and medical technology professionals will discuss the benefits of and present policy on universal health care, innovative pilot projects, and E-medicine.

Desiree Hoffman Se r v i c e Em p l o y e e s International Un i o n Desiree Hoffman is senior legislative advocate for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Her responsibilities include working with members of Congress and their respective staff, advocating SEIU’s core legislative priorities, building relationships with national organizations and coalitions, and analyzing healthcare-related legislation. In addition to healthcare reform, she manages a range of healthcare issues for SEIU, including healthcare disparities and healthcare workforce legislation. Currently, she is advancing SEIU’s advocacy efforts for comprehensive, affordable, accessible healthcare in the first year of the 111th Congress.

31 Time SessioN location Jay Sanders Th e Gl o b a l T elemedicine Gr o u p , Jo h n Ho p k i n s Sc h o o l o f Me d i c i n e Jay H. Sanders, MD, is the CEO of The Global Telemedicine Group, adjunct professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and a founding board member and president emeritus of the American Telemedicine Association. His consulting activities have included NASA, DOD, HHS, the FCC, state governments, and WHO. During the Clinton Administration, he represented the USA to the G8 nations for telemedicine. He is a graduate of Harvard Medical School, magna cum laude. He was previously professor of medicine at the University of Miami School of Medicine, professor of medicine and surgery at the Medical College of Georgia, and visiting professor at Yale University School of Medicine.

Adam Thompson Pr o g r e s s i v e St a t e s Ne t w o r k Adam Thompson has several years of experience working for major health care reform at the state level and on political campaigns. Before joining the Progressive States Network, he worked for Maine Governor John Baldacci’s Office of Health Policy and Finance on the enactment and implementation of Dirigo Health Reform. He previously served as the executive director of the Maine Democratic Party.

Sk i l l s Ne t w o r k i n g W o r k s h o p Se r i e s 11:45 am - 1:00 pm Ru n n i n g f o r Hi g h e r Off i c e Athens More than 90% of YEOs surveyed are interested in running for higher office. In this session, YEOs will discuss challenges, effective strategies, and best practices in running for and winning higher office. The session will be led by YEOs who have successfully been elected to higher office at the state and local level. Stacey Chavis Wh i t e Ho u s e Pr o j e c t Stacey Chavis is the Southern Regional director for the White House Project. She directs the Vote, Run, Lead training program for the entire Southeast region. Previously, she was the deputy finance director for the Democratic Party of Georgia. During the 2006 election, she served as the finance director for Congressman Hank Johnson during the primary and run-off elections. Ms. Chavis also worked for former Congresswoman Denise Majette, gaining expertise in congressional politics and constituent services. She graduated from the Women’s Campaign School at Yale in 2007.

Jamie Eldridge Massachusetts St a t e Se n a t e Jamie Eldridge was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate in 2009, after previously serving as a state representative. During his time in the legislature, he has been one of the leaders of the movement to protect marriage equality in Massachusetts, proposed and passed the state’s newest anti-poverty program, helped lead the successful effort to close corporate tax loopholes, and was part of an effort to overhaul the way education is financed in Massachusetts.

Isadore Hall Ca l i f o r n i a A s s e m b l y Isadore Hall III was elected in 2008 to represent the 52nd California Assembly District. He is a member of Speaker Karen Bass’ leadership team and currently serves as assistant speaker pro tempore. Assembly Member Hall served as president of the Compton Unified School District Board of Trustees and mayor pro tem of the Compton City Council, prior to being elected to the State Assembly.

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11:45 am - 1:00 pm Th e Na t u r a l Ne x t St e p : Augusta Fi n d i n g W o r k a n d Be i n g El e c t e d Maintaining employment while serving as an elected official is one of the greatest challenges YEOs face. This session will bring together YEOs who have been successful in identifying jobs and employment opportunities, as well as entrepreneurial opportunities that complement their elective work while helping them earn a living Kyrsten Sinema Ar i z o n a Ho u s e o f Representative State Representative Kyrsten Sinema serves as the assistant leader to the Democratic Caucus in the Arizona House of Representatives. She holds both a law degree and a master’s degree in social work from Arizona State University, and is currently pursuing her PhD in the School of Justice and Social Inquiry at ASU. She is an adjunct professor in the School of Social Work at ASU and serves as faculty for the Center for Progressive Leadership. Rep. Sinema’s first book, Unite and Conquer: How to Build Coalitions that Win and Last, will be released in July 2009 by Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

Faith Winter We s t m i n s t e r Ci t y Co u n c i l / Th e W h i t e Ho u s e Pr o j e c t City Councilwoman Faith Winter is a Westminster city councilor and the training and outreach director for the White House Project. As a city councilor, Winter spearheads initiatives on sustainability and affordable housing. She also provides training, inspiration, and empowerment to promote women’s political leadership across the country. Do- ing environmental work, she led a team of over 100 young people that turned out 93,000 young voters in 2004.

Dave Woodward Oa k l a n d Co u n t y Co m m i s s i o n / Ce n t e r f o r Pr o g r e s s i v e Le a d e r s h i p Dave Woodward is a county commissioner in Oakland, Mich. where he was born and raised. He served as former chairman to the Oakland County Democratic Party between 2003 and 2009. Mr. Woodward was also elected to the Michigan House of Representa- tives from 1999 until 2004. He is a graduate of Wayne State University with a BS in mathematics and a minor in economics. He is president of Oakland Health Plan, Inc., which manages health care services locally for the very poor of Oakland County.

11:45 am - 1:00 pm Co n s t i t u e n t Se r v i c e s Sh a r i n g Macon YEOs will discuss and share the programs and initiatives they have implemented in their communities to help their constituents, improve communication between communities and local government, and increase civic participation. This session is specially designed to be an epicenter for sharing best practices! M. Janet Chin Ro s e m e a d Sc h o o l Bo a r d V i c e Pr e s i d e n t M. Janet Chin is a social entrepreneur whose lifelong goal is enriching the lives of children. She was elected to the Garvey School District Board of Education in 2007 and currently serving as vice president. Now age 34, she also serves on the U.S. Army Los Angeles Recruiting Battalion Community Advisory Board. Mrs. Chin is also the founder and president of the M. Janet Chin Youth Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that produces youth leaders by empowering youth in low growth/opportunity areas through civic engagement, service learning, and leadership training.

33 Time SessioN location Rebecca Gewirtz Ci t y o f So m e r v i l l e , Massachusetts In 2005, Rebekah Gewirtz was elected Ward 6 Alderwoman, and was re-elected to a second term in 2007. In addition to her position as alderwoman, she is director of government relations and political action at the National Association of Social Workers, MA Chapter. She is the former legislative director to State Representative (now State Senator) Patricia Jehlen of Somerville, and subsequently worked as lead organizer at the Commonwealth Coalition, an organization dedicated to electing progressive representatives and senators to the state legislature in Massachusetts.

Tony Payton Pennsylvania Ho u s e o f Representatives Tony Payton, Jr. was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2007. Prior to be elected, he worked as a housing counselor at United Communities in South Philadelphia. Payton was a 2005-06 fellow with the Center for Progressive Leadership, and was awarded the leadership award as one of the most influential African Americans by the Philadelphia Tribune in 2007.

11:45 am - 1:00 pm Ba l a n c i n g Fa m i l y a n d El e c t e d Off i c e valdosta Politics too often blurs the line between one’s professional and personal life. YEOs will share what it’s like to lead busy and often stressful lives in the public eye, as well as practical tips to strike a balance between the two. Melvin Carter St. Pa u l Ci t y Co u n c i l Melvin Carter was first elected to the St. Paul City Council in 2007. He has worked with various community organizations and political campaigns, including Got Voice Got Power, Wellstone Action, and Minnesota Victory 2004.

Tricia Cotham No r t h Ca r o l i n a Ho u s e o f Representatives Tricia Cotham was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2007 and is currently serving her second term. She is the only current and licensed principal in the North Carolina General Assem- bly, and serves as chair of Education K-12 Committee. Prior to elected office, Rep. Cotham taught social studies, coordinated the AVID Program, and was a high school administrator. She has been honored twice as “Teacher of the Year.” In her spare time, she teaches other teachers on how to better assist children of poverty and children of color.

Carmelo Garcia Ho b o k e n Bo a r d o f Ed u c a t i o n Carmelo G. Garcia has been past president and vice president of the Hoboken Board of Education, which he was elected to in 2002 and still serves as a trustee. He now works as the director of the Hoboken Housing Authority for HUD, and is CEO of 21st Century Consulting Group. He is a founder of Hoboken’s Save the Youth Academy for at-risk students.

Ezra Temko Ne w a r k , De l a w a r e Ci t y Co u n c i l Ezra J. Temko has served as city councilman since his election in 2008. He is the youngest elected official in the state of Delaware and the youngest to have served on Newark’s city council. Coun- cilman Temko went through the PFAw Foundation’s Front Line Leaders Academy which helped him gain the tools and skills needed for the campaign. He is excited to now be part of the Young Elected Officials Network that helped train him. He works for the Sierra Club and will be teaching secondary math as a Teach for America Corps member in the fall. 34 Th e Y o u ng El e c t e d Off i c i al s

A Ne w Ge n e r a t i o n o n t h e Fr o n t Li n e s o f Ch ang e 35 Yo u ng El e c t e d Off i c i al s

Danielle Imani Asako Adams So i l a n d W a t e r Conservation Di s t r i c t Su p e r v i s o r Du r h a m , No r t h Ca r o l i n a District Supervisor Danielle Imani Asako Adams is the youngest elected official in Durham County. She is currently a senior at North Carolina Central University, pursuing a degree in political science with minors in German and music. Prior to becoming Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor in 2008, she served as the HBCU Caucus chair for the North Carolina Federation of College Democrats and is the most recent past director of membership for the NCFCD. She has worked with the International Affairs Council and the Middle East Partnership Initiative of the US Department of State, hosting a delegation of eight Middle Eastern women from the nations of Yemen, Morocco, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia. Supervisor Adams is a member of NCCU’s College Democrats Chapter, Political Science Club, the NCCU NAACP, and a member of the NCCU Civic Engagement Task Force.

Ben Allen Me m b e r o f Bo a r d o f Ed u c a t i o n Sa n t a Mo n i c a , Ca l i f o r n i a Board Member Ben Allen was elected as the youngest member of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s Board of Education in 2008. He is currently an attorney with Bryan Cave LLP, and a senior fellow with the human rights organization, Humanity in Action. He has previously served as regent on the University of California’s Board of Regents, a judicial clerk at the United Nations’ International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and press secretary to Congressman Jose Serrano (D-NY). Board Member Allen was recently elected to a two-year term as a delegate to the California Democratic State Convention and serves on the Executive Board of the Santa Monica Democratic Club. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard, a master’s degree from Cambridge University, and a law degree from UC Berkeley.

Sean Becker Ci t y Commissioner Bo z e m a n , Mo n t a n a City Commissioner Sean Becker is currently a candidate for mayor and has served since 2005 as a commissioner for the City of Bozeman. In addition to city commission responsibilities, Commissioner Becker works as an economic development market analyst for one of Bozeman’s many small businesses. After graduating from Denison University and working as a health care provider in Nepal, he moved back to teach, conduct research, and complete graduate work at Montana State University. Commissioner Becker is a former fireman, the youngest of 11 children, and an avid glider pilot, mountain biker, and telemark skier.

Alisha Bell Co u n t y Commissioner Wa y n e , Mi c h i g a n County Commissioner Alisha Bell is the youngest African-American woman to serve as a county commissioner in the nation. First elected in 2002, she is serving her fourth two-year term and is currently the chair of the Committee on Health and Human Services and the Women in Government and Business Committee. Commissioner Bell previously worked with Comerica Bank, Honeywell, Inc., and served as the center director for the first Sylvan Learning Center in the City of Detroit. She graduated cum laude from Florida A&M University with a degree in business administration, and earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Commissioner Bell is the proud new mother of son, Kranston Kardell Young II, and daughter, Morgan Elise Young.

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Ashley Bell Co u n t y Commissioner Ga i n e s v i l l e , Ge o r g i a Ashley D. Bell was elected at age 27 to become Hall County’s youngest Commissioner. Bell is a graduate of Gainesville High, Valdosta State University, and attended law school at the University of Georgia and Louisiana State University.

Farid Ben Amor Di s t r i c t Representative Wa s h i n g t o n D.C. District Representative Farid Ben Amor, in addition to his elective office, works with ACORN to help make technology accessible to low-income communities and to utilize it to expand their due political power. Previously, Representative Ben Amor specialized in science and technology policy on the Hill. He is devoted to actively bridging the digital divide and is driven by its potential to further strengthen communities and equalize opportunity and human dignity. Rep. Ben Amor is originally from Los Angeles and enjoys performing music and making short movies.

