In May, we commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Every year, we recognize the accomplishments and contributions of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, as well as those individuals who have helped to shape the United States. AAPIs are one of the fastest growing communities in the nation, which only heightens the stake we hold in the political process.

This year, we can take advantage of our growing voice. In 2012, we have the opportunity to re-elect a President who has consistently supported the AAPI community. Since 2008, President Obama has worked tirelessly with Congress to enact legislation that significantly benefits AAPI communities. Because of the obstacles and challenges young people face in pursuing higher education, President Obama has not only doubled the amount of Pell Grants available to college students, but has also provided student loan relief to over 50,000 AAPI borrowers. Thanks to President Obama and the Affordable Care Act, 97,000 Asian American young adults have gained health care coverage and thousands more now have access to preventive care services.

In addition to these measures in support of the AAPI community, AAPIs have also become leaders at local, state, and national levels. In Congress, AAPI representation within the Democratic Party is at a record high with 7 Representatives, 2 Senators, and 2 Delegates. This year, 21 AAPI Democrats are running for Congress, mirroring the increase in political and leadership roles AAPIs currently occupy. With this unprecedented amount of AAPI participation in the political process, Democrats are the clear representatives for our generation.

As we celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, let’s not only recognize the accomplishments of the past, but also remember that we, ourselves, are making history. In 2008, 42.9% of eligible 18-29 year old AAPIs voted in the 2008 elections—a record high among any ethnic and racial group in this age bracket. This election year, we can once again work to increase political engagement within our communities and re-elect a President who has fought relentlessly to increase opportunities for AAPIs nationwide. We can further advocate for the rights of AAPI DREAMers, project our voices into political process, and elect leaders who support our interests. Through our organizing efforts on college campuses throughout the country, we can make this a reality this fall.

President Obama led the repeal of the discriminatory policy “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” which came to a welcome end on September 20, 2011. No longer must gay or lesbian soldiers hide who they love as they sacrifice their lives for the freedoms of our country!

The President signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act. For the first time in our nation’s history, federal civil rights legislation includes “sexual orientation” and “gender identity”.

President Obama has thrown his support behind the repeal of the discriminatory ‘Defense of Marriage Act’. He has declared his support for legislation such as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act. President Obama signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act into law.

From expanding access to health care to enacting policies that help create happier families to many more milestones and accomplishments, President Obama has set in motion measurable success for LGBT Americans. The tearing down of discriminatory barriers put into place by the right is near and dear to my heart and the hearts of so many LGBT Americans.

While Governor Romney represents the deterioration of such progress and change, President Obama stands as a leader for the LGBT community! There is no place in this country for a president endorsed by a discriminatory and hateful group like NOM. We cannot stand by and let walls of discrimination be rebuilt!
Join me by volunteering, knocking doors, making phone calls, and voting on November for President Obama. Progress and fundamental rights cannot be repealed!

The Conference, held on March 10th at the historic Palmer House in downtown Chicago, was everything we thought it would be – and more! Obama for America campaign manager Jim Messina gave a great speech full of candid insights about the re-election, and Rep. Jesse Jackson followed with an equally passionate speech that had us all of jumping out of our seats!

Our first ever Law Caucus meeting was exceptionally attended – with Law Dems even standing in the hallway because all the seats were taken!  Emily Tisch Sussman, Young Democrats of America Executive Director and Cardozo Law alum (’08), gave an inspiring talk about her path from law school to politics.

Later, at the Voter Protection Training, the Law Dems board met with OFA attorneys Courtney Wheeler and Jenni Katzman to discuss how law students can help with the campaign.

The Conference was a spectacular success, and we would like to thank Alejandra Salinas, CDA President, Jeremy Feigenbaum, CDA Vice President (Harvard Law ’14), Dominique Gelin, CDA Membership Director, and Jennifer Bisset, DNC Youth Director for a great job integrating the Law Dems into the CDA Family!

