We take the time to salute a couple of our own for their steadfast leadership and dedication to serving their fellow Young Democrats,

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** SPECIAL EDITION NEWSLETTER
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In 2009, when I joined Indiana Young Democrats as just a sophomore in college at Indiana State University, I had no idea that the simple ask of joining IYD from my good friend and teammate at the time Taylor Schaffer, would land me in serving over a decade (14 years to be exact) within this organization. Servant leadership brought me on this journey of leading you all across our great state and meeting some of the most amazing people along the way.

What started off as me becoming a district chair for two terms, led to me serving as Director of Equity and Inclusion, two terms as National Committeewoman, two terms as your Madam President (the 1st Afro-Latina to be elected) and ultimately your support led me to campaign my way to the national stage and become elected as the Secretary of the Young Democrats of America! We made history time and time again.

What an honor and a privilege it has been to truly serve you, our party, our state and our country.

When I stepped into the presidency in 2020 it was at the height of the pandemic. We were on lockdown and civil unrest was happening in every part of our country. James and I decided that organizing virtually was what young people needed at that time. A safe space to talk about what they were experiencing, how we can support them and how we can dismantle systemic racism that existed in every space we were in, and together we did just that. We were intentional about building our executive committee to be as inclusive and reflective of our state. Bringing in activists, rural organizers, seasoned campaign staffers, government workers, parents, Dreamers, college and high school students who were ready to do the work to make Indiana a better place. Our table has and will always be ready for all voices, experiences and expertise. You belong at IYD.

At just 33 years old I have seen, conquered and experienced so much in my time in leadership that has made me a better human, a better mother, a better friend and a better advocate for all Hoosiers.

From electing Young democrats, running campaigns at every level of government, advocating for our issues, building a bench of young people, hosting conventions, events, round table conversations, raising money to support candidates, our chapters and building a top notch communications strategy as a caucus, we at IYD have been charting our own path and doing the work. Our path to breaking the supermajority, running a young Dem statewide and getting more young Dems elected isn’t just a dream- we will make it happen!

It doesn’t stop now.

We have been intentional about being inclusive, how we recruited for chapters and how we have shown up at the statehouse. It feels so good to have done it alongside such a talented team of young democrats who believed in me, our mission and wanting better for our state. No matter any obstacles we have faced (and there were many), we remained true to who we are and who we represent. For that I am so proud.

As I embark on my next journey, I am so excited for what’s to come for Indiana Young Democrats! Under the leadership of James and Dyna I know that young people will continue to have a place in our state and in our party being unapologetically themselves. Feeling seen, heard and knowing that they belong. It’s the start of a new era of IYD. One that I can’t wait to see unfold!

To all of the friends who have become family and served with me along the way, James, Chris, Dyna, Matthew, Tiffany, Katie, RaeVen, Sean, A Brando, Dayna, Kaisa, Caitlin, DQ, Blake, Derek, Heather, Elise, Amy, Emily, Ali, Brandon, Belinda, Ashley, Autumn, Austin, Peter H, Julian…the list goes on because so many young people in our state have been apart of my story. You have taught me so much and I am so happy IYD brought us together. We have cried, laughed, smiled, fought the good fight and watched each other grow as leaders together- THANK YOU. I will forever be your biggest cheerleader.

To every donor, legislator and supporter of our organization we could not have done all the good things we have done to elect young leaders, send young delegates to conventions, expand our chapters, pay our bills and thrive as an organization if it wasn’t for your contributions. You have invested in the future of young generations to come- THANK YOU.

This is all so bittersweet…14 years in the longest standing and largest caucus in the Democratic Party- I am so grateful.

Thank you for letting me lead, speak truth to power and represent young Hoosier Democrats.

Thank you for showing up for IYD and thank you for giving me the ride of a lifetime. Keep applying pressure. Never give up on young people and always remember- “Young Gets It Done!”