Brendan Boyle St a t e Representative Philadelphia , Pennsylvania State Representative Brendan Boyle was elected to Pennsylvania’s 170th House District in 2008. Representative Boyle, the first in his family to attend college, studied at the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in government and completed the Hesburgh Program in Public Service. He later attended graduate school at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, earning a master’s degree in public policy. He has served as a policy consultant to the U.S. Defense Department, as well as to Fortune 500 companies, and state policymakers. He currently resides in Northeast Philadelphia with his wife Jennifer, an elementary school teacher.

Aisha N. Braveboy De l e g a t e Mitchellville , Ma r y l a n d Delegate Aisha N. Braveboy was elected to represent the 25th Legislative District in the Maryland General Assembly in 2006. She currently serves on the House Economic Matters Committee, as well as the Business Regulations, Consumer Protection, and Alcoholic Beverage Subcommittees. Delegate Braveboy is the 2nd vice chair for the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, chair of the Prince George’s County Delegation Bi-County Committee for Water, Sewer, and Transportation, and a member of the Maryland Women’s Caucus. She is also a private practice lawyer with a focus on real estate, condo/HOA, and corporate law. Delegate Braveboy is a graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park and Howard University School of Law.

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Oscar Braynon II St a t e Representative Mi a m i Ga r d e n s , Fl o r i d a State Representative Oscar Braynon II was elected to House District 103 of the Florida Legislature in 2008. He previously served as a city councilman for the City of Miami Gardens, making history as one of the youngest politicians ever elected in Miami-Dade County. In 2005, he was unanimously appointed vice mayor of the City of Miami Gardens. Rep. Braynon currently serves as a governmental consultant for the Pittman Law Group and is the former executive director of the “Arrive With 5” statewide voter education campaign. He is a graduate of Florida State University.

Alan Brock Co u n t y Commissioner Wa k u l l a , Fl o r i d a County Commissioner Alan Brock was elected to the Wakulla County Commission in 2008. He currently serves as president of the Florida Young Democrats and executive director of Whole Child Leon. Commissioner Brock began his public service career as a spokesperson for the original Florida “Truth” anti-tobacco campaign, which went on to become a model for the nation. He previously served as the North Florida and Youth outreach director for the Florida Democratic Party, and as the North Florida field director for the 2006 “Vote Yes on 4” campaign, also known as “Floridians for Youth Tobacco Education.” He is a graduate of Florida State University.

Brandon Buchanan Ci t y Co u n c i l m a n Ea u Cl a i r e , W i s c o n s i n City Councilman Brandon Buchanan serves on the Eau Claire City Council, and is the youngest council member in the city’s history. Councilman Buchanan is an advocate for issues of sustainability and workers’ rights.

Steve Butterfield St a t e Representative Ba n g o r , Ma i n e State Representative Steve Butterfield was elected to Maine House District 16 in 2008. He has worked in the U.S. Congress for now-Governor John Baldacci, and has coordinated high-level international policy summits for members of Congress and their Japanese counterparts as a staffer at the US-Japan Legislative Exchange Program. He has also developed a strong background on state-level health care policy for the Center for Policy Alternatives, and worked as the director of the Chrysalis Youth Action Fund at Maine Initiatives. Additionally, Rep. Butterfield has built a statewide coalition of home health care workers, companies, consumers, and advocates for the Maine State Employees Association and Service Employees International Union Local 1989.

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Gina L. Calder Al d e r w o m a n Ne w Ha v e n , Co n n e c t i c u t Alderwoman Gina Calder is the youngest African American elected official in Connecticut, and began her term on the New Haven Board of Aldermen in 2008. She founded and chairs the Dwight Central Management Team Youth Concerns Committee, with the goal of exposing youth to positive experiences. Alderwoman Calder is also one of the founders and Executive Committee members of the CALLED, a Connecticut-based organization of young professionals of African descent that focuses on meeting the needs of the state’s urban areas. She is an administrative fellow with the Yale New Haven Health System, a Connecticut Health Foundation leadership fellow, and a member for the New Haven Ward 2 Democratic Committee. She received both her bachelor’s degree in psychology and MPH from Yale University.

Don Calloway St a t e Representative St. Lo u i s , Mi s s o u r i State Representative Don Calloway was elected to the Missouri House in 2008, and sits on the Rules Committee, Special Standing Committee on General Laws, and the Special Standing Committee on Emerging Issues in Agriculture. Representative Calloway earned his BA in political science and English literature from Alabama A&M University in 2002, where he was president of Student Government and active in his fraternity. He earned his JD from Boston University School of Law in 2005.

Karim Camara As s e m b l y m a n Br o o k l y n , Ne w Y o r k Assemblyman Karim Camara was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2006. He served as the New York State faith director of Senator Barack Obama’s historic run in the Democratic primary and was one of the first New York State elected officials to endorse Senator Obama’s candidacy. Assemblyman Camara is executive pastor of First Baptist Church of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and previously worked with the Children’s Defense Fund and as a congressional intern for Congressman Major R. Owens (D-NY). He received his BA in English literature and chemistry from Xavier University of Louisiana and his MDiv from the New York Theological Seminary.

Joe Carn Ci t y Co u n c i l m a n Co l l e g e Pa r k , Ge o r g i a City Councilman Joe Carn was elected to the College Park City Council in 2006, as the city’s youngest elected official. He has been listed as one of the Georgia Informer’s 40 under 40, serves on the board of directors for Concerned Black Clergy, and is the youngest board member of the National Organization to Insure a Sound Environment (NOISE). He also serves locally as chairman of the LSAC School Board and volunteers with non-profits Metamorphosis Inc. and Lift Community Development. Councilman Carn completed graduate studies at Harvard University’s JFK School of Government, and as a devoted father and author, he is currently finishing his second book.

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Chris Carter St a t e Representative St. Lo u i s Ci t y , Mi s s o u r i State Representative Chris Carter is a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, following in the footsteps of his grandmother, former state representative and state senator, Paula J. Carter. In addition to his legislative duties, Representative Carter works as the director of intake for West End Clinic in St. Louis. He has previously worked as the director of community affairs for the 61st District, district assistant to Senator Jeff Smith, and as a field organizer for U.S Senator Claire McCaskill. He serves as a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Young Democrats, NAACP, NSBE, 100 Black Men, St. Louis C.A.N., NCCJ, and the Paula J. Carter Foundation. Rep. Carter attended Alabama A&M University where he received a bachelor’s degree in computer science.

Melvin Carter Ci t y Co u n c i l m a n St. Pa u l , Mi n n e s o t a Councilman Melvin Carter was first elected to the St. Paul City Council in 2007. He has worked with various community organizations and political campaigns, including Got Voice Got Power, Wellstone Action, and Minnesota Victory 2004. He earned the St. Paul NAACP’s 2006 Community Service Award. Councilman Carter currently serves on the Saint Paul Regional Water Services Board of Directors, the Landmark Center Board of Directors, the Family Housing Fund Board, the Library Board, the Hmong 18 Council, and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority Board. He is also founder of Urban Embassy, a nonprofit organization. He attended Florida A&M University and the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs. In his personal time, Councilman Carter serves on volunteer boards for three local nonprofit organizations, directs a choir at St. James AME Church in St. Paul, and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Quintealia Cato Ci t y Commissioner Mi d w a y , Fl o r i d a City Commissioner Quintealia Cato was sworn into office in 2007, and currently serves as mayor pro tem on the Midway City Council. She is a member of the Women Elected to Municipal Government in Florida, CEO and founder of The Cato Institute for Family and Community Development, a member of the Gadsden County Farm Bureau, and a member of the Florida League of Cities Fiscal Stewardship Policy Council. In addition to her elected office, Commissioner Cato is a licensed mortgage broker and works as a staff development training consultant for the Department of Revenue Child Support Enforcement Program Office. She graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in public relations.

Jay Chen Bo a r d o f Ed u c a t i o n In d u s t r y , Ca l i f o r n i a Board of Education Member Jay Chen was elected to the Board of Education for Hacienda-La Puente Unified in 2007. He was elected to be the pledged delegate for Barack Obama from his congressional district for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, and was also elected to the Democratic State Central Committee with the top vote in 2009. He is also employed as an education columnist for the local press. Before he was elected to the Board of Education, Board Member Chen was a management consultant with Bain & Company and Technoserve. He has also worked in Central and South America as a travel writer for Let’s Go Publications. Fluent in Mandarin and Spanish, he is a recipient of the Lions Club International Leo of the Year award. He is a graduate of Harvard University.

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M. Janet Chin Sc h o o l Bo a r d , V i c e Pr e s i d e n t Ro s e m e a d , Ca l i f o r n i a School Board Member M. Janet Chin was elected to the Garvey School District Board of Education in 2007 and is currently serving as vice president. She is the founder and president of the M. Janet Chin Youth Foundation, a non-profit organization that produces youth leaders by empowering youth in low growth/opportunity areas through civic engagement, service learning, and leadership training. Board Member Chen has been awarded the Los Angeles Bilingual Directors Association Award and honored as a Woman of Distinction by former Congresswoman and current Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. She currently serves on the U.S. Army Los Angeles Recruiting Battalion Community Advisory Board, and has previously served as PTA president, chair of the English Learners Advisory Council, and chair of School Site Council. She will complete California School Board Association’s Master’s in Governance program this fall.

Shane Cohn Al d e r m a n St. Lo u i s , Mi s s o u r i Alderman Shane Cohn is alderman of the 25th Ward in the City of St. Louis and the first openly gay elected official in city government. Prior to being elected, he worked as a HR manager for Citigroup and the director of development & community affairs for a local non-profit. Alderman Cohn was recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as one of the 2007 “30 under 30” class’ Most Influential Young People in St. Louis Business, and has been awarded the Bronze Quill Award by the local chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators.

Y. Laketa Cole Ci t y Councilmember Ci n c i n n a t i , Oh i o City Councilmember Y. Laketa Cole was appointed to Cincinnati City Council in 2003, making her the first African American woman ever appointed to the city council. She was selected as the council’s president pro tem, a position she has held throughout her tenure. She is chair of the Finance Committee, vice-chair of the Neighborhoods, Recreation, Parks, and Public Services Committee, and serves as a member of the Rules and Government Operations Committee, the Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Marketing Committee, and the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. She received a BA in political science from Wittenberg University and her MPA from Northern Kentucky University.

Alex Cornell du Houx St a t e Representative Br u n s w i c k , Ma i n e State Representative Alex Cornell du Houx is serving his first term in Maine’s House of Representatives. Prior to being elected, Representative Cornell du Houx joined the Marine Reserves in 2002 and was deployed to Iraq with the Marines’ Alpha Company in 2006. After his return, he continued his work serving the Maine communities through political and community service. He led a service trip to Guatemala with the program Safe Passage to help kids move from working in the city dump to gain an education, and worked in Peru to help build a playground for children in Lima. At home, Rep. Cornell du Houx volunteers and serves on the board of Maine’s Habitat for Humanity and has been volunteering in local schools for the past six years. He coaches lacrosse at Brunswick’s Junior High School and conducted a year of service with AmeriCorps. He attended Bowdoin College as a Mitchell Scholar.

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Tricia Cotham St a t e Representative Ch a r l o t t e , No r t h Ca r o l i n a State Representative Tricia Cotham was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2007 and is currently serving her second term. She is the only current and licensed principal in the North Carolina General Assembly, and serves as chair of Education K-12 Committee. Prior to elected office, Rep. Cotham taught social studies, coordinated the AVID Program, and was a high school administrator. She has been honored twice as “Teacher of the Year.” In her spare time, she teaches other teachers on how to better assist children of poverty and children of color.

Marisol Cruz Sc h o o l Bo a r d Me m b e r Le n n o x , Ca l i f o r n i a School Board Member Marisol Cruz migrated with her family from San Ignacio Cerro Gordo, Jalisco, Mexico when she was an infant. She is the mother of two children who attend Moffett School. As an involved parent in the Lennox School District, she has been working in collaboration with parents, staff, and students to establish open communication. As a member of the Lennox School District Board of Trustees, she is working with her fellow board members to ensure that the children in Lennox receive the best public education. They are working to support and nurture the academic programs that encourage and support the development of a whole human being. Board Member Cruz received her undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in women studies, and is currently a graduate student at California State University, Long Beach working towards a master’s degree in Chicano Latino studies and public policy administration.

Tony Cuneo Ci t y Co u n c i l m a n Du l u t h , Mi n n e s o t a City Councilman Tony Cuneo was elected to the Duluth City Council in 2007. Along with his position on the Duluth City Council, he is the director of policy and planning at the AH Zeppa Family Foundation. During the 2008 presidential elections, Councilman Cuneo organized and ran the Duluth Votes Coalition, targeting the 10 lowest income precincts in the interest of garnering higher voter participation from those communities. Additionally, he has worked with America Votes, the Young Voter Project, MPIRG, and Wellstone Action. Councilman Cuneo lives in Duluth with his beautiful family, including his wife Erin, daughter Esmae, too many pets, and a second child on the way. He would like to remind everyone that Duluth is known as the San Francisco of the Midwest, but with views you can afford.