Our country’s founders emphasized our inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle is at the forefront of these guarantees. Without access to preventative medicine and healthcare coverage, we cannot hope to achieve what Thomas Jefferson considered absolute.

Before President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, more young Americans lacked health coverage than any other age group – accounting for more than one in five of the uninsured.  Contrary to the myth that young people don’t need health insurance, one in six young adults has a chronic disease like cancer, diabetes or asthma.  And nearly half of uninsured young adults reported problems paying their medical bills. Still others forwent regular care, like checkups or recommended screenings, due to cost.  Thanks to the new health reform law, that’s changing, and young adults beginning their careers and starting new
families have the economic and health security and stability that health care coverage brings.

On Friday, as we celebrate the two year anniversary of the passage of the health care law, young Americans everywhere should take pride in the fact that we have a President who will stand up for our
inalienable rights, who will ensure that we are insured, who will work for a healthier tomorrow. Yet we must also recognize that there exists a party who wishes to revoke these rights. The Republican Party has
promised to repeal the Affordable Care Act, effectively undoing years of progress in one fell swoop. We as young Americans cannot and will not stand for this. We will continue to fight for our country, for our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Time(s):
            Saturday, March 3, 2012 2:00 AM , 10:00 AM

Location:  Triangle West Headquarters  &nbs

Democrats have long shown a commitment to improving their local communities through service. Shortly after taking office, President Obama reaffirmed that commitment by signing the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act and asking Americans to come together to join him in service on the National Day of Service each year. CDA hopes to remind Democrats of their lifelong passion for service and civic engagement during CDA Service Week by highlighting the work College Democrats do to serve our communities and our country. In the coming weeks, start thinking about a project your chapter would like to take on during this year’s service week. In past years, chapters have volunteered at nursing homes, Habitat for Humanity, soup kitchens, Relay for Life, river cleanups, and cancer research funds. A service project is also an opportunity for state federations to highlight other advocacy work, so don’t hesitate to connect your program to a semester-long theme or legislative goal. Don’t hesitate to contact Programs Director Elsie Raymer for more ideas at raymere@collegedems.com!

The Yale College Democrats have been doing some pretty big things lately and have shown through their activism what it truly means to be a College Democrats. Both politically and legislatively The Yale Democrats have not missed a beat in engaging their student body and becoming active on important issues to them, their community and Democrats.

Last semester they started and continue to be very involved through their election committee in the very important Democratic primary for the Open United States Senate seat, being vacated by Joe Lieberman. They have hosted a forum with each one of the candidates Congressman Chris Murphy, Former Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz and State Representative William Tong. Where they talked about why they are running for Senate, their vision for Connecticut and the country, how important college students are in the electoral process and then participated in active discussion with the Students.

They brought out about 90 students for a State of the Union Watch Party, which they used to kickoff their semester, recruit more members to get involved in their initiatives and had an active discussion after the speech about how to get involved and help the President’s re-election campaign.

On the legislative front through the legislative committee, they are working with Governor Malloy and several Democratic leaders in the legislature to help lobby and pass landmark reforms on important issues such as education and have a statewide day of action coming up in February where they will be working with other schools in Connecticut to help lobby on education issues and more.

The Yale College Dems continue to show what it means to be an active college democrats and I am honored to be their representative.

Check out photos from the Yale College Democrats “Change is” Ad

This question is often asked throughout the month of February. Why do we celebrate Black History Month? What does it mean? Black History Month allows African Americans to share with the nation the significant contributions of our trailblazers. As we enter this historic month, Tyler Hercules, National Vice Chair of the College Democrats Black Caucus and Temple University senior shares his perspective, “Black History month is a time for reflection and discussion about the strides that have been made in America. It is through the unwavering strength and determination of leaders that came before us that we are able to stand taller. The journey of Blacks in America has not always been easy, but through the battles, we fought for justice, equality, and civil rights for all. We continue to strive for a better tomorrow and we recognize that there is still much progress to be made.”