arlingtonyoungdems.org [arlingtonyoungdems.org]
John,
Yesterday marked the first 100 days of the Trump Administration — and it's been nothing short of a nightmare. From harmful tariffs that hurt everyday Americans to cruel policies targeting our most vulnerable communities, this presidency continues to sow chaos and division. With 1,360 days still to go, AYD remains committed to standing up and fighting back.
Amid the challenges, we have reason for hope: Virginia Democrats have officially nominated Abigail Spanberger [[link removed]] for Governor! As the former Congresswoman representing VA-7, Abigail brings strong leadership and a proven record of public service. We're confident she has what it takes to win in November — but that victory depends on all of us doing the work!. Get started today by going to her volunteer page [[link removed]] and stay tuned for volunteer opportunities through AYD.
Don't forget: the Arlington Democrats are currently holding an endorsement vote to select our endorsee for the the Arlington County School Board. This process is separate from the state-run primary, as Virginia law does not allow party labels on the ballot for this office.
The candidates seeking the endorsement are as follows:
* Monique "Moe" Bryant
* June Prakash
As Republicans continue their attacks on our public education systems, it's more important than ever to elect strong, values-driven school board members. Voting in this endorsement process is open now through May 10th. For more information and to participate, visit arlingtondemocrats.org/sbev2025 [[link removed]] .
Blue Victory Recap:
This past Saturday, Democrats from across Arlington came together for the annual Blue Victory Dinner to reflect on our progress in 2024 and gear up to win back Virginia's statewide offices in 2025. We also took a moment to recognize some of our incredible volunteers — including our very own Vice President, Austin Locke, who was honored as the 2025 Young Democrat of the Year! Thank you, Austin, for your unwavering dedication to our party.
Whew! That was a lot, but wait! Don't forget to check out our upcoming events!
~Kaitlyn
Check out our upcoming events and more:
📆 Upcoming Events 📆
* ArlDems Meeting [[link removed]] | May 7th, 7pm | Lubber Run Community Center
* AYD Community Clean Up [[link removed]] | May 10th, 10am| Quincy Park
* Arlington Palooza | May 17th, 11am| Lubber Run park
* Candidate Forum [[link removed]] | May 21st, 6:00pm | Shirlington Library


* AYD Happy Hour | May 27th, 6:30pm | TBD
Subscribe to our Calendar [[link removed]]
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📢 AYD Is Looking for a Digital Director!
Are you passionate about digital communications and Democratic organizing? Join the Arlington Young Democrats as our next Digital Director!
In this volunteer role, you'll help keep our website up to date and support a strong, engaging social media presence. Experience with WordPress is a plus — but not required. We’re looking for someone creative, organized, and ready to get involved.
Interested? Email Bryant Atkins at [email protected] [[email protected]?subject=Digital Director] to learn more and get started!
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🍎 AYD Community Food Drive
The Arlington Young Democrats are stepping up to fight food insecurity—and we need your help. Now through the end of June, we’re collecting donations for the Little Free Food Pantry (LFFP) at St. John's Church in Arlington. This 24/7 pantry offers free food and essential items to our neighbors in need—and with demand rising, the shelves need restocking.
📦 What to Donate:
Non-perishable, unexpired food (no glass jars)
Canned goods, boxed meals, shelf-stable milk
Snacks, plastic utensils, and basic toiletries
🗓 How to Donate:
Bring items to any AYD event this quarter
Drop off anytime in the donation bin on the 5th Street porch of St. John's Church
Let’s come together to keep the pantry full and the community strong. 💙
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Lily Franklin Fundraiser
Join AYD for a fundraiser supporting Lily Franklin for HD-41.
As the most competitive battleground race in Virginia , this seat is a must-win for Democrats to expand their control in the Virginia House of Delegates and will have major implications for access to abortion throughout the Commonwealth.
If she wins, Lily will be the first Democratic woman to represent Southwest VA in her lifetime!
[[link removed]] You can buy your tickets here [[link removed]] , or by reaching out to Austin Locke at [email protected]
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AYD Community Service Event!
Join us for our first Community Service Event!
Rhea, our Community Service Director, invites you to join us for a cleanup event on May 10th at 10 a.m. at Quincy Park (1021 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA 22201) !