Henry Davis, Jr. Ci t y Co u n c i l So u t h Be n d , In d i a n a City Councilman Henry Davis, Jr. has been serving South Bend as a city councilman since 2008, where he helped make history by being part of the largest number of minorities to serve on the council at the same time. Councilman Davis is chair of the Community Relations Committee and vice-chairman to the Community and Economic Development Council. He is also employed as a child support services caseworker with the county prosecutor’s office.

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Dee Dawkins-Haigler St a t e Representative Li t h o n i a , Ge o r g i a State Representative Dee Dawkins-Haigler is a member of the Georgia House of Representatives. In 2004, she served as the state field/political director in South Carolina for DNC chairman Howard Dean and his bid for the U.S. presidency, and continued to work as the lead advance coordinator in the Southeast region for the Kerry/Edwards team. Representative Dawkins- Haigler is an active member of numerous civic and service organizations including the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., 100 Black Women, The National Council of Negro Women, Inc., The NAACP, Eastern Star, and The National Association of Black Political Scientists. Additionally, she is an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and a workshop trainer of ministers of all denominations throughout the United States. Rep. Dawkins-Haigler is currently a PhD candidate in political science at Clark Atlanta University, and currently resides in Lithonia.

Trinity Donovan Ci t y Councilmember Ch a n d l e r , A r i z o n a City Councilmember Trinity Donovan was elected to the Chandler City Council in 2006, and currently represents the City of Chandler on a regional level as chair of the Maricopa Association of Governments Human Services Coordinating Committee and as a board member for both the Arizona Municipal Water User’s Association and the Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority. Councilmember Donovan also represents the city on a national level through her involvement in the National League of Cities’ Community and Economic Development Committee and the Council on Youth, Education, and Families. Additionally, she chairs the STAR Community Sustainability Index Technical Advisory Committee for Health and Safety. She volunteers for a variety of organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters and most recently traveled to Ethiopia with Hope for the Hopeless to work with an orphanage. Councilmember Donovan holds a bachelor’s degree in comparative studies in race and ethnicity, and a master’s degree in sociology – both from Stanford University.

Mark DuVall St a t e Representative Ma n t a c h i e , Mi s s i s s i p p i State Representative Mark DuVall was elected in 2008 to represent the 19th District of Mississippi. Representative DuVall is a member of the Mississippi Farm Bureau and Woodmen of the World. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University.

Jamie Eldridge St a t e Se n a t o r Mi d d l e s e x , Massachusetts State Senator Jamie Eldridge was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate in 2009, after previously serving as a state representative. He is the only “Clean Elections” candidate to be elected to public office in Massachusetts history. During his time in the legislature, he has been one of the leaders of the movement to protect marriage equality in Massachusetts, proposed and passed the state’s newest anti-poverty program (Individual Development Accounts), helped lead the successful effort to close corporate tax loopholes, and was part of an effort to overhaul the way education is financed in Massachusetts. Sen. Eldridge is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and Boston College Law School.

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Matthew Elsaesser Ci t y Commissioner He l e n a , Mo n t a n a City Commissioner Matthew Elsaesser was elected in 2007 and is currently serving as the youngest commissioner on record. He is currently executive director of the SAVE Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to recycling, environmental awareness, and conservation policy. In his spare time, Commissioner Elsaesser is a volunteer coach for Helena’s youth climbing team, the Thunder Chickens, and can be found enjoying the Helena surroundings, skiing, and rock climbing. He graduated from Carroll College in 2003.

Megan England Ci t y Councilwoman Ro e l a n d Pa r k , Ka n s a s City Councilwoman Megan England was elected to the City Council of Roeland Park, Kansas in 2007. Councilwoman England has worked to create a Sustainability Committee for the city and to establish LEED certified design guidelines for any new developments within city limits. She is also a member of her county’s Parks and Recreation Board, as well as the county’s Arts Council. Outside of her elected office, she works as retail operations manager of the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, and lives in the KC Metro with her husband, Matt. She attended Baker University where she earned a degree in studio art.

Mark Falzone St a t e Representative Bo s t o n , Massachusetts State Representative Mark Falzone was first elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 2000. In addition to his work in the Massachusetts Legislature, Representative Falzone is vice chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Budgets and Revenue Committee, and vice chair of the NCSL Executive Committee Task Force on State and Local Taxation of Telecommunications and Electronic Commerce. In 2008, he was chosen to represent the United States in the American Council of Young Political Leaders exchange to Australia. His other honors include his selection to the 2002 class of 35 Flemming Fellows, and 2003 recipient of the prestigious Toll Fellowship by the Council of State Government. He received a MPA at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he was the recipient of a Jerome L. Rappaport, Sr./Boston Urban Fellowship. He has a BA in political science and communications from Boston College.

Mae Flexer St a t e Representative Da n i e l s o n , Co n n e c t i c u t State Representative Mae Flexer, before being elected to the state legislature, was the youngest person in Connecticut ever elected as Town Committee chairwoman. She went on to work as a field organizer for both the Courtney and Sullivan campaigns. Representative Flexer has worked six sessions at the capitol in various roles, including a stint with the Judiciary Committee and in the Legislative Commissioner’s Office. Before returning recently to University of Connecticut to pursue a Master’s degree, she worked for three years for Senate President Don Williams as his legislative aide.

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Christopher Flynn Se l e c t m a n Br i d g e w a t e r , Massachusetts Selectman Christopher Flynn was elected in 2007 and is currently the youngest selectman elected in Bridgewater’s history. Along with holding his current office he serves as vice chairman of the Bridgewater Democratic Town Committee and is a member of several civic organizations, such as Lion’s Club International.

Antonio French Al d e r m a n St. Lo u i s , Mi s s o u r i Alderman Antonio D. French is serving his first term on the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. In 2008, Alderman French worked with St. Louis police to create a four-block “safe zone” for kids to trick-or-treat on Halloween night. Hundreds of kids took part in the festivities, which included an outdoor movie and free candy to all the participating houses. He graduated from Auburn University with a degree in political science.

Dominic Frongillo To w n Co u n c i l m a n Ca r o l i n e , Ne w Y o r k Town Councilman Dominic Frongillo serves as council member and deputy town supervisor of Caroline, New York. Councilman Frongillo also works as the Energy Smart Communities coordinator for the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, and leads Energy Independent Caroline, a team striving for local energy independence. In 2007, he was a member of the U.S. Youth Delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bali. He has worked for the Association of Communities Organized for Reform Now (ACORN) in Brooklyn, N.Y. and for a community development program in rural Costa Rica. Councilman Frongillo is also a Cornell Urban Scholar.

Sean Garballey St a t e Representative Ar l i n g t o n , Massachusetts In 2003, State Representative Sean Garballey held his first elected office after running to be an Arlington Town Meeting member. In 2004, Representative Garballey was elected to become a member of the Arlington Democratic Town Committee and by 2005, he was elected to serve on the Arlington School Committee. He would go on to become vice chairman of the Arlington School Committee by 2007, and later that year he set off a successful bid for the office of state representative. Today, Rep. Garballey serves on the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture, the House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change, the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, and was recently appointed to a special commission on civic engagement and learning.

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Carmelo Garcia Sc h o o l Bo a r d Me m b e r Ho b o k e n , Ne w Je r s e y School Board Member Carmelo Garcia is a native of Hoboken, N.J., and a proud product of the Hoboken Public School System. He graduated from Seton Hall University with a BA in criminal justice and sociology, and received a dual master’s degree in management and information systems from Stevens Institute of Technology. Board Member Garcia was the first minority to be appointed as the City of Hoboken’s director of Health & Human Services. He is a past president and vice president of the Board of Education, which he was elected to in 2002 and still serves as a trustee. He holds several certifications in HR management and public housing management. He now works as the director of the Hoboken Housing Authority and is CEO of 21st Century Consulting Group. He is a founder of Hoboken’s Save the Youth Academy for at-risk students “who want to create a healthier lifestyle as they learn about leadership, the art of music, dance and business through hip-hop.”

Delia Garcia Representative Wi c h i ta , Ka n s a s In 2004, Representative Delia Garcia became the first Latina ever elected to the Kansas Legislature, and was re-elected to her third term in 2008. In 2009, Wichita Magazine named Representative Garcia as one of Wichita’s Top 10 Most Influential Women. She was elected the national vice president of the Legislative Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs, and also serves as the YEO Network state director for Kansas. Rep. Garcia received the Matt Garcia Public Service National Award by Mexican American Legal Defense Education Fund.

Angela Garretson Sc h o o l Bo a r d Me m b e r Hi l l s i d e , Ne w Je r s e y School Board Member Angela Garretson is the President of her Board of Education. Under her leadership the Board of Education members were the 2008 recipient of the Raymond Milam Urban Boards award, which was created to honor a board whose members exemplify commitment and dedication to their districts mission and public education.

Darrell D. Gaston Commissioner Wa s h i n g t o n D.C. Commissioner Darrell D. Gaston is serving his first term as member of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission 8B, and is currently the youngest elected official in Washington, DC. Elected by his peers, he currently serves as secretary of his commission and chairs his commission’s Committee on Education, Schools, and Libraries. Commissioner Gaston is reshaping politics from the grassroots up and has been deemed to be one of the fresh faces and young political leaders to watch in this new era of politics.

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Elesha Gayman St a t e Representative Da v e n p o r t , Io w a State Representative Elesha Gayman first won her seat in Iowa House District 84 in 2006. She is currently the youngest woman holding office in Iowa’s General Assembly, is in her second term in the House of Representatives, and is the assistant majority leader. Representative Gayman serves on the Agriculture, Appropriations, Environmental Protection, and Veteran’s Affairs Committees, and is the vice chair of the Administration and Rules Committee. She attended the University of Iowa and graduated with a BA in political science with an emphasis in international relations, and completed her MPA degree at Drake University. Since college, she has been busy serving the community in the non-profit sector as a grant writer and fundraiser and volunteering her time to numerous organizations.

Rebekah Gewirtz Al d e r w o m a n So m e r v i l l e , Massachusetts In 2005, Alderwoman Rebekah Gewirtz was elected Ward 6 Alderwoman, and was re-elected to a second term in 2007. In addition to her position as alderwoman, she is director of government relations and political action at the National Association of Social Workers, MA Chapter. She is the former legislative director to State Representative (now State Senator) Patricia Jehlen of Somerville, and subsequently worked as lead organizer at the Commonwealth Coalition, an organization dedicated to electing progressive representatives and senators to the state legislature in Massachusetts. She holds a MS in public affairs from the McCormack Institute of Policy Studies at University of Massachusetts, where she received the Class of 2005 “Outstanding Public Service Award.”

Andrew Gillum Ci t y Commissioner Ta l l a h a s s e e , Fl o r i d a City Commissioner Andrew Gillum, an alumnus of Florida A&M University (FAMU), former president of the Student Government Association, and FAMU’s first student member of the Board of Trustees, became the youngest person ever elected to the Tallahassee City Commission in 2003. Commissioner Gillum has held prominent leadership roles such as mayor pro tem, chairman of the Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency, and lead commissioner for the Long Range Community Based Target Issue Committee. Commissioner Gillum served as field organizer and statewide director of the “Arrive With 5” program with People For the American Way Foundation (PFAWF), where he organized the largest “Arrive With 5” get-out-the-vote campaign in Florida’s history. He also worked as political director with the Florida Democratic Party. He is the National Director of the Young Elected Officials Network with PFAWF, spearheading a program that unites elected officials age 35 and under.

Mike A. Gipson Ci t y Co u n c i l m a n Ca r s o n Ci t y , Ca l i f o r n i a City Councilman Mike A. Gipson was first elected into the Carson City Council in 2005 and was selected to serve as mayor pro tem in 2008. Currently serving his second term, Councilman Gipson has a solid background in the areas of politics and public safety, partly due to his profession as a union representative, his training as lead staff person for various elected officials, and a successful career as a former police officer. He currently serves as an area organizer for the 48,000-strong United Teachers Los Angeles, where he ensures the enforcement of the contractual right of teachers. He is also at the helm of two productive endeavors targeting at-risk youth, namely the SOS (Saving our Sons) and the ROSE (Reaching Out to our Sisters Everywhere). Councilman Gipson is a devoted husband to his wife La Cresha and father to Devon and Jordan, and many other young males that he has taken under his wings as sons.

