Stephen Spear, History Teacher, 35

There is a lot of talk about “Leaving No Child Behind”, but when a teacher is given six classes of 30 kids each its hard to believe people mean it. If teachers are going to train this country’s next generation of leaders, scientists and economists and expect them to succeed, then the government needs to get a lot more serious about the way it invests in education.

So says Stephen Spear, an MYD member who moved to the city to become a teacher in 2002 and now teaches at Eleanor Roosevelt High School on 76th Street in Manhattan. He joined MYD in 2007 at the first bipartisan Kickball game–and was such a good Democrat that he decided to stick around, despite MYD’s loss in that match to the Young Republicans of NYC. (This despite our outnumbering them 30 to 8… some things, unfortunately, have not gotten better over the years).

Stephen has always been interested in politics. He traveled to Cuba with Congressman Barney Frank while working for the Massachusetts State Legislature. But his coolest moment by far was randomly running into Bill Clinton. He writes of the former President, “He was the man.”

Stephen now spends his time with MYD as an indispensable member of the Environmental Committee, which has been making gains in awareness about a host of environmental issues (notably gas drilling in the city’s water supply) and working with groups like EANY and Sierra Club to influence policy through letter-writing campaigns and showing up to public hearings.

When he isn’t suffering the 6 train at 7:30AM on his morning commute, Stephen loves the city: “New York has got to be the most diverse city on earth…[there's such a] huge number of people from all over the world that you have the opportunity to meet and get to know.” Meet Stephen and your fellow MYDers at our next monthly General Meeting, which will take place this coming Tuesday, Nov 17!

(Former) Member of the Week: Mike Denklau, Congressional Candidate, 26

Just four months ago, Mike Denklau was living in New York, plugging away on Wall Street. Today, he’s running for Congress. Who is he? Well, he’s one of us. Mike is a former member of MYD and he decided to give it all up in the Big Apple to move back to his homestate of Iowa to really make a difference. He’s just 26 years old and he launched his candidacy for the 2010 Iowa 5th District Congressional seat last month.

Mike Denklau embodies the very spirit of MYD. He believes that we all have a responsibility to give back. He is well-educated, he is smart, he is driven and he truly cares about enacting change in Iowa. He’s going back home because he believes, in his very own words, that “… Providing a fair playing field and empowering people to help themselves is the best path to future prosperity.” And how would he do this? By looking past partisanship and by bridging divides, rather than creating them. He wants to focus on issues like job creation, expanding educational opportunities and relief for overburdened Iowa taxpayers.

Mike has decided to uproot himself from his successful career in New York City and move back to Iowa because he believes that now is the time to make a change in Iowa for the better.

To read more about Mike Denklau, visit his website.

Elizabeth Kanter, Super Vol, 29

Universal healthcare. Cancer advocacy. Low-income youth mentorship. Immigrant career support. Women’s empowerment. And of course, youth activation in democracy. When it comes to the things she cares about, Elizabeth puts her money where her mouth is — or more appropriately, she puts her time where her heart is.

Luckily for NYC, Elizabeth grew up with a supercharged sense of social action and has applied her considerable expertise and fiery passion for issues to many NGOs in the city. With MYD, she helps David and the Board mount spectacular special events, like our fundraiser at the Griffin in late September.

Elizabeth grew up in Jacksonville, Fl, with a dad who inspired her passion for politics:

My parents would have the news on all the time at home and talk about what was going on in the world. It was part of every day conversation. My father talked to me about what his beliefs were and as I got older, we challenged each other. He taught me about social action, healthcare reform, medicare, affirmative action, why he was a Democrat-then Republican-then Democrat, why we fought our wars…

Then my sister and I ’schlepped’ my Dad and he started learning from me. Convincing my Bush-loving father to vote for Obama is definitely a favorite memory of mine.

So what is the issue that trumps all others in Elizabeth’s mind? With a family heavily involved in the medical field and experience working at a hospital herself, it’s no surprise that Elizabeth’s signature issue is healthcare reform. Her perspective is simple: universal, full coverage without any hurdles. Healthcare is a human right, and she vows universal healthcare will happen in her lifetime.

This Floridian who still says “y’all” loves the addictive nature of NYC and the new discoveries and friends to be made around every street corner–and even spins the negative aspects of the urban jungle into something positive:

The only bad thing I can think of is also a good thing: the city forces a person to be resilient, which I know is an asset. If you can run with the bulls, charge!

