NJYD JANUARY 2026 NEWSLETTER!

Happy New Year! We are excited to share this month's news and ways to get involved. Please see below for highlights and updates.

Message from the President

A new year brings new opportunities to build power, strengthen our communities, and shape the future of New Jersey. The New Jersey Young Democrats are at our strongest when our members are engaged, connected, and ready to lead.

Whether you’re new to the organization or have been involved for years, I encourage you to get involved — join a meeting, support a local chapter or caucus, help with organizing or communications, or take on a leadership role. Every contribution matters, and there is no such thing as being “too new” to get involved.

Together, we can turn energy into action and ideas into impact. We are excited for the work ahead in 2026!

With gratitude,

Fatima Heyward
President, New Jersey Young Democrats

January Young Dem of the Month

Congratulations to our January Young Dem of the Month, Will DiGrande! Will currently serves as the President of the Somerset County Young Democrats, where he focuses on empowering young people to step into leadership roles across the county.

A proud graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in political science, Will began his public service career in the office of State Senator Joe Cryan, driven by a passion to give back to his home state. He currently serves as Outreach Manager for Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, supporting the residents of New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District by working with elected officials and community organizations to host events and deliver constituent services.

In 2022, Will joined the Warren Township Democratic Committee and was elected Municipal Chair in 2024. In 2025, Will was selected as part of the inaugural class of the New Jersey Leadership Collective and attended his first Young Democrats of America Convention, connecting with rising leaders across the country. We look forward to seeing all the great things that you will accomplish in 2026! Congratulations Will!

Call to Action: Protect Immigrant Communities

This week, the New Jersey Legislature passed three important bills that would strengthen protections for our immigrant neighbors and reinforce trust between communities and government:

- S5036 / A6308 – Safe Communities Act: Directs the Attorney General to establish clear, statewide model policies.
- S5037 / A6309 – Privacy Protection Act: Safeguards residents by limiting when sensitive personal information can be collected or shared.
- S5038 / A6310 – Strengthening Trust Between Law Enforcement and Immigrant Communities: Codifies the Attorney General’s Immigrant Trust Directive.

Taken together, these bills would codify the 2018 Immigrant Trust Directive, instruct the Attorney General to develop policies for "sensitive locations" to ensure uninterrupted access to services and institutions, and prohibit unnecessary collection of personal information by government agencies and health care providers.

Now it’s up to us. We are urging supporters across New Jersey to call Governor Phil Murphy’s office at 609-292-6000 and ask him to sign these bills into law.

From Morristown to Atlantic City, our diversity is our strength. In this moment, New Jersey has the opportunity to lead by example — rejecting fear and choosing dignity, safety, and inclusion for all.

NJYD Merch

Young Dem of the Nomination Form

Know a young dem that is working diligently to promote democratic values? Want to acknowledge their hard work and dedication? 

Nominate them for young dem of the month!

SAVE THE DATE: YDA 2026 Spring Meeting

Date: April 9 - 11, 2026

Location: New Orleans, LA

Click here to let us know if you're attending!

Yours in action,

Angelita Martinez

NJYD Digital Communications Director

New Jersey Young Democrats
https://www.njyoungdems.com/