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Elahu Gosney Ci t y Co u n c i l m a n At h e n s , Oh i o City Councilman Elahu Gosney won an at-large council seat in 2007. Councilman Gosney has partnered with local unions to address labor issues at Ohio University, assisted in the production of alternative media, and helped organize empowering trips to Washington, DC to allow people’s voices to be heard in our nation’s capitol.

Jeremiah Grace Ed u c a t i o n Commissioner El i z a b e t h , Ne w Je r s e y Education Commissioner Jeremiah Leviticus Grace is the youngest commissioner ever elected to the Elizabeth Board of Education. Outside of his elected office, Commissioner Grace can be found mentoring teenagers at the YMCA and advocating for civil rights as one of the youngest presidents of the NAACP (Elizabeth). In 2007, Commissioner Grace became head of the ACLU of New Jersey’s newly launched Racial Justice program, allowing him to work full-time on issues that affect his community. He has recently been promoted to field manager, where he leads the non-legal advocacy at the ACLU-NJ, which includes grassroots organizing, lobbying, and public education projects on all civil liberties issues for the affiliate. Leading New Jersey’s Unlock the Vote Coalition, Commissioner Grace has lobbied legislators, overseen the production of a short documentary, held successful public events, and created publications. He is the first recipient of the Up and Coming Award from the National Hip Hop Political Convention and Role Model of the Year from the United Youth of New Jersey, Inc. Additionally, he is a host committee member for Young Elected Official Network, a Leadership Newark fellow, as well as a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., NJ Black Issues Convention, and the National Hip Hop Political Convention.

Tim Greimel Co u n t y Commissioner Ro c h e s t e r Hi l l s , Mi c h i g a n County Commissioner Tim Greimel was elected to the Board of Education in Rochester, Michigan, where he served as president, vice-president, secretary, and trustee until 2008. Greimel attended the University of Michigan where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science, a master’s degree in public policy, and a law degree. In 2006, he was elected to be an Oakland County Commissioner representing the Michigan communities of Auburn Hills, Pontiac, and Rochester Hills, and was re-elected in 2008. Greimel also practices law and represents small businesses, real estate, and municipal law clients. He is a Sunday school teacher and a founding member of the Pontiac Area Young Democrats.

Anton J. Gunn St a t e Representative Co l u m b i a , So u t h Ca r o l i n a State Representative Anton J. Gunn is a newly elected member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Representative Gunn is the first Democrat elected in 24 years and the first African American in history to represent his district. Prior to his election, Rep. Gunn was the state political director for President Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign in South Carolina, and has been hailed by national and international media as the key to Obama’s landslide victory in the 2008 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary. Rep. Gunn is an author, leadership consultant, and professional speaker serving as president and CEO of Top Gunn Associates, LLC. He has developed programs and workshops on community organizing, leadership development, strategy, and hip hop.

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Isadore Hall III St a t e A s s e m b l y Me m b e r Co m p t o n , Ca l i f o r n i a Assembly Member Isadore Hall III was elected in 2008 to represent the 52nd Assembly District. He is a member of Speaker Karen Bass’ leadership team and currently serves as assistant speaker pro tempore. Assembly Member Hall served as president of the Compton Unified School District Board of Trustees and mayor pro tem of the Compton City Council, prior to being elected to the State Assembly. A native of California, Assembly Member Hall has held several high-ranking governmental positions in his community. He enjoys his service as a member of the ministerial team at Compton Double Rock Missionary Baptist Church. He previously served as a city councilman, representing the 4th District, working daily to improve the quality of life for his constituents.

Dayvin Martin Anthony Hallmon Co u n t y Bo a r d o f Su p e r v i s o r s Ke n o s h a , W i s c o n s i n County Board Supervisor Dayvin Martin Anthony Hallmon was first elected to office in 2008, in the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Throughout his entire life, in various capacities, he has been an active participant in making sure that everyone’s voices are heard and considered. Whether it is instrumental music programs for low income youth; equal work for equal pay; the full inclusion of LGBTQIS people; working to bring business, education and government together in harmony; utilizing environmental issues to bring clarity to our economic agenda; and empowering citizens – he finds himself more invigorated each day to work with people to address the difficult challenges we all face. Supervisor Hallmon is also extraordinarily fortunate to have a loving partner, Jeremy, whom is as equally committed to serving humanity as he is.

Matt Heinz St a t e Representative Tu c s o n , A r i z o n a State Representative Matt Heinz was elected to office in 2009. Representative Heinz graduated from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit and moved to Tucson after accepting a position in the University of Arizona Internal Medicine Residency Program; he currently practices at Tucson Medical Center. He previously studied at Albion College, where he graduated summa cum laude with a BA in chemistry and with Spanish language proficiency. Rep. Heinz is also involved with several local organizations such as the Prima County Medical Society, Arizona Medical Association, AMA, Southern Arizona Stonewall Democrats, and Equality Arizona. Rep. Heinz is the former executive board member of Rebuilding Together Tucson, and is currently the executive committee member of Healthy Arizona Initiative.

Lamar Heystek Ci t y Co u n c i l Da v i s , Ca l i f o r n i a City Councilman Lamar Heystek rode a wave of support among progressive college students and long-time community residents to become the youngest member of the Davis City Council since the Vietnam War, when he was elected in 2006. Outside of his elected office, Councilman Heystek is currently the coordinator of youth programs at the Yolo Family Resource Center, a non-profit agency in Woodland dedicated to connecting Yolo County residents to a variety of social services. He also manages the Woodland Coalition for Youth, a $600,000 youth development project of the Sierra Health Foundation’s REACH initiative. He earned both his BA and MA degrees in political science and linguistics from UC Davis. Councilman Heystek’s siblings are United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Loretta Heystek and two-term San Leandro School Board Member Louis Heystek, his twin brother.

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Eric Hinson Sc h o o l Bo a r d Me m b e r Ha v a n a , Fl o r i d a School Board Member Eric Hinson is a member of the Gadsden County School Board. He began his career as a teacher and head football coach, and expanded by becoming a visiting teacher monitoring student’s truancy and absenteeism. In addition to the Gadsden County School Board, Board Member Hinson is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Florida High School Athletic Association.

Sarah Humm Ci t y Commissioner Ot t a w a , Ka n s a s City Commissioner Sara Humm is a city commissioner in Ottawa, Kansas and was elected to office in 2007. In 2009, she was appointed the position of mayor pro tem by her fellow commissioners. Commissioner Humm was only 17 when she registered to run and barely 18 when she was elected, becoming the youngest in her state, possibly in the nation, to hold an elected office. She is also involved in many volunteer opportunities in her area including Meals on Wheels, Make a Difference Day, Youth Action Council, and Ottawa University Student Community Service Organization. She is currently attending Ottawa University and majoring in communications.

Anders Ibsen Conservation Su p e r v i s o r Ta c o m a , W a s h i n g t o n Supervisor Anders Ibsen is the Pierce County Conservation District Supervisor and the youngest ever elected supervisor in his county. In his first term of office, his policy priorities have focused on community outreach and education, building community support for sustainability, and funding partnerships between state agencies, local governments, and community-based organizations to help preserve and restore Pierce County’s wild spaces. Outside of his official duties, Supervisor Ibsen works for the Safe Streets Campaign as a community organizer for his home city of Tacoma. He is a member of numerous boards, including the Green Tacoma Partnership, the Community Service Citizen Advisory Board, and the local opera company. He and his wife, Beverly, live in Tacoma, Wash.

Shanelle Jackson St a t e Representative De t r o i t , Mi c h i g a n State Representative Shanelle Jackson serves as the executive vice-chair of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus and vice-chair of the Detroit Caucus. Representative Jackson also serves as associate speaker pro tempore of the Michigan House of Representatives. She is the youngest woman of color ever elected to serve in either chamber of the Michigan legislature. Rep. Jackson has done work with Michigan Young Democrats, the NAACP and Project Vote Smart. Rep. Jackson is a co-founder of the Empowerment Fund, an organization that works with young girls. Rep. Jackson is active in her church, Word of Faith, and is a tireless advocate for impoverished people of all ages. Rep. Jackson earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan, and a master’s degree in social justice from Marygrove College in Detroit. Representative Jackson serves on the House Appropriations Committee and several sub-committees.

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Patty James Co u n t y Commissioner Bu t l e r , Ge o r g i a County Commissioner Patty Carson-James was elected to the Taylor County Board of Commissioners in 2004 and was the first African-American woman elected to the position. Commissioner James established an annual summer camp for young girls, as well as an annual Black History essay contest for students in grades 9-12 in Taylor County High School.

Cara Jennings Ci t y Commissioner La k e W o r t h , Fl o r i d a Commissioner Cara Jennings is in her second term on the Lake Worth City Commission. Known in the local media as an “anarchist with a mandate,” Commissioner Jennings is part of a radical grassroots effort that is successfully reclaiming local decision making. Commissioner Jennings’ focus while in office has been to create a sustainable city that prioritizes renewable energy, controlled growth, conservation, immigrant rights, employment assistance, youth recreation, campaign/ethics reform, increased resident involvement, and affordable housing.

Kenyatta Johnson St a t e Representative Philadelphia , Pennsylvania State Representative Kenyatta Johnson was elected in 2008 to serve the 186th Legislative District. He currently sits on the Children and Youth, Aging and Older Adults, Commerce, and Urban Affairs Committees, and was also appointed by the Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to sit on the Joint Water & Air Pollution Conservation Committee. Representative Johnson is involved in several neighborhood groups, including the Barrett Education Center, the Christian Street YMCA, and the Tasker Street Baptist Church. He spent three years working with the AmeriCorps Program: one year in the National School and Community Corps and two years with the City Year Program. In 1998, Johnson established the group Peace Not Guns, following the shooting death of a cousin and several friends. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Mansfield University in criminal justice, a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government, and a certificate from Harvard University’s Business School.

Jamie J. Johnson Sc h o o l Bo a r d Me m b e r Fo r t V a l l e y , Ge o r g i a In 2007, School Board Member Jamie J. Johnson became the youngest individual sworn in as a member of the Peach County Board of Education, and believed to be the youngest in the State of Georgia. Prior to being elected, Board Member Johnson served as the senior pastor of James Temple Miracle Center, Inc., and general manager for WXKO 1150 Radio Station, located in Fort Valley, Georgia. He loves to volunteer in his community; he serves on the Board of Directors for the Fort Valley Chapter of the NAACP, the Peach County’s Adult Literacy Program, and the Fort Valley Chapter of SCLC. He also works with the Peach County Ministerial Alliance. Currently, Board Member Johnson is the president and CEO of a non-profit organization, Powerhouse Ministries Inc., whose mission is to assist in enhancing the lives of families in the community. He is enrolled at Fort Valley State University as a political science major and plans to attend law school after the completion of his BS degree.

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Tishaura O. Jones St a t e Representative St. Lo u i s , Mi s s o u r i State Representative Tishaura O. Jones was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2008. In addition to her legislative duties, Representative Jones is employed as director of public policy and senior human resources consultant at People’s Health Centers. She has served as chair of the Public Policy Initiative of the Urban League Young Professionals of Metropolitan St. Louis, and as 8th Ward Democratic committeewoman. In 2004, she represented Missouri as an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention. In 2005, she was selected to represent the United States as an international delegate for the American Council of Young Political Leaders during a trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Rep. Jones received a bachelor’s degree in finance from Hampton University in 1994 and a master’s degree in health administration from the St. Louis University School of Public Health in 2001.

Andy Katz Wa t e r Di s t r i c t Su p e r v i s o r Be r k e l e y , Ca l i f o r n i a Supervisor Andy Katz was elected to the East Bay Municipal Utility District in 2006. His priorities at EBMUD include increasing water conservation and recycled water, protecting water quality, and increasing awareness and efforts to stop climate change. Supervisor Katz works as the government relations director for Breathe California, advocating for clean air and public health. He is active in environmental organizations, and is currently chair of Sierra Club California. Prior to his election, Supervisor Katz served for five years as a member of the city of Berkeley Zoning Adjustments Board. He has a BA degree and a master’s in city planning from UC Berkeley, and a law degree from Santa Clara University.

Scott Kawasaki St a t e Representative Fa i r b a n k s , A l a s k a State Representative Scott Kawasaki is currently serving his second term in the Alaska State House. Elected first in 2006, Representative Kawasaki is the youngest member of the legislature. He currently serves as interior delegation chairman and is a member of the House Resources Committee, Fisheries Committee, and the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. He focuses on energy, environmental, and ethics policy for the House Democratic Caucus. Rep. Kawasaki works in hospital administration during the interim session. He received his BS in biomedicine from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Kevin Killer St a t e Representative Pi n e Ri d g e , So u t h Da k o t a State Representative Kevin Killer was elected in 2008. A stunning young leader born, raised, and educated in South Dakota, Representative Killer is also a graduate of YEO Network’s Front Line Leaders Academy. He has also served as Student Senate president of Oglala Lakota College and Wakpamni District treasurer. Rep. Killer is a rising star in the Democratic Party and in the national progressive movement.