Amen to that, sister — now, someone just go warn the bulls and let them know Elizabeth’s been unleashed on NYC!

Sam Hudis, Founder of Hunter College High School YDs, 18

Sam’s Democratic adventure began one night last February, when he was feeling bored and partisan.

He clicked on Democrats.org.

Which took him to the Young Democrats of America.

He learned his high school did not have a chapter.

So, he started one.

Pretty soon, he’d made MYD’s acquaintance through Scott Murphy’s NY20 campaign.

Unlike some of the “older” folks in MYD (read: 25 and up), Sam grew up under the reign of George W. Bush and has little recollection of previous presidents. W was nearly enough to turn a young man off politics for good. Luckily, a certain community organizer from Chicago came along:

I was extremely cynical about politics until President Obama won the Iowa Caucus on January 3rd, 2008. He seemed to stand for everything I believed in and wanted in a President, and for that reason I had assumed that he had no chance whatsoever. I was proven wrong that night, and ever since then I’ve taken a very close interest in politics.

Sam served as a delegate for New York at the YDA Convention in Chicago in August, and describes his experience there as his favorite with MYD thus far: “It was great to get to meet people my age from all around the country who were as interested in politics as I am.” Here he is with one of MYD’s awards:

And yes, you read that correctly–he’s 18. (Awesome, right?) But that’s not keeping Sam from thinking about the big issues:

I am a Democrat because I believe in equality and in fairness. My main interest is in wealth disparity issues. Right now, this issue is one of the main components of the problems with healthcare, and one of the reasons we need reform. In a country as powerfull and wealthy as ours, it is inexcusable that the quality of treatment a sick person gets is tied to the size of their wallet.

Katie Smith, Public Policy Superhero, 24

I am a Democrat because I love the Democratic Party’s core values: celebrating diversity instead of fearing it, protecting the civil rights of all, and using public policy to improve the social welfare of and expand opportunities for everyone rather than only a select few.

Nope, we’re not quoting a politician delivering rousing remarks at a historic Convention — these words come straight from Katie Smith, our very own public policy wonkette/superhero!

Over the course of her two-and-nearly-half-decades on planet earth, Katie has seen how public policy can be wielded to shape a more equitable world. She grew up in Montpelier, Vermont and saw the state Supreme Court order the legislature to grant equal rights to same-sex couples. During her college years at Barnard, she jetted overseas and did a comparative urban study abroad program, traveling to Brazil, South Africa and France. Seeing the favelas of Rio de Janeiro and the shantytowns of Cape Town, and speaking to residents about the issues they face living there kick-started her passion for international development and policy issues related to low income populations: “I view public policy as a vital means to improve people’s lives and the world. Focusing on the most vulnerable populations exemplifies this.”

But it wasn’t until the Obama campaign last year that Katie got directly plugged into politics. After the election, she wanted to play with people her own age (not that she’s ageist or anything!). Katie then did what all progressive young’uns living in Manhattan should do: She Googled, and stumbled upon MYD — and in her words, “hit gold”. She is now actively involved, and depending on when you catch her, will be writing policy positions, taking part in community service events, or stopping by a happy hour just to hang out.

Katie lives in South Harlem and in the real world, she works on LGBT/ AIDS issues, where she continues to fight for a better world and equal rights for all. And the toughest part about living in NYC for this fearless crusader? “Paying $6 for a box of cereal. But $5 for gelato? Totally worth it.”

Suzie “Change Means Getting My Hands Dirty” Sagues

Given her sunny temperament, it comes as no surprise that Suzie was born and raised in Orlando, where she grew up with constant fun-in-the-sun surrounded by family and friends. She moved to the harsher climes of Manhattan in July of 2007 to begin graduate school. Suzie has learned to love “the city that never sleeps”–and loves it all: the cultural experiences, the people, the endless opportunities to try new things.

Suzie’s political awakening came early in life. Growing up on the Florida coast and waterways instilled in her a passion towards preserving the integrity of the environment at a young age. Following the 2008 Presidential Election, she decided it was time to become active in issues close to her heart such as environmental protection and healthcare.

Unsurprisingly, Suzie’s involvement in MYD has frequently been in our outdoorsy community service events: planting trees on Staten Island (“Island-hopping is fun!”) and cleaning up the Hudson River. She is also often seen saving the butts of Board members by pitching in with other MYD goings-on.

