Photo credit: John Zaccaro
On Monday April 27th, 2015, the Bronx Young Democrats held its biennial election of officers to its Executive Board. The Bronx Young Democrats seek to engage young Democrats in public service, politics and the implementation of the values and principles of the Democratic Party.
The newly elected Board members are Pierina Ana Sanchez (Secretary), returning board member Daniel Johnson (2nd Vice President), Yves Filius (1st Vice President) and Eric C. Henry (President). The new officers come from law, government and policy backgrounds, and in their platforms stressed the importance of outreach, communication, membership development, and community engagement as key to reaching unengaged youth in the borough.
Pierina Ana Sanchez, a former City Council staffer and White House intern who now works at the Regional Plan Association, noted some of the substantial gains the Bronx has achieved in terms of population and economic growth. “Our population is growing and we are adding jobs faster than other parts of the City,” she stated, addressing the crowd of young Democrats, which ranged in ages from 21-36, “in order take advantage of these trends and maximize outcomes for those who have been left behind for far too long, we will need to engage you and uplift your voices.”
Yves Filius, special Assistant to Public Advocate Letitia James, noted in his remarks the uphill battles the Bronx has faced over the years, but noted the borough has always endured. He thanked the leadership of the Bronx Democratic County Committee under now-Speaker Carl Heastie, Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz, Executive Director Ischia Bravo and her staff. “Great things in store under the new leadership team of Assemblyman Crespo and [new Executive Director] Anthony Perez.”
Perez, a graduate student at New York University, assumed directorship of the county organization this week.
Daniel Johnson, the only returning member from the previous Executive Board and chief of staff to Councilmember Andy Cohen, noted the importance of volunteerism and membership development. “Membership cultivation and expansion is a key component for our organization’s continued success,” stated Johnson. “By supporting current members and partnering with high schools and colleges to engage new members, BYD will be the vehicle that empowers young Bronxites to make a positive difference in our borough.”
The incoming board acknowledged that activating and engaging potential new leaders will not be easy, but is necessary. “There’s a generation of untapped potential waiting to be activated all across the borough, “stated Eric C. Henry, a former staffer at the City Council, now working at the New York Botanical Garden. “They want to become more involved in community service or politics…they want to help young leaders like [Assemblyman] Michael Blake and [Councilmember] Ritchie Torres…they see decisions being made about the future of their neighborhoods, their education, their families, and want to get involved and ask , “How? How do I get involved in those discussions? WE need to be that answer…The Bronx is on top, and it is up to you and me to make sure we stay there.”
The board-elect replaces former Executive Board members John Zaccaro (President), Kevin Riley (Vice President), Paula Caquias (Treasurer) and Daniel Johnson (Secretary).
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