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Jane Kim Sc h o o l Bo a r d Me m b e r Sa n Fr a n c i s c o , Ca l i f o r n i a School Board Member Jane Kim is currently vice-president of the Board of Education in the City and County of San Francisco. She is the first Korean American elected in San Francisco. Before being elected to the Board of Education, she was the youth program director at the Chinatown Community Development Center, and a fellow at Greenlining Institute. She also served as co- director and co-founder of Locus Arts, a volunteer-run venue in San Francisco that showcases emerging musicians, writers, filmmakers, and actors. Board Member Kim is the past president of the San Francisco People’s Organization and a past board member of the Asian American Theater Company, and the Stanford Asian Pacific American Alumni Club. In addition, she has served on the Proposition H Community Advisory Committee, Women’s Foundation Community Action Grant Committee, and the Full Circle Fund. She completed her BA at Stanford University in political science and Asian American studies and her JD at University of California Berkeley School of Law.

Jessica King Ci t y Co u n c i l Os h k o s h Ci t y , W i s c o n s i n City Councilmember Jessica King was elected to her second term on the Oshkosh City Council in 2009. Councilmember King currently serves on the Transportation Committee, the Grand Opera House Foundation Board, and the Energy and Environment Committee. She is an associate attorney with Steinhilber, Swanson, Mares, Marone & McDermott. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Wisconsin, Legal Action Wisconsin, Inc., and is a member of the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates. Councilmember King is also a member of the Winnebago County Bar Association and the Oshkosh Community Foundation’s GEMS giving circle.

Jerry Kong Bo a r d o f Ed u c a t i o n Me m b e r Bu e n a Pa r k , Ca l i f o r n i a Board of Education Member Jerry Kong is serving his third year on the Buena Park School District Board of Education. At first attending board meetings to support stronger benefits for school teachers, he found community leaders and residents eager for new energetic leadership. He soon went to work for a local state legislator and, shortly thereafter, found a spot on a city commission promoting the cultural and fine arts. Elected to the board in 2006, Board Member Kong remains the youngest Korean American elected official in the nation. In addition, he serves on the board of directors of the Orange County School Boards Association. Outside of his elected office, he is currently a senior partner in an independent public affairs consulting company. Graduating from the University of California, Davis in 2003, he earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature and composition.

Matt Lesser St a t e Representative Mi d d l e t o w n , Co n n e c t i c u t State Representative Matt Lesser is the youngest member of the Connecticut General Assembly. Prior to his service in the legislature, he served on the Middletown Planning and Zoning Commission, worked for the Democratic National Committee, and worked on state and national political campaigns. Representative Lesser has worked on behalf of Senators Chris Dodd and Barack Obama and interned at the Brookings Institute Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy. In the legislature, Rep. Lesser sits on the Public Health, Energy and Technology, and Education Committees. He has been a strong voice in support of Election Day voter registration, and is passionate about family farms, energy efficiency, and consumer credit reform.

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Nickolas Levasseur St a t e Representative Ma n c h e s t e r , Ne w Ha m p s h i r e

Karen Liot Hill Ci t y Councilmember A t-La r g e Le b a n o n , Ne w Ha m p s h i r e City Councilmember Karen Liot Hill was elected in 2005 as a city councilor in Lebanon, New Hampshire. After spearheading the city’s first-ever strategic planning effort in 2006, she was re- elected to the Ward seat in 2007. She was appointed by her colleagues on the council to serve a one-year term as mayor in 2008. In 2009, she was re-elected to the city council - this time to an at-large seat. In addition to serving her community on the city council, she also sits on the boards of WISE, a non-profit serving victims of domestic and sexual violence, and Vital Communities, which seeks creative solutions to regional challenges. She is a member of the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s State Committee and recently co-chaired the NHDP State Convention. Councilmember Liot Hill is the mother of two daughters, and she and her husband, Andy, are blessed to be raising their children in his childhood home in downtown Lebanon. She and her family are very active in their church, where Councilmember Liot Hill serves as the music leader.

Nevada Littlewolf Ci t y Councilwoman Vi r g i n i a , Mi n n e s o t a City Councilwoman Nevada Littlewolf grew up in Virginia, Minn. and is a graduate of Virginia High School and Mesabi Community College. Councilwoman Littlewolf has been an active participant on the Headstart Policy Council, Quad City Early Childhood Coalition, and AEOA Board of Directors, as well as other community organizations.

Henry Lo Bo a r d o f Ed u c a t i o n Me m b e r Ro s e m e a d , Ca l i f o r n i a Board of Education Member Henry Lo is a member of the Garvey School District Board of Education. He is currently serving as the clerk of the board, and has previously held the leadership positions of president, vice president, and clerk. Board Member Lo has also served twice as the board’s liaison to Garvey’s Head Start Parent Policy Committee. He is a founding member of the Garvey Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization created to build community support for the school district’s academic and extracurricular programs. Board Member Lo also played an instrumental role in implementing the largest modernization program in the history of the Garvey School District when voters passed a $30 million bond. He is a second-generation Californian and the son of immigrants. He obtained a BA degree in government and East Asian studies from Colby College.

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Ralph Long St a t e Representative At l a n t a , Ge o r g i a

Paul D. López Ci t y Co u n c i l m a n De n v e r , Co l o r a d o City Councilman Paul D. López was elected in 2007 and became the youngest Denver City Council Member in recorded history. He has fought for his community both as a community organizer and as a union organizer to protect the rights of the disadvantaged. In 2006, Councilman López coordinated with human rights leaders to organize the largest political march in Colorado history bringing over 120,000 marchers to the steps of the Colorado State Capitol in support of fair and humane comprehensive immigration reform. He has received the 2003 César Chavez Leadership Award and the 2008 Spirit of Tlatelolco Public Service Award. He has also been recognized by the 21st Century Leaders in Action, and in 2008 was named by 5280 Denver Magazine as one of “Colorado’s most politically influential Latinos.” Councilman López and his wife Marisol Bolaños are enjoying raising their 2-year-old daughter, Nayeli.

Evan Low Vi c e -Ma y o r Ca m p b e l l , Ca l i f o r n i a Vice-Mayor Evan Low currently serves as vice-mayor for the City of Campbell, and is the first openly gay and first Asian American to hold the position. He also works as a senior district representative for Assemblymember Paul Fong, and has co-instructed a college leadership program focused on youth empowerment and identity. He has served as president of the Silicon Valley LGBT Democratic Club and was appointed by Gov. Howard Dean to the DNC Convention Rules Committee in 2008. In recognition of his commitment and service to the community, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom named June 5th, 2006 as Evan Low Day in the City and County of San Francisco. Vice- Mayor Low is a fifth-generation Californian and earned his BA in political science from San Jose State University and is a graduate of the Senior Executives in Local and State Government from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Tony Madrigal Ci t y Councilmember Sa n t a Cr u z , C a l i f o r n i a City Councilmember Tony Madrigal is one of seven Santa Cruz City Councilmembers, and the only person of color and renter on the council. He was elected to an at-large seat in 2004 and was re-elected in 2008. Councilmember Madrigal led the creation of and chaired the city’s Ad Hoc Revenue Task Force, spearheaded an effort to hold a community-wide Economic Prosperity Summit, and took the lead in holding a second Summit focused on a Green/Clean Santa Cruz. Councilmember Madrigal is a former political director/field representative/organizer at SEIU Local 415 in Santa Cruz County. Currently employed as an organizer for the California United Homecare Workers Union, a joint SEIU/AFSCME union, where he organizes and represents over 3,800 in-homecare providers in Tulare, Kings, and San Benito Counties. He is a University of California, Santa Cruz graduate in economics.

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Michael Makarski Bo a r d o f Ed u c a t i o n T r u s t e e Se c a u c u s , Ne w Je r s e y Board of Education Trustee Michael Makarski is currently serving his second year of a three-year term as the youngest elected Board of Education Trustee in Secaucus, N.J. Since his election, Trustee Makarski has been spearheading a committee to enable the district to be powered by solar energy and implement new educational equipment including the state of the art Promethean educational software. As the policy chairmen for the district, he uses this committee to educate parents and students on new regulations, as well as to keep his district up to an ever changing state code. Previously, Trustee Makarski worked as a volunteer for the local Police Benevolent Association during their annual Christmas Drive, and later became an organizer for the event. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with studies in political science and journalism.

Levon Charles Manzie Mo b i l e Co u n t y Bo a r d o f Sc h o o l s Commissioners Wh i s t l e r , A l a b a m a County Board of Schools Commissioner Rev. Levon Charles Manzie was elected in 2008 to a six-year term as a commissioner of the Mobile County Board of School Commissioners. Rev. Manzie is the youngest person ever elected to serve in this position. He is currently a college senior, majoring in political science and history, and serves as assistant pastor of the St. Joseph Missionary Baptist Church of Whistler, Alabama.

Michael Maturo To w n Co u n c i l m a n Ta p p a n , Ne w Y o r k After managing an honors program for computers and business at a Chinese university, Councilman Michael Maturo returned to pursue his passion for public service and successfully campaigned for the Town Council. Councilman Maturo became the youngest elected official in Orangetown’s 300-year history. He is also the director of sales operations at the collaborative meetings company, UNISON LLC, serves on Microsoft’s Board of the Future, and is a board member and the fundraising chair for the Epilepsy Society of Southern New York. He enjoys tennis, running, and live music.

Lee May Co u n t y Commissioner De c a t u r , Ge o r g i a County Commissioner Lee May became the youngest person in the history of DeKalb County Government to be elected to serve on the Board of Commissioners in 2008. He currently serves as the deputy presiding officer of the Board of Commissioners, as well as the chairman of the Planning & Economic Development Committee, and a member on the Public Safety and General Safety Committee. Commissioner May is the vice president of the National Association of Counties Community and Economic Development Steering Committee. He is a proud member and leader within the Association of County Commissioners, Georgia Democratic Party State Committee, Leadership Georgia, Leadership DeKalb, and Young Elected Officials Network. He is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and serves as one of the youngest ordained elders at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from the historic Clark Atlanta University, and a MDiv from Emory University.

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Rahn Mayo St a t e Representative De c a t u r , Ge o r g i a State Representative Rahn Mayo was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2008. His committee assignments include Education, Banks and Banking, and Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment. Representative Mayo also serves as vice chairman of the Henry County legislative delegation. As board chairman of the Cedar Grove High School Career Technology Academy Program, he has the opportunity to support innovative academic initiatives in education, a top priority on his legislative agenda. As a board member for Arthink DeKalb, he supports the organization in their efforts to promote arts and culture in DeKalb County. He is an Ambassador with the American Heart Association and active with United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. Rep. Mayo, a graduate of Howard University, is a professional real estate broker, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Annie Carrie McWilliams Councilwoman A t-La r g e Pl a i n f i e l d , Ne w Je r s e y Councilwoman At-Large Annie McWilliams has always been dedicated to public service and was first elected in 2008. Her goals include transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility. Councilwoman McWilliams earned a BS in economics from Wharton in 2006. She was recruited directly out of college and placed in Citi’s business analyst training program, and credits her time at Citi with giving her a deeper understanding of business management. She completed the program in 2008 and is now a licensed real estate agent with Weichert Realtors in Warren, N.J. She hopes to one day own and manage a business. In her leisure time, she enjoys horseback riding and reading. Councilwoman McWilliams also loves to travel and hopes to one day explore every country in the world.

Monisha Merchant Un i v e r s i t y o f Co l o r a d o Re g e n t La k e w o o d , Co l o r a d o University of Colorado Regent Monisha Merchant is a Colorado native who brings a wealth of experience to her role as a member of the CU Board of Regents. Currently, she is a director at the Broomfield, Colorado based Level 3 Communications. Previously, she worked as a consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton in Washington, D.C., where she advised leaders at key federal grant- making institutions such as NASA, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health. Her international experience includes work in Indonesia, where she managed post-tsunami reconstruction projects that delivered safe drinking water to schools and homes. In Shanghai, China, she set up computer labs and taught networking technologies and web design to high school students through the China Education Technology Initiative. She earned her MBA from Yale School of Management and her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and political science at MIT.

Jesse Mermell Se l e c t m a n Br o o k l i n e , Massachusetts Selectman Jesse Mermell was elected to the Board of Selectmen in Brookline, Massachusetts in 2007 – becoming the youngest person in the history of Brookline to hold the position, and creating a female majority on the Board for the first time since the town’s founding. Selectman Mermell is also currently the vice president for external affairs for Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. She joined PPLM early in 2009 after serving as executive director of FairTest and of the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus. Selectman Mermell is an activist in the Massachusetts Democratic Party, as a member of the Democratic State Committee, where she served on the Executive Committee from 2001 to 2004.

