FOREVER ORGANIZING
STAFF HIGHLIGHT
The California Democratic Party’s Organizing Department is excited to highlight the stories of our staff members who are passionate about making a difference throughout our state. From leading our organizing efforts to connecting with local community leaders, our organizing team is working in every corner of California to ensure we continue to elect Democrats up and down the ballot.
[[link removed]] Sue Hilderbrand, Northern Organizing Manager,
Joined CADEM May 2022
I was born in Heidelberg, Germany and raised in Long Island, New York and Spotsylvania, Virginia. Once I graduated high school, I knew that I wanted to learn more about the democratic process which led me to attend Colorado State University where I graduated with my BA in Political Science. Shortly after, I attended American University in Washington DC and received my MA in Comparative Politics.
Upon graduation, I joined the Peace Corps - working for the State of Arizona as the Chief of Grants with a mission to distribute hundreds of millions in funds to build parks, protect public land and preserve historic land in Arizona. And in 2005, my passion led me to Chico, California where I became an adjunct professor teaching Political Science at California State University of Chico and Butte College. In conjunction, I led the Chico-based peace and justice center as the Executive Director for four years while hosting political talk radio programs in the region.
However, throughout my experience, local and global political activism has been at the core of my work. I am a lifelong volunteer with a goal to make the community I live in a better place by working to create more progressive policies towards marriage equality, higher wages for IHSS workers, climate action, and reproductive freedom. It is only through organizing at the grassroots level and being in the trenches with the people that we can create true change while manifesting our vision for a better future. This position has given me the opportunity to focus on my passion to turn out voters through organizing efforts like canvassing, phone banking, volunteer recruitment, digital organizing and more. My hope is that through this work, I can be part of our collective effort to build a future that includes dignity and respect for all.
[[link removed]] Cassandra Chavez, Central Region Organizing Manager, Joined CADEM June 2022
Born and raised in Fresno, California, my parents instilled the values of a strong work ethic while encouraging me to focus on education. At an early age, I knew that I wanted to invest in my family and myself through higher education. Graduating from high school as valedictorian, I became the first in my family to enter a four-year college - attending University of California, Los Angeles. Studying International Studies ignited my passion for community activism and led me towards organizing for the California Democratic Party.
As the Central Region Organizing Manager, I’m passionate about voter outreach, specifically in the Central Valley while working with communities of color to provide eligible voters with the tools to empower their voices. Now more than ever, my work as an organizing manager is crucial as we continue to face unprecedented challenges to our most basic human rights. From the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade to the extreme GOP’s dangerous rhetorics targeting people of diverse backgrounds, organizing is the key to ensure that we fight for fair representation in the Central Valley and defend the democratic process.
[[link removed]] Ivan Aguayo, Los Angeles and Inland Empire Organizer, Joined CADEM September 2022
Growing up on the west side of San Bernardino, I became an activist in 2006 after losing my close friend to gun violence. Like many who were born and raised in the region, the shared hardship left us curious about how we can make a change within our communities. This personal loss kickstarted my path into organizing. Graduating from California State University of San Bernardino, I’ve had the opportunity to launch a youth movement in San Bernardino, volunteer for President Barack Obama, and elect Abigail Medina to the San Bernardino Unified School District.
As the Los Angeles and Inland Empire Organizer, I am passionate about making a difference starting with issues such as clean air and water, access to nutritious foods, housing, healthcare, and the change we can make through the value of family and friends. I believe that if we organize and provide people with the resources to vote - we can create a more equitable California where every person can live to their fullest potential.
IN THE FIELD
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CADEM Organizing Team Attends Philadelphia CADEM Joins Labor to Rally for Workers in Ontario
On February 3, the CADEM organizing team joined the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the California DNC members in Philadelphia to discuss grassroots efforts at the local and national level. As part of the event, organizing departments throughout the nation shared their stories of the work taking place in their own state to elect Democratic leaders while connecting with California High School Dems. Those in attendance included Vice Chair Betty Yee, Congressmember Maxine Waters, Supervisor Hilda Solis and Ken Martin, President of the ASDC. This month, the California Democratic Party’s Organizing Department partnered with UFCW 1428 and UFCW 1167, bringing together close to a hundred community members to take action in support of Cardenas Workers in Ontario, California.
DEMOCRATS OF CALIFORNIA
The California Democratic Party is a volunteer based organization! Our community activists work with our organizing team to get out the vote and drive our Democratic process. The work to reach voters take community leaders throughout the Golden State who remain committed year-round. CADEM is thrilled to highlight our local volunteers who continue to pave the way for the rest of the state.
[[link removed]] Martha Garcia, CADEM Community Leader
At the age of 20 years old, I immigrated to the United States - leaving behind my home where I was born and raised, Nicaragua. From an early age, I experienced firsthand the plight of a community living under the conditions of war, oppression, and poverty. However, these challenges did not deter me. Instead, it sparked the activism within me - filling me with hope that maybe one day, I too could make a change.
Since immigrating, I've settled in Madera, California where I've dedicated my life to empowering underrepresented voices throughout the Central Valley. From volunteering to help children at the elementary school to organizing for leaders like President Barack Obama and working throughout our local community to elect a democratic Mayor of Madera, every opportunity is a chance to build a more equitable and inclusive bench across California.
As a Democrat, we are the only Party that fights for people from all walks of life. The diversity that makes up our Party should be celebrated everyday. Instead, today, what we’re facing are extremist Republicans throughout California and across our nation who want to undo all of our hard fought effort to protect working people, reform immigration policies, build better access to healthcare services, make voting easier, fight for marriage equality, provide clean drinking water to rural communities, and more.
While I look back at my journey since living in Nicaragua, I remember my life as a little girl and holding onto a dream that maybe one day, I too will belong. And I am proud to say that although there is still so much more work to do, through organizing, voting, and empowering others to do the same, we’re one step closer to that dream. However, as we prepare for 2024, the stakes are much too high for us to delay the work. To ensure that we are ready to take on 2024, the path requires us to start reaching voters today. Whether it's calling, texting, or holding small community events at your home, every bit of it counts.
My name is Martha Garcia, I am from Nicaragua, and I hope you’ll join me in organizing so that we can continue to make a change together.
TAKE ACTION
[[link removed]] CADEM is forever organizing around the issues that matter most. To build on our progress, we must do so on a year-round basis and at every possible opportunity. There is no greater opportunity to harness the power of Democrats than at our statewide Convention.
Join us in May in Los Angeles to continue our organizing work!
SIGN UP TODAY [[link removed]]
[[link removed]] Join the California Democratic Party's Women's Caucus and keynote speakers as we celebrate Women's History Month at the CADEM Celebrates: California Women Making History brunch held on March 25 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Los Angeles.
RSVP TODAY [cadem.org/whm]
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Paid for by the California Democratic Party | www.cadem.org Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.
California Democratic Party
1830 9th St
Sacramento, CA 95811
United States
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