While there may be trash in our federal offices, at least we can keep our parks clean.
We will meet on the side of the park opposite the Central Library. Please wear closed-toed shoes as recommended by the Park Service. Gloves will be provided for everyone, and we will have a few trash grabbers, though not enough for everyone to have their own.
We look forward to seeing you for a lovely morning of giving back to Arlington and our planet! We will also be collecting shelf stable food and toiletries for the Little Food Pantry at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
📅 Date: Saturday May 10th
⏰ Time: 10am
📍 Location: Quincy Park ,1021 N Quincy St. Arlington, VA 22201
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AYD Clean Up RSVP! [[link removed]]
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AYD County Board and HD-1 Forum!
Join the Arlington Young Democrats and Arlington Democrats on Wednesday, May 21, for an evening of civic engagement and candidate conversations!
We'll kick off the night with a brief general meeting, followed by a one-hour discussion featuring the candidates for Virginia’s 1st House District: Arjoon Srikanth, Sean Epstein, and Delegate Patrick Hope. After a short break, we’ll continue with a discussion between our County Board candidates, James DeVita and Takis Karantonis.
This is a great opportunity to hear directly from the candidates about their vision for Arlington and the issues that matter most to young voters.
Can’t stay for the whole evening? No problem—our event will be live-streamed and recorded so you can tune in at your convenience. We hope to see you there!
📅 Date: Wednesday, May 21st, 2025
⏰ Time: 6:00PM
📍 Location: Shirlington Library, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington VA, 22206
RSVP Here! [[link removed]]
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AYD Social Hour
Save the date for our may Social Hour on May 27th. We hope to see you there and be on the lookout for more details in our May Newsletter!
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Back by popular demand - the Arlington Democrats are hosting a Federal Employees & Contractors Town Hall at Arlington Central Library. As Elon and Trump continue to sow chaos and target public servants, it’s important to know your rights.
Your local Democrats have convened a panel of experts to speak on the issues and take audience questions about your rights and remedies. Our Library also has additional resources to help you find new employment should the need arise.
If you are a government contractor, members of our panel have relevant expertise in guiding contractors to securing rightful payment and how to navigate ongoing executive action.
Whether you’re a federal employee, contractor, or just a citizen concerned about the future of public service, this is your chance to ask questions and connect with others facing the same challenges.
Our panel features representatives from the labor, legal, and policy spheres with direct experience on issues that relate to federal workers and contractors:
✅ Alissa Tafti – Executive Director, Federal Unionists Network and Chair, NoVA Labor Federation's Federal Labor Caucus.
✅ Patrice Howard – Attorney specializing in government contracting, former DOJ Contracting Officer managing grants for non-profits and law enforcement agencies.
✅ James Kearney – Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson. He specializes in representing both prime contractors and subcontractors in their dealings with federal, state and local government agencies.
✅ Tamara Slater - Partner at Alan Lescht & Associates where she represents federal employees in state and federal court and in administrative investigations including before the EEOC.
📅 Date: Tuesday, May 6th, 2025
⏰ Time: 6PM
📍 Location: Arlington Central Library Auditorium, 1015 N. Quincy St., Arlington, VA 22201
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ArlDems Monthly Meeting and County Board Forum
The Arlington Democratic Party will hold its April Committee Meeting at Lubber Run Community Center on Wednesday, May 7 at 7 p.m. This meeting is also the candidate forum for this spring's County Board primary. Join us to hear Takis Karantonis and James DeVita present their platforms and take questions from the audience!
This meeting will also includes updates on what the local party is doing and opportunities to get involved as we organize to elect Democrats up and down the ballot this fall.
📅 Date: Wednesday , May 7th , 2025
⏰ Time: 7PM
📍 Location: Lubber Run Community Center, 300 N Park Drive, Arlington VA, 22203
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Arlington Palooza
Put on your dancing shoes and join us at Lubber run community center on May 17th.
We will be doing a joint tabling event with the ArlDems.
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Arlington Young Democrats
Our mailing address is:
Arlington Young Dems
1235 S Clark St
Suite 207
Arlington, VA 22202
United States
If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe: [link removed] .