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Scott Merrick St a t e Representative Ma n c h e s t e r , Ne w Ha m p s h i r e State Representative Scott Merrick is currently serving his third term as a New Hampshire State Representative. He sits on the House Education Committee and is also a member of the Democratic Majority Leadership Team, serving as an assistant majority floor leader. Representative Merrick also works for United States Senator Jeanne Shaheen, out of her district office in Manchester, N.H. In 2009, he was named a rising star in the New Hampshire Democratic Party and was chosen as one of the Union Leader’s “40 under 40.” Rep. Merrick received a BA from Tufts University in 2008 with a degree in political science. While at Tufts, he was given the Tufts University Alumni Association Senior Award for distinguished leadership and academic achievement, as well as named a Truman Scholar finalist. He has also run competitively for Tufts’ cross-country and track teams.

Alisha Thomas Morgan St a t e Representative Au s t e l l , Ge o r g i a In 2002, State Representative Alisha Thomas Morgan became the first African American to serve Cobb County in the Georgia House of Representatives. During her first session, she was selected as Freshman Legislator of the Year by Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. Now serving in her third term in the Georgia General Assembly, Representative Morgan is representing her constituents through her membership service on the Children and Youth, Education, and Governmental Affairs Committees. She continues to make her mark, as she recently stood up to the Speaker of the House for working to protect voting rights, as well as policies passed in the House of Representatives that hurt minorities, young people, the poor, and the elderly. Rep. Morgan is working to make major changes to the way young people are treated in the Georgia Penal system. Representative Morgan has been with PFAWF since 2005, continuing to work in the progressive movement as the YEO Network’s membership manager. She is a graduate of Spelman College with a BA in sociology and drama.

Johanna Nelson Ci t y Councilwoman Al p i n e , T e x a s

Steve Ngo Co m m u n i t y Co l l e g e Bo a r d Sa n Fr a n c i s c o , Ca l i f o r n i a Steve Ngo was elected citywide to the San Francisco Community College Board in November 2008. Board Member Ngo was born in Lexington, Kentucky and received his B.A. from University of California, Los Angeles. He later received his Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University and a law degree from University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.

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Solomon Ortiz, Jr. St a t e Representative Co r p u s Ch r i s t i , T e x a s State Representative Solomon Ortiz, Jr. was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in a special election in 2006. During the 80th Legislative Session, Rep. Ortiz fought to legalize needle exchange programs to fight the spread of HIV and other diseases. Ortiz also filed bills to restore the cuts made to the children’s health insurance program in 2003 and to require insurers provide maternity coverage to expectant mothers. He also passed a bill allowing parents the right to access their children’s criminal records, and successfully fought to protect Corpus Christi’s water rights. He started his college career at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, and went on to graduate from Texas A&M University, College Station with a BA in economics.

Jason Overman Commissioner Be r k e l e y , Ca l i f o r n i a Commissioner Jason Overman was elected commissioner on the City of Berkeley’s Rent Stabilization Board in 2004, making history as the youngest person to be elected to office in city history. He has chaired the Budget Committee, voted to approve funding for mixed-income housing developments, and worked to protect tenants against displacement from foreclosure and condominium conversion. Commissioner Overman started in politics as an intern on Capitol Hill to Senator Ted Kennedy. He moved to California and earned his degree from UC Berkeley in political science and sociology in 2008. After college, he worked in community engagement for a children’s literacy non-profit, and is currently a field representative for a California state senator.

Roy Paul Sc h o o l Bo a r d Me m b e r Mi d d l e t o n , Ne w Y o r k School Board Member Roy Paul defied the odds when was elected to the Board of Education in Middletown, N.Y. making him the youngest African-American to ever be elected to a school board in the state. In addition to serving on the school board, he has had the pleasure of sitting on the boards of several non-profits, including the Regional Economic Community Action Program – an organization committed to changing the lives of local residents in Western Orange County, through programs like Head Start, supportive housing, employment, training, and first-time home ownership programs. And, when he learned that the local chapter of the NAACP no longer existed, he spearheaded a community effort to resurrect the group. In doing so, Board Member Paul became the youngest person to ever resurrect a chapter of the National Organization for the Advancement of Colored People.

Tony Payton, Jr. St a t e Representative Philadelphia , Pennsylvania Before he was sworn in to his first term in 2007, State Representative Tony Payton, Jr. worked as a housing counselor at United Communities in South Philadelphia where he educated low- income families on personal finance to help them achieve homeownership. Since being elected to the General Assembly in 2006, Rep. Payton has been at the forefront of education reform in Pennsylvania. He introduced legislation to create the Pennsylvania Youth Commission and authored the REACH Scholarship Initiative. The REACH Scholarship, which would provide free tuition and fees to any State System university to all high school students who maintain a 3.0 grade point average and 90 percent attendance record, has been touted as a groundbreaking. Rep. Payton was a 2005-06 fellow with the Center for Progressive Leadership and was actively involved with Philadelphia’s Young Non-profit Leaders. In 2007, Rep. Payton was awarded the leadership award as one of the most influential African Americans by thePhiladelphia Tribune.

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Quentin W. Phipps Commissioner Mi d d l e t o w n , Co n n e c t i c u t In 2007, Commissioner Quentin W. Phipps filled a vacancy on the Planning & Zoning Commission after being appointed by the Mayor of Middletown. He was successfully re-elected and continues serving on the Planning & Zoning Commission. Commissioner Phipps attended Bryant University, where he was involved with a number of university organizations; including serving as president of the Student Senate, treasurer of the INROADS Student Association Greater Hartford – Springfield Chapter, and as a resident assistant. He currently is thevice president and manager at the Glastonbury Banking Center for TD Bank. Commissioner Phipps takes great pride in his involvement with the Middlesex Substance Abuse Action Council, where he serves as vice president on the Board of Directors. He also serves as vice president of finance for the Connecticut Young Democrats, development chairman for Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theatre, and as an active member for the Middletown Democratic Town Committee.

Samuel M. Pierre Commissioner Br o o k l y n , Ne w Y o r k Commissioner Sam Pierre was elected county committeeman for Kings County Brooklyn, N.Y. He also works as the Brooklyn South director for U.S. Representative Edolphus “ED” Towns, where he believes he has truly learned how to connect with the community. Commissioner Pierre has served as chairman of the Research and Development Committee for Student Government at St. John’s University, and as the vice-president of membership for the Thomas Jefferson Young Democratic Club. He is also a member of Community Board 18, chair of the Government Committee for the African American Real Estate Professionals of New York, and a key member for the Advisory Board to Brookdale Hospital. He is also a defensive lineman for the Brothers United Football Team, a brother to eight, a godfather to four, and a mentor to three.

Rev. Dr. Simeon Queen Ci t y Co u n c i l m a n Pr a i r i e V i e w , T e x a s City Councilman Dr. Simeon Queen is now the Mayor Pro Tem/City Councilman, Position #5 for the City of Prairie View, Tex., where he also is the chairman of the Board of Adjustments & Appeals. He was elected in 2006 and again in 2008. Dr. Queen is the past national executive vice president for FOCG: Sigma Rhomeo Inc., the national chaplain for the PVAMU National Alumni Association, and the chaplain for the Epsilon Tau Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is currently the pastor of congregational and community support at St. John’s Downtown UMC. Dr. Queen received a BS in criminal justice, with a specialization in juvenile justice systems, a MA in counseling, and a master’s in community development with certifications in community planning and fundraising from Prairie View A&M University. He received his doctorate in missionology from The Lord’s Outreach School of Theology in Lake Charles.

Rachel Quintana Ci t y Representative El Pa s o , T e x a s City Representative Rachel Quintana is currently halfway through her first term as councilwoman in the City of El Paso. She attended El Paso Community College, where she was recognized for her grades being placed on the Dean’s List. She then transferred to the University of Texas at El Paso, graduating with a BA in public relations and organizational communication with a minor in criminal justice. Representative Quintana is a single mother of a 7-year-old daughter, who is attending the same elementary school her mother did.

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Wole Ralph Co u n t y Commissioner Jo n e s b o r o , Ge o r g i a Commissioner Wole Ralph is a member of the Clayton County Board of Commissioners, and the youngest African-American county commissioner in Georgia. He serves as the Georgia director of ACCION-USA, a small business lender with a loan fund exceeding $15 million serving hundreds of Georgians. Additionally, Commissioner Wole serves on the Executive Board of the Atlanta Area Boy Scouts of America as the chairman of Tara District, Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity, Clayton Family Care, and as campaign chairman for the Clayton County United Way. Commissioner Wole graduated summa cum laude from Morris Brown College, where he served as president of the Student Government Association and as a member of the Board of Trustees. He is the only person in the history of Northern Illinois University, to finish the MPA program in one year. He is also, the founder of Ralph Consulting Services, a Georgia-based firm that provides fundraising, project management, and fiscal expertise.

Kesha Ram St a t e Representative Bu r l i n g t o n , V e r m o n t State Representative Kesha Ram is in her first term as a state representative, serving on behalf of the City of Burlington in the Vermont Legislature. She is the clerk of the House General, Housing, and Military Affairs Committees. She graduated from the University of Vermont in 2008 with a BS in natural resource planning and a BA in political science. She also completed a public law program at American University in 2006. Prior to entering the legislature, she served as the 2007-2008 University of Vermont Student Government Association president, led the Policy Team for the Burlington Climate Action Plan, and taught preschool at Burlington Children’s Space. Representative Ram is a United States Department of Agriculture Multicultural Scholar, Morris K. Udall Scholar, Ronald E. McNair Scholar, and Harry S. Truman Scholar.

Michele Reinhart St a t e Representative Mi s s o u l a , Mo n t a n a State Representative Michele Reinhart was elected to the Montana House of Representatives in 2006. She has served on the Business and Labor, Local Government, and Natural Resources Committees. When not at the legislature, she is a planner with the Missoula City-County Office of Planning and Grants, shepherding subdivision and rezoning applications through the approval process. She previously worked as a community organizer and lobbyist at the North Plains Resource Council, a grassroots conservation and family agriculture group based in southeastern Montana. Representative Reinhart worked during the 2003 and 2005 legislative sessions to educate members of the Montana Legislature on smart growth, clean energy, and sustainable economic development. She is also a member of Forward Montana, a non-profit group dedicated to training, mobilizing, and electing the next generation of Montana leaders. She has a BA from Carroll College and an MS in environmental studies from the University of Montana.

Paul Roales Ci t y Co u n c i l m a n We s t La f a y e t t e , In d i a n a City Councilman Paul Roales has been active on the West Lafayette City Council working on town and gown issues and on urban development issues, and has balanced public service and private finance. As councilor on the West Lafayette City Council, he represents 31,000 constituents located closely around Purdue University. As an associate with Pearl Street Venture Funds, he has worked on a five person team to complete over $350 million in transactions, involving seven portfolio investments. Councilman Roales received a BS in industrial technology in 2004 and MS in agricultural economics in 2008, both from Purdue University.

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Sarah Roberts St a t e Representative St. Cl a i r Sh o r e s , Mi c h i g a n State Representative Sarah Roberts is serving her first term in the Michigan House of Representatives. Representative Roberts was named vice chair of the Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committees, and also will serve on the Great Lakes and Environment Committee, Education Committee, and the Energy and Technology Committee. She is also an assistant floor leader. Before being elected to the House of Representatives, Roberts served as a Macomb County Commissioner. She is a former community organizer for Clean Water Action and has also served on the Macomb County Water Quality Board and the Blue Ribbon Commission for Lake St. Clair. An active member of the St. Clair Shores community, Rep. Roberts volunteers as a local coordinator for Green Michigan and as an Adopt-A-Road organizer. She is a member of the Lake St. Clair Kiwanis Club and the St. Clair Shores Optimists.

Jacque Robinson Ci t y Councilmember Pa s a d e n a , Ca l i f o r n i a Elected in 2007, City Councilmember Jacque Robinson became one the youngest elected officials in the history of the City of Pasadena. She has devoted her time in office to issues of youth and young adult development, public safety, and economic development for Northwest Pasadena. She is chair of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Youth, Families, and Neighborhoods. As a labor community organizer, she has worked with the California Teachers Association, AFL- CIO, and Service Employees International Union. Councilmember Robinson is also a 2006 graduate of former Senator Barack Obama’s Hopefund - Yes We Can Training Program, and the Los Angeles African American Women’s Public Policy Institute. She earned her BA from the University of California, Berkeley, and is currently pursuing an MA in public administration from California State University, Northridge.

