[link removed] [[link removed]]
Hey John -

Thank you to everyone who applied for a caucus chair position! It was a tough decision and we had some great applicants. Now, we’d like to introduce you to our new AYD Caucus Chairs and Co-Chairs!

Arts, Culture, & Entertainment Chair - Matthew Barusch
Health & Education Co-Chairs - Elliot Meyer and Rick Tibbets
Housing, Environment, & Infrastructure Chair - Nicole Merlene
Immigration, Justice, Civil Rights & Liberties Chair - Kenya Pennington
Labor, Commerce, Tech, & Finance Chair - Christine Savino
Veteran’s & Foreign Affairs Co-Chairs - Danielle Casey and Tara Siegal

Make sure to join one of our six AYD Caucus Facebook Groups [[link removed]] today! Don’t forget to join us on February 16th for a social hour [[link removed]] dedicated to celebrating Black excellence as well as a forum on February 23rd [[link removed]] about Black legacy in Arlington and beyond. Also, save the date for VAYD’s Annual Convention which will be held April 16th-18th. More details to come!

Check out important upcoming events below:



Upcoming AYD Events
*
AYD
Valentine’s
Day
Senior
Gram
Request
Deadline
[[link removed]]
|
February
12th,
11:59pm


*
Arlington
Dems
Black
History
Month
Sip
&
Paint
[[link removed]]
|
February
11th
(RSVP
by
Feb.
9th),
7pm-10pm


*
AYD
Social
Hour:
Celebrating
Black
Excellence
[[link removed]]
|
February
16th,
7pm-9pm


*
AYD
Black
Legacy
Forum
[[link removed]]
|
February
23rd,
7pm-9pm


*
VAYD
Convention
[[link removed]]
|
April
16th-18th,
TBD














[link removed] [[link removed]]

AYD Social Hour: Celebrating Black Excellence [[link removed]]
In celebration of Black History Month, join AYD on Tuesday, February 16th at 7pm via Zoom for a social hour dedicated to Black excellence!

This event will consist of a series of short videos by Jedidah Isler, Franklin Leonard, and Stacey Abrams followed by guided discussion, allowing us an opportunity to honor and celebrate the Black voices that continue to change history.

In the words of President Barack Obama, "Black History Month is about the lived, shared experience of all African Americans, high and low, famous and obscure, and how those experiences have shaped and challenged and ultimately strengthened America. It’s about taking an unvarnished look at the past so we can create a better future. It’s a reminder of where we as a country have been so that we know where we need to go."

REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]

If you have any questions, please reach out to AYD Membership Director Annie Styles at [email protected] [[email protected]] .




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AYD Black Legacy Forum [[link removed]]
Join us on Tuesday, February 23rd at 7pm via Zoom for our AYD Black Legacy Forum. In honor of Black History Month, this meeting will feature a forum on Black leadership with local community leaders and deal with Black legacy in Arlington and beyond.

The beginning of the meeting will have a candidate announcement from Jay Jones, a primary candidate for Virginia Attorney General, followed by the forum with guest speakers VA Black Caucus Chair Adele McClure and Arlington County School Board Member Monique O’Grady. We hope to see you there!

REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]

Any appearances made by 2021 candidates are not endorsements. All candidates are welcome to ask AYD to speak at events. Have questions? Email our president, Matt Royer, at [email protected] [[email protected]] .




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AYD Valentine’s Day Senior Grams [[link removed]]
Send a Valentine's Day care package to a local senior citizen! Our AYD Senior Grams will have chocolates, flowers, and a note you can personalize! Deadline to get your Senior Gram is Friday, February 12th at 11:59 pm!

Steps:

1) Venmo @ArlingtonYoungDems $6 for each Senior Gram - all money goes towards making these care packages. Please don't forget this step as your Senior Gram will not be completed if you do not submit your contribution!
2) Fill out this form [[link removed]] and add a personalized note if you would like.
3) Senior Grams will be assembled and delivered safely to senior centers on Valentine's Day.
4) We will send out pictures of the final product!

SEND A VALENTINE'S DAY SENIOR GRAM [[link removed]]

Thank you so much for your support! Loneliness is a difficult and widespread issue facing senior communities and your kind donation will make someone's Valentine's Day a little brighter.

Questions? Email AYD Community Service Director Shivani Saboo at [email protected] [[email protected]] .






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Arlington Dems Black History Month Sip & Paint [[link removed]]
Join Arlington Dems Black Caucus for an hour of sipping wine and painting on Thursday, February 11th at 7pm ! We will use each of the colors in the painting above and you will need a canvass, brushes, and those colors to participate. We are limiting the number of people at the event to invite conversation. If you would like to attend, you must RSVP by EOD Tuesday, February 9th and we will send you the link!

RSVP [[link removed]]

Questions? Reach out to AYD Diversity & Inclusion Director Maya Jones at [email protected] [[email protected]] .






[link removed] [[link removed]]

VAYD Convention Save the Date [[link removed]]
Save the date! The Virginia Young Democrats’ second (and hopefully last!) virtual convention will be held the weekend of April 16th-18th. Further details to be announced!Questions? Email VAYD President Maureen Coffey at [email protected] [[email protected]] .




[link removed] [ [link removed]]

Help Pass HR 1: Our Chance to Transform Democracy [[link removed]]
Check out this opportunity to help pass the HR 1! "For too long, our democracy has not been working for everyday Americans. Unnecessary barriers to voting and intentional voter suppression of BIPOC communities has locked too many people out of our political process, and big money and corporate interests dominate our political system.

But right now, we have a chance to fix it . Last week, it was announced that the For the People Act — the most sweeping democracy reform package seen in a generation — will be introduced in the Senate as S.1; the top priority for the Senate. This is huge.

While it’s clear that senate leadership understands the urgency of repairing our democracy, we first need to ensure that the For the People Act passes through the U.S. House of Representatives.
Right now, there are still a number of Members of Congress, including Rep. McEachin, Rep.Spanberger, Rep. Luria, and Rep. Wexton , who have yet to sign-on to support the For the People Act - and if we are going to stand a chance at passing HR1 and signing it into law, we need to make our voices heard.

Call your Member of Congress (1-888-246-594) or send them an email now and tell them you support For the People Act [[link removed]]

If enacted into law, the For the People Act would: *
Protect
and
expand
access
to
the
ballot,
and
break
down
barriers
to
exercising
the
right
to
vote
through
reforms
like
automatic
voter
registration
and
ending
racially
discriminatory
voter
purges.
*
Make
representation
in
government
more
fair
by
ending
partisan
and
racial
gerrymandering
*
Amplify
the
voices
of
ordinary
Americans
in
our
politics,
now
overwhelmingly
dominated
by
a
wealthy
few,
by
establishing
a
small
donor
matching
system
for
federal
races.
*
Fight
corruption
by
enacting
new
ethical
standards
for
elected
officials.

These reforms will return power in our democracy where it belongs - to the people.

We expect to vote on the For The People Act soon, but in order for it to pass, you and all Americans must make our voices heard.

Email your Member of Congress now and tell them to give power back to the people by passing the For the People Act! [[link removed]] "






JOIN AYD NOW [[link removed]]
[link removed] [[link removed]]Paid for by Arlington Young Dems
1235 S. Clark St. Suite 207
Arlington, VA 22202
United States
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The Arlington Young Democrats are a group of progressive and liberal individuals who provide an inclusive, growing, and empowering forum for all community members. We believe in: living our Democratic values, electing leaders who embody these values, elevating the voices of young people within the party at the local, state, and federal level, responding to the needs of the people, and furthering outreach and education while developing our future generation of leaders.
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