Young Democrats to have 1st meeting

Maggie Chist, a freshman at Bloomington High School South, is not old enough to vote, but is taking action to encourage Monroe County’s youth to get involved in politics through Monroe County’s new Young Democrats chapter.

Young Democrats will hold its first monthly meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. today at Village Deli.

“Some of the members might not be able to vote, but we can help,” Chist said. “Young people are our future. It’s important to be involved and make a difference.”

Young Democrats is a progressive group that works to increase early voting as well as promote advocacy issues through the voices of its young community members.

Colin Diersing, a senior at Bloomington High School South, serves as the chapter’s president.

“Our organization wants to involve all young members of the Monroe County community – anyone under 36, young professionals, college students and high school students,” Diersing said.

Diersing said his work on the Obama campaign motivated him to do more for the party after the election and encouraged him to create a Young Democrat chapter for Monroe County.

“The biggest obstacle for our new chapter will be fundraising,” he said. “We are looking to use the philosophies of the Obama campaign. We want to target many community members for small donations.”

IU alumna Shaunica Pridgen serves as president of Indiana Young Democrats. The Columbus, Ind., native helps new chapters develop fundraising strategies and recruit for successful membership.

Pridgen worked on Jill Long Thompson’s campaign last year, which she said confirmed that connecting many different organizations and age groups makes a strong impact.

“We had people from Democratic National Committee, community citizens and groups like Young Democrats working together,” Pridgen said. “When you put people in the same room, it works wonders. If you don’t know the other exists, you can’t work together to make as big an impact. ... Organizations like Young Democrats are the help the party needs to hit all cylinders all the time and behind the scenes.”

Pridgen, who was in Wheeling, W.V., this weekend at a research conference for Young Democrats, said new members can expect to network with people across the nation.

“Young Democrats are able to attend conferences and meet people who are working towards the same goals,” she said.