Keith Rosso Bo a r d o f Ed u c a t i o n T r u s t e e Sa d d l e Br o o k , Ne w Je r s e y Elected in 2007, Board of Education Trustee Keith Rosso currently serves as a member of the Board of Education in Saddle Brook, N.J. After taking office, Trustee Rosso has taken on numerous roles, including becoming part of a statewide education grassroots lobbying effort. In addition, he is a delegate to the New Jersey School Board Association and Bergen County School Board Association. He serves as the chairperson of the Negotiations Committee, participating in collective bargaining with all of the district unions, and is a member of the Technology for Education Committee. Trustee Rosso also serves as vice-chairman of the Saddle Brook Zoning Board of Adjustment. He currently attends Stevens Institute of Technology pursuing a bachelor’s of engineering in engineering management with a minor in economics.

Brian Rowland Ci t y Co u n c i l m a n Pr a i r i e V i e w , T e x a s City Councilman Brian Rowland was elected in 2009 to the office of city councilman for the City of Prairie View. He holds a BS in business administration with a specialization in marketing from Tarleton State University. He graduated with a MCD and certifications in community planning and fundraising from Prairie View A&M University. He serves his community through numerous affiliations including: 1st vice president of the Prairie View Chamber of Commerce; member of the Prairie View Volunteer Fire Department; historian of the Prairie View Athletic Club; Board of Adjustment & Appeals for the City of Prairie View; life member of the NAACP; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Houston Area Urban League-Young Professionals; life member of the Prairie View National Alumni Association.

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Kelda Helen Roys St a t e Representative Ma d i s o n , W i s c o n s i n State Representative Kelda Helen Roys was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2008, and is the youngest legislator in Wisconsin. Prior to becoming a legislator, Representative Roys served for four years as executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin, the political leader of the reproductive rights movement. Under her leadership, the Wisconsin state legislature passed the first pro-choice bill in a generation, the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Act, which ensures that women who are sexually assaulted are given information and access to emergency birth control to prevent pregnancy after a rape. An attorney, Rep. Roys received her JD magna cum laude from the University of Wisconsin Law School, focusing on civil rights and international law. She helped to exonerate several wrongfully convicted individuals as part of the prestigious Wisconsin Innocence Project. Rep. Roys received her BA magna cum laude from New York University in politics, drama, and cultural studies. She lives in a 150-year old farmhouse on Madison’s north side, with her partner, Dan Reed.

Carl Sciortino St a t e Representative Bo s t o n , Massachusetts State Representative Carl Sciortino is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing Somerville and Medford in the Boston metropolitan area. He is the vice chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation, and serves on the House Committee on Way & Means and the Joint Committee on Health Care Finance. After defeating an anti same-sex marriage incumbent in 2004, he is now one of the few out GLBT members of the legislature. Representative Sciortino took a leadership role in defeating the anti-marriage constitutional amendment, and has filed transgender civil rights legislation for the first time in Massachusetts’ history. He passed amendments to the state budget which resulted in increased funding for affordable housing, transportation for senior citizens, and HIV and Hepatitis C prevention and treatment programs. Prior to the legislature, he worked in the public health field, working on HIV/AIDS clinical research. Rep. Sciortino graduated with a degree in biology from Tufts University and is vice chair of the Medford Democratic City Committee and a member of the Progressive Democrats of Somerville.

Bakari T. Sellers St a t e Representative De n m a r k , So u t h Ca r o l i n a State Representative Bakari Sellers is the youngest member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. He is also an attorney at the Strom Law Firm. Representative Sellers began his journey in the realm of politics by working for United States Congressman James Clyburn, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, and the Southeastern Regional Director of the NAACP. Rep. Sellers graduated from the South Carolina public school system, and then proceeded to Morehouse College where he earned a BA degree. He earned his JD from the University of South Carolina School of Law. While at Morehouse College, he was elected Student Government Association president and served on the College’s Board of Trustees.

Michael Sellers Ma y o r Co b l e s k i l l , Ne w Y o r k Mayor Michael J. Sellers was elected mayor of his hometown, the Village of Cobleskill, New York, in 2005, and became the youngest mayor serving in the State of New York. He received a BA in regional planning from the State University of New York.

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Khaatim Sherrer El Sc h o o l Bo a r d Me m b e r At l a n t a , Ge o r g i a School Board Member Khaatim Sherrer El was first elected to the Atlanta Board of Education in 2003, becoming the youngest member to serve in the city’s history. He is active in his Mozley Park neighborhood and is the Education Committee chair for NPU-K. He also stays involved in his former neighborhood, the Historic West End. Board Member Sherrer El currently serves on the Board of Directors for Helping Teens Succeed, Project GRAD Atlanta, and the Fulton County Board of Health. Board Member Sherrer El is a proud graduate of Morehouse College where he earned a degree in urban studies and public policy.

Nathan Shinigawa Co u n t y Le g i s l a t o r It h a c a , Ne w Y o r k County Legislator Nathan Ikkyu Hanil Shinigawa became the youngest county legislator in the history of Tompkins County, N.Y. when he was elected in 2005. Legislator Shinagawa represents the 4th district in the eastern part of the city of Ithaca—the county’s most diverse and densely populated district.

Kyrsten Sinema St a t e Representative Ph o e n i x , A r i z o n a State Representative Kyrsten Sinema serves as the assistant leader to the Democratic Caucus in the Arizona House of Representatives. Now in her third term, she is the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee and the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. She holds both a law degree and a master’s degree in social work from Arizona State University, and is currently pursuing her PhD in the School of Justice and Social Inquiry at ASU. She is an adjunct professor in the School of Social Work at ASU and practices law when not in session. Representative Sinema also serves as faculty for the Center for Progressive Leadership. In 2006, Rep. Sinema chaired Arizona Together, the first and only successful effort in the country to defend a same-sex marriage ballot initiative. In 2008, she chaired Protect Arizona’s Freedom, the coalition that defeated Ward Connerly’s effort to place an initiative on the state ballot to eliminate equal opportunity programs. Rep. Sinema’s first book,Unite and Conquer: How to Build Coalitions that Win and Last, will be released in July 2009 by Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

Nathan Small Ci t y Co u n c i l m a n La s Cr u c e s , Ne w Me x i c o City Councilman Nathan Small was elected in 2007 to a four-year term on the Las Cruces City Council. He attended the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio where he earned dual degrees in philosophy and English. A lifelong outdoorsman, he also works for the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. Councilman Small has shepherded the identification and hiring of a Sustainability Officer position for the City of Las Cruces, and currently serves on the board of directors for the New Mexico Green Collaborative.

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Richard St. Paul Ci t y Councilmember Ro c h e l l e , Ne w Y o r k Councilman Richard St. Paul was elected to the New Rochelle City Council in 2007 and currently serves as deputy mayor of the City of New Rochelle, N.Y. As a council member, he has worked to bring open government and accountability to the city and was featured in the New York Times article, “Questioning Developers’ Incentives” (Brenner, 2008). He has worked in the White House under the Clinton Administration, on Capitol Hill in the Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah, and in the Office of Governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Ridge. Currently, he is a licensed attorney in the State of New York and the District of Columbia. He practices in the areas of civil rights, voters’ rights, and general litigation. Councilmember St. Paul is also an adjunct professor at Monroe College in New Rochelle. In addition, he has served his country for several years as part of the United States Army Reserve, Judge Advocate General (JAG), and Legal Service Organization.

Kacie Starr –Triplett Al d e r w o m a n St. Lo u i s , Mi s s o u r i Alderwoman Kacie Starr-Triplett has emerged as one of St. Louis’ youngest and brightest leaders. Elected the St. Louis Board of Aldermen in 2007, her work and dedication has attracted national attention and recognition. She has been featured in ALIVE Magazine as one of St. Louis’ local residents with the most “buzz” and in Ebony Magazine as a Young Leader under 30. Alderwoman Triplett has also represented the United States during a bi-partisan delegation to East Asia where she studied the government and history of Vietnam. In 2008, the Riverfront Times named Triplett the Best Local Politician in the region. During the presidential primary, she served as the local spokesperson for the Barack Obama campaign – playing an important role in his historic victory, and later serving as a delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Prior to her election, she served as the district affairs coordinator for Congressman Russ Carnahan and as the community outreach coordinator for former Minority Leader, Dick Gephardt, in Washington, D.C. and in St. Louis.

Michael Talboy St a t e Representative Je ff e r s o n Ci t y , Mi s s o u r i State Representative Michael Talboy was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2006. He is a ranking member and serves on the Rules Committee, Real ID and Personal Privacy Committee, Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, and Joint Committee on Tax Policy. Rep. Talboy graduated from the University of Missouri–Kansas City in 2000 with a communications degree, and received a JD in 2002. He is a practicing attorney at Polsinelli, Shughart in Kansas City and is a member of the Missouri Bar Association. Rep. Talboy has served on the Board of Directors for the Kansas/Western Missouri chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Rashad Taylor St a t e Representative At l a n t a , Ge o r g i a State Representative Rashad Taylor is the youngest member of the Georgia State House of Representatives. Rep. Taylor is also the former campaign manager of YEO Network Membership Manager Rep. Alisha Thomas-Morgan.

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Ezra J. Temko Ci t y Co u n c i l m a n Ne w a r k , De l a w a r e City Councilman Ezra J. Temko has served as city councilman since his election in 2008. He is the youngest elected official in the state of Delaware and the youngest to have served on Newark’s city council. Councilman Temko went through the People For the American Way Foundation’s Front Lines Leaders Academy which helped him gain the tools and skills needed for the campaign. He is excited to now be part of the Young Elected Officials Network that helped train him. He received his BA from Oberlin College and his MPA from the University of Delaware. He works for the Sierra Club and will be teaching secondary math as a Teach for America Corps member in the fall.

Jeff Thigpen Gu i l f o r d Co u n t y Re g i s t e r o f De e d s Gr e e n s b o r o , No r t h Ca r o l i n a

Rashida Tlaib St a t e Representative De t r o i t , Mi c h i g a n State Representative Rashida Tlaib is serving her first term as a state representative for the 12th House District. Before joining the Michigan House of Representatives, she provided social and advocacy services to thousands of Southwest Detroit residents at Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development, the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, the International Institute of Metro Detroit, and the Neighborhood Tax Center. Representative Tlaib is the first in her family to earn a college degree. In 1998, she received her BA in political science from Wayne State University and her law degree from Thomas Cooley Law School in 2004. She has also worked on local initiatives to expand community policing, neighborhood clean-ups, and is dedicated to putting an end to fraudulent schemes that mislead residents.

Anna Marie Tovar St a t e Representative To l l e s o n , A r i z o n a State Representative Anna Marie Tovar has been serving in the Arizona House of Representatives since February 2009. Previously, Representative Tovar served as councilmember to the city of Tolleson from 2001- 2009 and was appointed vice-mayor in 2007. She serves as a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Association of Latino Elected Officials. Rep. Tovar attended Arizona State University where she received a BA in elementary education with emphasis in ESL. In addition to her service as a state representative, she is also a teacher at Tolleson Elementary School. Rep. Tovar is married and the proud mother of two sons.

66 Yo u ng El e c t e d Off i c i al s

Kevin Waters So i l a n d W a t e r Commissioner Pa l m Co a s t , Fl o r i d a Soil and Water Commissioner Kevin Waters is currently serving a two-year term as Soil and Water Commissioner for Flagler County. Commissioner Waters is also the President of the Young Democrats of Flagler County. He began his political career as the NAACP political action chairmen for Flagler County, in which he continues to serve. Commissioner Waters is the founder and CEO of H2O Sports and Entertainment Inc., a special events company that focuses on fundraising activities for non-profit groups. He is a graduate of Edward Waters College, a proud husband and father, and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc.

Rachel Weston St a t e Representative Bu r l i n g t o n , V e r m o n t State Representative Rachel Weston was first elected to the Vermont House in 2006, and is the youngest member. Representative Weston is a strong advocate for renewable energy, a green economy, women, and working Vermonters. She has passed major energy efficiency legislation for home heating that will reduce Vermont’s carbon emissions by 6 percent, and set state goals for farm and forest based energy production. Rep. Weston serves on the Executive Committee of the Vermont Democratic Party, the Board of Directors for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, the Advisory Council for the University of Vermont Community-University Partnerships, and as president of the Vermont Young Democrats.

Alan B. Williams St a t e Representative Ta l l a h a s s e e , Fl o r i d a State Representative Alan B. Williams was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2008. Williams serves on the Energy and Utilities Policy Committee, General Government Policy Council, Government Accountability Act Council, Government Appropriations Committee, the Joint Committee of Public Council Oversight, and the Joint Committee on Collective Bargaining. Rep. Williams is also the president and CEO of MW Land & Investments, LLC, a property management and business development firm. In the years immediately before his election, he was an aide to Tallahassee Mayor John Marks, serving as liaison between the community and the Office of the Mayor. He is an active and enthusiastic member of Leadership Tallahassee, Opportunity Tallahassee, Leadership Florida, area Chambers of Commerce, United Way of the Big Bend Board of Directors, and the United States Commission on Civil Rights Advisory Committee. He earned his BS and MBA degrees from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.