Suzie’s signature policy issue? Living well:

Promotion of health and wellness programs across America is an extremely important issue to me and remains a hot topic in today’s push toward healthcare reform. Volunteering in college and now with MYD has allowed me to actively help improve wellness and nutrition program policies in both Wisconsin and New York.

A big thank you to Suzie for all of the time she’s given to MYD, and all that she has given back to the city this year!

Gloria Dawson, Environmentalist/Foodie, 28

Meet Gloria Dawson–environmentalist, foodie, writer/photographer, and newly empowered New Yorker.

Gloria grew up in Long Island and moved to the city in 2006 after attending the Art Institute of Boston. Raised in the bosom of a super-liberal family, she only discovered the world did not universally share her progressive views when she began working on TheDailyGreen.com, an environmental website–and suddenly, opposing views were everywhere! She heard everyday from the folks who don’t believe global warming is real. Who knew??

But Gloria was not about to let the so-called opposition keep her from advancing the issues that were important to her–the environment, and food. Her favorite environmental projects are the old-fashioned, roll-up-sleeves-and-get-hands-dirty sort: New York Cares, Summer Streets, Park(ing) Day, and The Million Trees Project, to name a few. As a resident of East Harlem, she’s also a bit of a wonk on the neighborhood’s food and health issues. Gloria has written about the problem of “food deserts” (neighborhoods with very little access to fresh produce), which are strongly linked to obesity, diabetes, and other health complications.

But it is through MYD that Gloria has learned to take political matters into her own hands:

The other day, I called my Borough President (Scott Stringer) when the Farmers’ Market by me in East Harlem wasn’t open to ask why. This was a great moment because 1) I knew who my borough president was; 2) I felt really empowered; and 3) I got an immediate response back.

Before joining MYD I didn’t have that kind of confidence in my power as a New Yorker; I probably wouldn’t have bothered calling.

Need we say more?! Well, maybe just a bit more: When she isn’t calling borough presidents (don’t know what this means? Read here), Gloria can often be spotted taking photos at MYD events, talking up green roof policy, and writing down ridiculous quotes from Young Republicans when we play them in kickball. You can check out her writings on East Harlem on her blog here.

Andrew “I Want My Country Back” Goldston, 23

Andrew is from the Upper West Side, and Westchester–in that order. Growing up, Andrew fancied himself a future foreign policy strategist or diplomat at the State department. He kicked off his expertise with Model UN in high school and reading up on international politics. But in 2003, when he heard Howard Dean’s stump speech–and the famous/infamous line, “I want my country back“–Andrew connected the dots between a crazy foreign policy and dysfunctional domestic politics, and decided to turn his focus inward:

That was it.  From that point on, my political interest was primarily domestic.  Diplomacy and strategy could only be a theoretical exercise until someone took our country back from the forces that had captured it.  Either as a volunteer or as a professional, I knew I had to be part of that fight.

Since then, Andrew and progressive politics have been inseparable. One chilly winter evening in early 2009, his father forwarded him an email from MYD looking for young folks to help in Communications and New Media. He took the plunge and signed up, and even served as a New York State delegate to the YDA Convention in Chicago last weekend! He loves MYD’s mix of young New Yorkers from both within and beyond politics, and often lends a hand with MYD’s outside-the-box projects and events.

Beyond pitching stories about MYD awesomeness to the New York press and blogosphere as part of the Communications team, Andrew spends a lot of time pondering Healthcare:

Healthcare is at the crossroads of a lot of our problems right now.  The skyrocketing costs and lack of a sane solution are making it harder for employers to do business, messing with the labor market, and hurting doctors, who have to waste time and money fighting insurers instead of treating patients. Our healthcare crisis is kicking our economy while it’s down, and kicking our uninsured while they’re down.  It’s morally wrong and economically unsustainable, and its effects are felt by everyone.

Find Andrew in the Twittersphere @CaveatConsuasor.

Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza, Independent (Filmmaker), 28

I first noticed politics when Dukakis went up against George Bush senior and I was living in San Antonio, Texas. A lot of my friends were Republican at the time, and my family was supporting Dukakis. There was a chant that one of the kids from school used to sing, ‘Mike is dying while Bush is flying to the white house’. I suppose he was right about that one, and it’s what sparked my interest in politics overall. Being you and impressionable, it was interesting to have an opinion that was essentially handed to me by my parents that was against the grain of those around me. Afterwards, I had to figure out why I thought it was right.