Signing off,

Madam President Emerita, Arielle Brandy

Tomorrow [July 1, 2023], for me, ends a 14-year experience of serving in elected office for the Indiana Young Democrats. After nearly 6 years serving the 1st Congressional District on the IYD Executive Committee and then nearly 8 years serving as National Committee Representative from Indiana on the Young Democrats of America National Committee, words cannot express the feelings that I have at the end of this journey.

Many colleagues have become good and dear friends, both here at home and throughout the country. I am proud to see many of them go onto serve in different leadership roles in their personal and professional lives. Most especially, I was honored to witness two wonderful Hoosiers raise, while making IYD history, and serve in national office with the Young Democrats of America. Arielle Brandy, who served admirably as Secretary from 2021-2023, and Dyna Kristine Martinez, who was just elected Executive Vice President at the YDA National Convention in Las Vegas, becoming the highest-ranking Hoosier ever in this young Democratic organization. Each and every friend that I have made in young Democrats, in their own way, have left an impact with me on how to lead an organization and how to serve others.

I have been able to accomplish many goals and exercise my interests and passions while serving in office these past years.

From chairing both the Rules Committee for IYD and YDA for multiple years, to playing a role in re-writing both the Bylaws of the Indiana Young Democrats and modernizing the rules of the Young Democrats of America, to being able to chair multiple IYD State Conventions and chair the YDA National Convention this month in Las Vegas, there has been no other place where I been able to use my drafting and leadership skills to the extent I have used them in young Democratic circles. In this place I have found my niche in writing rules and leading internal organizational operations.

But that is not to say that being a member of the Indiana Young Democrats has been

hard. I have seen the organization and its work ebb and flow these past 14 years. We have had good years and hard ones. These past few years I am watched the good work of my fellow IYD officers and members yield consistent results in our mission to elect more young Democrats to office here in Indiana.

Further, I believe the new Executive Committee, under the leadership of

James Wells and Dyna Martinez, will redouble many efforts to see one of the best two-years periods in IYD’s history. This new team will lead with grace and conviction, because it is

imperative in this time of our political history that they do.

In this parting message to my fellow young Democrats and many good friends, I would be remised if I did not share some advice that I have picked up in my time in leadership. First and foremost, you cannot expect to do all things, at all times, for any organization. The thing that hampers our organization and our drive to achieve our goals is burnout. In nearly every iteration of IYD, I have seen too few people take on too many responsibilities. This has led many, all who hold valuable institutional knowledge of IYD and its workings, to either take a significant step back from the work, or abandon the organization all together. Whether it be in internal operations, communications, planning, or chapter expansion, we need more young Democrats to come forward and execute the plan established by the Executive Committee. It has always been my dream that each Indiana county would one day have an IYD chapter. If something like this is to happen in the coming years then I would encourage any member
to step up and let the Executive Committee know where your interests and skills lie so our collective goals can be achieved and our best years can become our best decades.

My retiring from elected office does not mean I am done as a young Democrat. I remain a member until I turn 36, in just under two years, and I will always be present to serve as an advisor and guide, not only to the leadership of this great organization, but to each and every member as they navigate this world as an Indiana Democrat. But, I have achieved all that I can as an elected officer in IYD.

I look now to other ways I can serve, in the Democratic Party, in my state, and in my community. It is my desire to one day, soon, be a candidate for public office and take all the skills and knowledge I have learned and apply it for the betterment of others.

In closing, to my many friends in IYD and YDA throughout my time here, James, Derek, Arielle, Dyna, RaeVen, Wes, Tiffany, Brittany, Katie, Brandon, A. Brando, Dayna, Sean, Ethan, Julian, Ashley, Daniel, Nathaniel, Tanner, Michael, Harry, Andrew, Ian, Gabbie, Quentin, Rebecca, Spencer, Katie, Seamus, Thomas, and so many others not named here, I pray only that great success be gained in your endeavors. To my successor as National Committee Representative, Wes Brown, I know you will bring an insight and steady hand that YDA has come to expect from Indiana.

Always and forever, it has been an honor to serve.

Matthew Russell Kochevar, Esq.

“For the Rules!”
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