Faith Winter Ci t y Councilwoman We s t m i n s t e r , Co l o r a d o City Councilwoman Faith Winter is a Westminster City Councilor and the training and outreach director for the White House Project. As a City Councilor, Councilwoman Winter spearheads initiatives on sustainability and affordable housing. She also provides training, inspiration, and empowerment to promote women’s political leadership across the country. Doing environmental work, she led a team of over 100 young people that turned out 93,000 young voters in 2004. She has been named as one of 30 people under 30 showing political leadership by the Youth Vote Coalition, and one of the Top 10 Most Influential Women in Denver by theDenver Examiner.

67 Yo u ng El e c t e d Off i c i al s

David Woodward Co u n t y Commissioner Ro y a l Oa k , Mi c h i g a n County Commissioner Dave Woodward was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives at the age of 22, making him one of the youngest ever elected. As a legislator, he championed energy, health care, consumer protection, and progressive economic policy reform. He served three terms, the most allowed under Michigan’s term limits law. In 2004, Commissioner Woodward was elected Oakland County Commissioner, and has been successful in expanding access to affordable health care, combating domestic violence and sexual assault, diversifying the local and state economy, and championing environmental conservation. He joined the Center for Progressive Leadership as state director in 2006 to be part of changing how politics and progressive policy is advanced in Michigan. Commissioner Woodward also serves as president of Oakland Health Plan, Inc., as a board trustee of the Northwood Credit Union, and as associate trustee of the South Oakland Boys and Girls Club. He is a graduate of Wayne State University with a BS in mathematics and a minor in economics, where he served as president of the Student Council.

Jake Zimmerman St a t e Representative St. Lo u i s , Mi s s o u r i State Representative Jake Zimmerman was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2006. In addition to his legislative duties, Representative Zimmerman is an attorney who has practiced in both the private and public sectors. He was deputy chief counsel to Missouri Governor Bob Holden, and has also worked as an assistant attorney general and as a litigator at Thompson Coburn, LLP. He graduated magna cum laude from Claremont McKenna College in 1996, and then went on to receive his JD, graduating magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 2000. Rep. Zimmerman is a proud alumnus of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Program; he was elected a Truman Scholar in 1995.

68 YEO St r a t e g i c Pa r t n e r s

A Ne w Ge n e r a t i o n o n t h e Fr o n t Li n e s o f Ch ang e

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Am e r i c a n Co u n c i l o f Y o u n g Po l i t i c a l Le a d e r s

The American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) is a bipartisan, non-profit educational exchange organization dedicated to fostering relations between the next generation of political leaders in the United States and their counterparts around the world. Its practical education programs include international exchanges, foreign policy and democracy conferences and election study programs.

ACORN: As s o c i a t i o n o f Co m m u n i t y Organizations f o r Re f o r m No w

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) is the nation’s largest community organization of low and moderate-income families, with over 175,000 member families organized into 850 neighborhood chapters in 75 cities across the U.S. and in cities in Canada, the Dominican Republic and Peru. Since 1970 ACORN has taken action and won victories on issues of concern to our members: affordable housing, increased homeownership opportunities, living wage jobs and better public schools.

Ba l l o t In i t i a t i v e St r a t e g y Ce n t e r

The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC) works to reinvigorate the initiative process among state and national progressive organizations by providing education, training, and research in order for progressive groups to use the process more effectively to fight for social, environmental, and economic justice. BISC Foundation, the organization’s 501c3 educational arm, tracks ballot measure developments, contributions to ballot measure campaigns and trains people to work on ballot initiatives.

Ce n t e r f o r Pr o g r e s s i v e Le a d e r s h i p

The Center for Progressive Leadership (CPL) is a national political training institute that develops diverse leaders who are able to effectively advance progressive political and policy change. CPL has trained over 4,000 progressive leaders through intensive, nonpartisan leadership programs.

Ci t y Fu t u r e s / Ce n t e r f o r Ur b a n Fu t u r e s

City Futures, Inc. is a nonprofit organization devoted to rethinking, reframing, and improving the debate around cities. The organization comprises Center for an Urban Future, a think tank that fuses journalistic reporting techniques with traditional policy analysis to produce in-depth reports and workable policy solutions on the critical issues facing cities, and City Limits, New York’s urban affairs news magazine. The Center for an Urban Future is a public policy organization dedicated to improving the overall health of New York City and serving its long-term interests by targeting problems facing low-income and working-class neighborhoods in all five boroughs. A new kind of think tank, and the sister organization of City Limits magazine, the Center brings a unique, community-oriented perspective to the public policy arena.

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Dr u m Ma j o r s In s t i t u t e f o r Pu b l i c Po l i c y

The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy is a non-partisan, non-profit think tank generating the ideas that fuel the progressive movement. From releasing nationally recognized studies of our increasingly fragile middle class to showcasing progressive policies that have worked to advance social and economic justice, DMI has been on the leading edge of the public policy debate. DMI is also noted for developing new and creative ways to bring its work to the advocates and opinion leaders that need it, from starting one of the first public policy blogs to pioneering the use of Google Adwords to hold elected officials accountable for their votes on issues of importance to their constituents.

Gi l l Fo u n d a t i o n

The Gill Foundation works to secure equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans and strives to involve more people in this effort. It works to enlist and educate donors to provide the effective, large-scale financial support necessary to achieve equality, and joins with like-minded organizations and individuals to put forward a shared vision for doing so. It strives to increase support for equality by improving communications with the American people, and by raising awareness of the contributions made by gay men and lesbians to society.

Na t i o n a l Co n f e r e n c e o f St a t e Le g i s l a t o r s

The National Conference of State Legislatures, established in 1975, is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the nation’s 50 states, its commonwealths and territories. NCSL provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues. NCSL is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of state governments before Congress and federal agencies. NCSL has three objectives: to improve the quality and effectiveness of state legislatures; to promote policy innovation and communication among state legislatures; and to ensure state legislatures a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system.

Na t i o n a l Ed u c a t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n

The National Education Association (NEA) is a volunteer-based organization supported by a network of staff at the local, state, and national levels. At the local level, more than 14,000 NEA local affiliate organizations are active in a variety of activities as determined by the local members. These may range from raising funds for scholarship programs to conducting professional workshops on issues that affect faculty and school support staff to bargaining contracts for school district employees. At the state level, NEA affiliate activities are equally wide- ranging. NEA state affiliates, for instance, regularly lobby legislators for the resources schools need, campaign for higher professional standards for the teaching profession, and file legal actions to protect academic freedom and the rights of school employees. At the national level, from its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NEA lobbies Congress and federal agencies on behalf of its members and public schools, supports and coordinates innovative projects, works with other education organizations and friends of public education, provides training

71 YEO St r a t e g i c Pa r t n e r s and assistance to its affiliates, and generally conducts activities consistent with the policies set by its elected governing bodies. At the international level, NEA is linking educators around the world in an ongoing dialogue dedicated to making schools as effective as they can be. At the international level, NEA is linking educators around the world in an ongoing dialogue dedicated to making schools as effective as they can be. Our vision is a great public school for every student.

Pe o p l e Fo r t h e A m e r i c a n W a y

People For the American Way is an energetic advocate for the values and institutions that sustain a diverse democratic society. Many of these are now threatened by the influence of the radical right and its allies who have risen to positions of political power. Our most fundamental rights and freedoms--and even our basic constitutional framework--are at risk. People For the American Way works in close collaboration with other leading national and state progressive organizations to mobilize Americans at this defining moment in our history. People for the American Way Foundation has been fighting the Religious Right for over twenty-five years, protecting against the Right’s backward vision of bending America’s politics to reflect their narrow political vision. That’s why we speak for the common good and defend the civil rights and liberties that sustain a free society.

Pe o p l e Fo r t h e A m e r i c a n W a y Fo u n d a t i o n

People For the American Way Foundation is a premier source of vital information for policymakers, scholars, and activists nationwide on the Religious Right movement and its political allies. We also engage in legal action as needed to protect or restore the rights and liberties of Americans. As a 501 (c) (3) designated organization, contributions to People for the American Way Foundation are tax-deductible. Over the past two decades, People For the American Way Foundation has worked to ensure that the promises enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are made real for all Americans. We have provided citizens with the means to engage their friends, neighbors, and elected officials in substantive conversation about how the values of freedom, fairness, and respectful pluralism are reflected in our local communities and national policies. Since its establishment, People For the American Way Foundation has been committed to countering the forces of social discord and fragmentation with an affirmation of “the American Way:” respect for diversity; freedom of thought, expression, and religion; equal justice; and a sense of community.

Pl a n n e d Pa r e n t h o o d

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA®) is the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care advocate and provider. PPFA also works with partner organizations worldwide to improve the sexual health and well-being of individuals and families everywhere. Planned Parenthood has 103 independent local affiliates that operate more than 860 health centers throughout the United States, providing high-quality services to women, men, and teens. Planned Parenthood often is the only source of family planning for a large proportion of the women we serve.

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Pr o g r e s s i v e St a t e s Ne t w o r k

The Progressive States Network (PSN) aims to transform the political landscape by sparking progressive actions at the state level. The group provides coordinated research and strategic advocacy tools to state legislators and their staffs, empowering these decision-makers with everything they need to engineer forward-thinking change. PSN also works with non-profits and a variety of constituent groups to build a swath of support for coordinated progressive policy. The overarching goals: to get good policy passed into law and change the way issues are debated in the states.

So u t h e r n Po v e r t y La w Ce n t e r

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) was founded in 1971 as a small civil rights law firm. Today, SPLC is internationally known for its tolerance education programs, its legal victories against white supremacists and its tracking of hate groups. Located in Montgomery, Alabama – the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement – the Southern Poverty Law Center was founded by Morris Dees and Joe Levin, two local lawyers who shared a commitment to racial equality. Throughout its history, SPLC has worked to make the nation’s Constitutional ideals a reality. The SPLC legal department fights all forms of discrimination and works to protect society’s most vulnerable members, handling innovative cases that few lawyers are willing to take.

We l l s t o n e A c t i o n

Wellstone Action is a national center for training and leadership development for the progressive movement. Founded in January 2003, Wellstone Action’s mission is to honor the legacy of Paul and Sheila Wellstone by continuing their work through training, educating, mobilizing, and organizing a vast network of progressive individuals and organizations. In addition to training, Wellstone Action engages our members in non-partisan voter mobilization efforts; lobbies Congress on behalf of mental health parity, Social Security and the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act; trains domestic violence advocates to be organizers on their issue, and helps preserve the Wellstone archives for future generations.

73 Go i ng Gr e e n

“Going Green” was once fashionable, but it is now imperative. Research shows that it is crucially important for the future of our planet that we adopt a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way of life.

This year, the Young Elected Officials Network is working to do their part and is excited to announce that it will be focusing on a “greener” National Convening. In addition to using paper products printed on recycled paper, we are cutting down transportation emissions by hosting the training sessions in the convention center of the Sheraton Hotel. We carefully chose the Sheraton Atlanta for its various green efforts which are listed below. We would like to thank you for helping us in our efforts to go green.

The Sheraton Atlanta’s green efforts around the hotel: . Linen re-use program in all guestrooms . Recyclable plastic cups in all guestrooms . In-room recycled coffee cups . Eco-Friendly turndown (No TV, radio, or lights left on) . E-Folio and Video Check-out to reduce paper usage . Paperless Check-in . Low energy lighting in all permanent light fixtures . 100% non-smoking hotel as of April 2008

Our convening meeting rooms include: . Recycle bins in meeting rooms . Water stations instead of individual water bottles . Recyclable plastic cups at the water stations instead of glass . Green recycling containers available in convention pre-function areas . Setup team clears and separates recyclables from rooms during refresh and room breakdown

Sheraton efforts you can’t see: . Laundry water recycle system reduces 127 cubic Tons of carbon emissions annually, saving 375,000 gallons of drinking water for public use each month . Telecommuting program saves an average 3,500 pounds (or two tons of carbon emissions) monthly . Energy efficient equipment in back of house, including a recently installed dishwasher that reduces water consumption by 51% . New $700,000 hotel-wide water heating system, increasing efficiency by more than 50% . No use of glass cleaner . Pool is saline, not chemically, cleaned

We would also like to thank our YEOs across the nation for their efforts in giving their communities a more sustainable future. Your dedication to the planet, future generations, and creating a healthier and more progressive country is inspiring and greatly appreciated.

Made with Recycled Paper A Program of

2000 M Street, NW, Suite 400 — Washington, DC 20036 — (P) 202-467-4999 or 800-326-7329 — www.pfaw.org 1550 Melvin Street — Tallahassee, FL 32301 — (P) 850-877-0307 — (F) 850-402-1999 — www.YEONetwork.org