Los Angeles, Aug. 15 -- As over 15,000 current Democratic Party leaders converge on the Staples Center for the Democratic National Convention, a group that calls themselves the next generation of Democratic leaders also is convening in downtown Los Angeles. The Young Democrats of America, a group of active, college-age Democrats, is just one of the many ways college students are getting involved in this year's Convention.
While 507 young people will be directly involved in Convention floor activities this week as delegates, alternates and pages, thousands more have flocked to Los Angeles to be part of the political scene playing out over the next four days. The YDA, with over 2,000 members in Los Angeles this week, says it is determined to be heard and make a difference in this year's Democratic Convention and presidential election.
"Politicians are more sensitive today than they have been in the past to issues that concern young Americans, but they could do more to speak directly to young people," said Jay Parmley, president of the YDA.
The YDA is the official youth arm of the Democratic Party. Since 1932 it has tried to bring voters under the age of 36 into the Democratic Party and promote Democratic ideals. The YDA is the largest youth initiative group at the Convention, followed by the College Democrats. Other non-partisan youth initiatives are also present in L.A., such as MTV's "Choose or Loose" program.
Less than 20 percent of eligible 18 to 35 year-olds are registered to vote in America today, according to Parmley. "The YDA's main goal is to push voter registration for young people and therefore making the younger vote" a more powerful demographic, Parmley said.
With over 46,000 registered members in 48 states, the YDA says it can be a strong voting force in November, and Democratic leaders agree.
"Young people in the party are the energy and the excitement," said Joe Andrew, chairman of the Democratic National Convention, at the YDA Youth Caucus held down the street from the Staples Center early Monday morning.
The caucus featured speakers giving their thoughts and fielding questions on issues the YDA says young people are very concerned about.
Carol Browner, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, spoke to YDA members on the importance of environmental issues in the upcoming election. She spoke specifically about new clean air and clean water initiatives and discussed the differences in the ways the two parties handle environmental issues.
Michael Colby, a New Hampshire delegate and director of the Stonewall Democrats - a group representing gay and lesbian Democrats -- spoke to YDA members on topics such as gays in the military and gay marriages.
"The Democratic Party truly does care about gay and lesbian issues," Colby said.
YDA members also heard from John Free. Free spoke about his experiences as a 26 year-old who is running against an eight-year incumbent in the 30th congressional district in New York.
Andrew Cuomo, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson spoke to the members about what America will look like in the near future.
The YDA will continue to hold open forums all this week to try to make the public more aware of youth issues.
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