CCD Forward is a coalition of experienced and passionate students running to lead the California College Democrats to greatness. Our fight begins at the California Democratic Party Convention in Sacramento from May 19 to May 21, 2017 and our movement for a better and stronger future for California begins with you! Slate Members:
Marcus Ismael for President
Mary Latibashvili for VP Membership
Caid
en Nason for VP Finance
Elizabeth Oramas Diaz for Communications Director
Travis Legault for Political Director
Jeremy Markley for Northern Regional Director
Fassa Sar for Southern Regional Director
PLATFORM
BUILDING THE BASE
A state federation of College Democrats can only succeed if each and every one of its member chapters is doing well and that is why FORWARD pledges to invest heavily in the resources chapters across the state need to build themselves up and expand. California has one hundred and thirteen community colleges in twenty seven community college districts, twenty three California State Universities spread over eighteen counties, and nine Universities of California throughout the state - not to mention all the private institutions. However, CCD is not represented at every single public institution of higher education or even at the countless private colleges and universities. In our commitment to building up our organization with an eye toward diversity, we plan on building on the success of our current chapters at minority-serving institutions and expanding to more campuses like at California’s sole Historically Black College and University and as many of the one hundred and six Hispanic-Serving Institutions as we can. To do so, we pledge to work more closely with existing county and community Young Democrats chapters and county central committees across the state. Recruiting young activists on college campuses throughout California to start up new chapters is a top priority for FORWARD, especially considering the impact college students have in the social and civil rights movements and critical local elections of our time. With a renewed focus on strengthening and growing our state federation, FORWARD is committed to ensuring students are the dominant voice not only at their universities, but in their communities and across our great state. BUILDING THE BENCH
Too often it is said that the younger generation will define the future, but young Americans should not have to wait to effect the change they want in their communities - and they are not. Increasingly, the youth of this country are not only fighting for change, they are being the change by running for elected office throughout our state and nation. FORWARD is committed to fighting to elect not only more Democrats but more young Democrats. In our fundraising efforts, we plan to earmark a sizable portion of funding to ensuring our members can afford to go and volunteer on our endorsed campaigns and gain the experience in organizing and civic engagement that will help them attain careers later on. Moreover, FORWARD plans on instituting a “snap-fellowship” program where in members can be connected with professionals in political work and shadow them and their work for a period of time. This commitment from all of us at FORWARD to advance the professional interests of all our members will bode well in fostering the next generation of Democratic leaders and activists. Yet, it is not enough to staff campaigns or simply demand our legislators pay attention to student interests if the legislative entities that CCD lobbies are not filled with young policymakers who understand and have lived through the issues that CCD is trying to address and solve. In conjunction with the efforts of progressive, like-minded organizations, FORWARD aims to recruit and help train young Democrats to be viable Democratic candidates for elected office from the local to the state level as well as beyond. BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE TODAY
The California College Democrats has a rich heritage of advocacy that, through the years, has led to many bold student leaders becoming influential individuals in their field of work and their communities. From being the deciding factor in 2012’s Proposition 30 which brought in funding for education to supporting the campaigns against sexual assault on college campuses and against police brutality in our communities of color, the California College Democrats have always been on the front lines of change. That is why FORWARD pledges to continue the struggle for a better future by expanding CCD’s advocacy efforts, participating in droves in critical swing-district elections up and down California and in neighboring states, and elevating student voices in political discussion and decision-making. FORWARD knows that overwhelming student loan debt, crowded classrooms, the dearth of affordable housing in California, and low wages for student workers paired with almost little protection and recourse for victims of sexual assault, limited treatment options for students suffering from mental health conditions, and a near complete unwillingness from some in government to bring back funding to our higher education institutions to drastically bring down costs all continue to hold our students back. Students cannot succeed, cannot move ahead in life, and cannot ever hope to attain a level of stability and comfort previous generations have enjoyed if they are continually marginalized out of the decision-making process. FORWARD will be the champion for students across California by tackling all these issues and more. FORWARD will lead CCD and all its member chapters to greatness and, in the process, create a better future for California. OUR STRATEGY: Education, Engagement, Expansion
Membership and Organizational Advancement
- Expand to every single UC and CSU campus; expand to California’s sole HBCU and as many HSIs as possible; and expand to as many community colleges as possible within our term.
- Create CCD Regional Director positions to provide for more responsive and accountable representation.
- Showcase all chapters’ hard work by creating profiles of all current and prospective chapters to help other chapters and supporters to understand the unique qualities of each campus community, by highlighting student makeup, chapter history, and political activism.
- Expand the old CCD grant program to incentivize starting up and maintaining active chapters and to provide travel and lodging stipends to allow chapters to afford those accommodations.
- Create and mail out chapter boxes for chapters that provides tabling materials and other resources to maintain chapter activism. Finance and Development
- Appoint and convene the CCD Finance Committee within month of being elected to immediately assess CCD’s financial situation.
- Draft and approve an organization-wide budget and debt financing plan within month of being elected.
- Conduct a listening tour of all chapters to assess each chapter’s financial situation and concerns.
- Draft and create a fundraising plan that takes into consideration the needs of all chapters.
- Raise $3000 within the first three months of assuming office (over Summer 2017).
- Revive the CCD Alumni and Advisory Councils to include both prior CCD activists and members as well as current legislative leaders and community leaders across California.
- Develop fundraising for care packages, events, and election strategy.
- Conduct quarterly internal audits by maintaining an accurate journal and ledger of all CCD transactions and present formal reports at in-person meetings and in discussions with chapter presidents.
Communications and Outreach
- Regularly highlight the work of all chapters by sharing their photos and events on CCD’s social media accounts and in a periodic newsletter.
- Provide a line-item in the budget to allow for the fundraising and provision of money to chapters to start up websites and purchase advertisement space on social media.
- Draft a prepared list of scheduled content to be published on social media platforms on a regular schedule.
- Develop trainings to assist chapters in creating their own professional and consistent social media presence as well as media surrogate training.
- Develop a budget for paid advertising on CCD’s social media and in print media. Political Affairs
- Draft a political strategy that best utilizes College Dems and current resources in such a way to ensure all chapters are well-equipped for the 2018 election cycle and beyond.
- Highlight races in swing districts and provide support to swing races in neighboring states by working closely with other state federations.
- Plan and fundraise for regional social events to build rapport among chapters.
- Create a toolkit for CCD members interested in running for local office and connect members with opportunities within organizations working to develop the next generation of progressive leaders.
- Create a toolkit for CCD members to get involved in local government (e.g.: committees, commissions, boards, etc.) and the State Party.
- Plan and fundraise for several targeted district campaign invasions over the course of the 2018 election cycle in addition to supporting local races occurring in 2017.
- Provide a platform through which chapters may convene to vote on endorsements for candidates and ballot measures in the interim between convention and other in-person meetings.
