Mobilizing Millennials in the Sunshine State
How Florida High School Democrats are getting the job done
By Angela Avonce
Florida High School Democrats Chair
IT’S NO SECRET THAT FLORIDA IS KEY TO THE PRESIDENCY. As one of the few must-win battleground states, its electoral votes are crucial in this election cycle, and the Florida High School Democrats (FLHSD) have made significant impacts to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. We’ve worked tirelessly to help Democrats win control of the state and win over undecided voters by organizing and participating in events in our communities.
Fueling change
Over the past two years, we’ve volunteered at events hosted by the Florida Democratic Party, met with state party leaders, and worked our hearts out to spread the word about our organization. On one occasion, members of the FLHSD Executive Board led a booth at the party’s Leadership Blue Gala, where they were able to attend the gala dinner, listen to influential leaders like Senator Cory Booker, and discuss party unity. It was here that we also received confirmation that FLHSD had been certified as an official caucus of the Florida Democratic Party, an incredible accomplishment and huge leap for us. Executive Board members also attended the Swing State Blue Gala in late May 2016, where I, along with adult adviser Andrew Reiss, was able to meet Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro and the senior U.S. Senator from Florida, Bill Nelson.
The state board also works with the Florida Democratic Coordinated Campaign (FDCC) to mobilize high school students to volunteer to register voters, knock on doors, and make phone calls for both presidential and local campaigns. Through the FDCC, we were able to participate in the first ever Millennials Statewide Call featuring DNC interim chair Donna Brazile. Brazile discussed the importance of Florida in the campaign and was very happy to answer my question on how millennials can stay involved after the election.
To stay active and engaged, we have conference calls twice a month as an executive board where we discuss the progress of past projects, ideas for future projects, and upcoming opportunities available for members across the state. Our goal is to communicate clearly and efficiently with each other in order to push FLHSD forward, and speaking regularly, asking questions, and being open to suggestions are essential skills for a state board to be successful.
Empowering students everywhere
Change starts from the ground up, and as a grassroots organization, we recognize that local members are our guiding force. Over the summer, FLHSD experienced an exponential growth in the number of new chapters, and as the school year began, we worked with numerous high schools across the state to facilitate the process of creating, promoting and supporting local clubs. Because of our efforts, these local chapters continue to grow in membership and their members are involved in various campaigns — both nationally and locally.
Right after his first official meeting, Nelson Quezada, a senior at Freedom High School and president of his school’s HSDA chapter, invited students to canvass for Val Demings, a Democratic candidate seeking to represent Florida’s 10th Congressional District (she won her primary in late August).
This fall, we also had numerous chapters participate in HSDA’s Voter Registration Week of Action, with the voter registration drives ranging from high school drives to community drives. Gabriela Giro, president of John A. Ferguson’s Senior High School Democrats, ambitiously led a drive at her school over two days, registering a whopping 114 new voters.
Florida High School Democrats is dedicated to providing students with the opportunity to make their voices heard, emerge as leaders, and contribute to the debates that are shaping the nation’s future. Our goal is to get as many students as possible involved in the democratic process, and we are continuously driven by the belief that anyone can make a difference in government, no matter their age or background.
You can follow FLHSD on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