So it was that (a much younger) Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza was introduced to politics.

The son of a military doctor, Juan Carlos moved around quite a bit during his childhood, spending time in California, Texas, D.C. and other places before ending up in NYC for film school. Once here, he honed two things: the art of film, and the art of eavesdropping on the subway–the former, because it was his passion, and the latter, because his favorite thing about NYC is the incredible stories one can’t help but overhear in this fascinating city every day.

Charismatic filmmaker though he was, Juan Carlos knew next to nothing about local politics before encountering MYD. He describes his woeful lack of knowledge at the time as being unable to tell the difference between a Councilman and a District Attorney! (Editor’s Note: it’s okay if you don’t know the difference. We’re here for you.) Now, after several years as a member, he says, “When another election comes around, I won’t just vote Democrat because that’s what I usually do–but rather because I understand why.” His most recent contribution was as videographer, documenting our org’s participation in the NYC Gay Pride Parade. The project was especially close to his heart because marriage equality is Juan Carlos’ signature issue: “Getting married to another person is a basic right of any citizen.”

By now, the jig is up and you’ve figured it out: the reason we’re profiling Juan Carlos is because he is one of those awesome MYD members we can point at and say, “Look! He’s cool and creative! He’s a filmmaker! And he still hangs out with us!” And this week, his awesome factor jumped by at least 100 points because his indie film, Second Skin, is being released theatrically across select cities in America. We’ve got the trailer for you right here:

So, support a fellow rockstar member and go see Second Skin on August 7, 8, 9 at The Tank on 45th btw. 8th and 9th. Hell, get a group of MYDers together and go — that’s what social media is for, after all. Starting August 14 it also plays in Los Angeles, Austin, and Boston, so feel free to share with your non-NYC friends as well. And if you’re REALLY into it, you can order the DVD direct from the website: secondskinfilm.com.

This is the second installment of our newish blog series “MYD Member of the Week”. Every week, we’ll profile a (dues-paying) member of MYD–stick ‘em in the spotlight and make ‘em look good. Jealous of Juan Carlos? Email me at newmedia [at] goMYD [dot] com if you want your two-and-a-half minutes of fame. Have questions you want to ask the profilees? Ditto.

David Silversmith, Political Insurgent, 30

Last week, we promised that the person who joined MYD as our 100th dues-paying member would be profiled on our blog. No sooner than one hour later, David Silversmith became that lucky guy, a “living, breathing, progressive-agenda-wielding testatment to how far MYD has come over the past seven months” and the recipient of a brand-spanking-new “Don’t Vote for Pedro” t-shirt.

And so it is that we kick off our new blog series “MYD Member of the Week”. Every week, we’ll profile a (dues-paying) member of MYD–stick ‘em in the spotlight and make ‘em look good. Jealous of David? Email me at newmedia [at] goMYD [dot] com if you want your two-and-a-half minutes of fame. Have questions you want to ask the profilees? Ditto.

David Silversmith

David has spent a grand total of four years out-of-state, so to call him a New York native might be a bit of an understatement. He grew up in Brooklyn and now lives in Manhattan, and his years abroad were spent at the University of Maryland. Not only does his expertise of New York run deep, he was “practically born into politics”–with a father who has run for office four times (for State Senate in 1976 and 1978, and for Judge in 1995 and 2003) and a mother who was a delegate for Ted Kennedy to the 1980 Democratic National Convention.

But that doesn’t mean this thirty-year-old has sold out to the oft-unsavory political establishment here in New York. Quite the contrary, David worked on Brian Kavanagh’s insurgent Assembly campaign as well as Daniel Squadron’s insurgent State Senate campaign, both of whom beat out powerful incumbents in the state legislature. He counts election nights for these campaigns as two “great political moments” among many in his life. But David no doubt joins many of his fellow MYDers when he defines his best political moment: that historic November night in 2008 when Barack Obama was elected President.

A CPA by trade, David’s signature policy issue is taxation–and he has a penchant for “combat[ing] Republican misrepresentations on taxes, specifically on the Estate Tax as well as Income Taxes.” That one no doubt keeps him busy. 

A big welcome to David, and happy 100th member, MYD!