Puerto Rico Young Democrats
The Young Democrats of America Puerto Rico Chapter is a non-profit political corporation organized pursuant to General Corporate Law of Puerto Rico and duly registered in the Department of State of Puerto Rico.
The organization is the official chapter of the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico certified by the Young Democrats of America (YDA) and its premier purposes are promoting Puerto Rican youth involvement and activism within the United States Democratic Party and representing the island at all Young Democrats of America national meetings and conventions.
History
The Puerto Rico Young Democrats was founded in 2003 by Francisco Domenech a year before the 2004 United States Presidential election between John Kerry and George W. Bush. Amid increased participation of young people on the island and their desire to play a larger role in the national political process, a team of fifteen Puerto Rican young democrats traveled to Florida in the winter of 2004 to campaign for John Kerry.
A month after that election, the Young Democrats of America's national winter meeting was held in San Juan, PR during which hundreds of young liberals from across the entire nation met to regroup and restrategize after Senator John Kerry lost the 2004 presidential election.
The organization subsequently increased its membership by executing multiple membership recruitment initiatives targeting local colleges and universities in the territory. This led to the creation of the award winning YDA-PR College Tour in October 2010. Since then, the Puerto Rico Young Democrats have visited numerous college campuses across the island spreading the Democratic Party message and the importance of youth involvement in the national political debate.
Recognized Puerto Rican Democratic leaders such as Secretary of State Kenneth D. McClintock, former Governor Pedro Rosselló, Ricardo Rosselló and state Democratic Party Chairman Roberto Prats have participated as guest speakers at the college visits.
In 2008, the chapter actively participated in the Democratic Party primaries between Senator Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama where its members volunteered on both campaigns.
In October 2010, a group of the organization's leadership once again traveled to central Florida to campaign for democratic candidates in the 2010 United States congressional mid term elections. During a span of ten days, the Puerto Rican young democrats volunteered through canvassing, phone banking and mobilizing the Hispanic vote for Congressman Alan Grayson and Gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink.
In July 2011, the Puerto Rico Young Democrats were presented with the "YDA On Going Event of the Year Award" as a result of the organization's YDA College Tour initiative at the Young Democrats of America National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.
2013-2015 Executive Board
YDA Puerto Rico Chapter membership elects seven state officers biannually at the organization's Convention. The 2013-2015 officers were elected at the YDA Puerto Rico State Assembly in San Juan on August 14, 2013.[1]
Along with the national officers, YDAPR's executive committee includes chairs of the various constituency caucuses, eight regional directors, and a variety of appointed officers.
The President, National Committeeman, and National Committeewoman are automatic members of the Young Democrats National Committee.
| Name | Office |
|---|---|
| Ricardo Alfaro | President |
| Zulma Rovira | Vice President |
| Javier Torres | Vice President |
| Pierina Ortiz | National Committeewoman |
| Fernando Sánchez | National Committeeman |
| Victor Pizarro | Secretary |
| Emarielys Marrero | Treasurer |
| José Parés | Legal Advisor |
Current and Past Presidents
| President | Term |
|---|---|
| Ricardo Alfaro | 2013–present |
| Phillip Arroyo | 2009–2013 |
| Luis Caraballo | 2007–2009 |
| Miguel Hernandez Vivoni | 2005–2007 |
| Francisco Domenech | 2003–2005 |
References
- ↑ "Popular Democratic Party gains control of the Young Democrats Puerto Rico Chapter" posted on August 15, 2013
External Links
Official website of the Young Democrats of Puerto Rico