Upcoming Events
General Membership Meeting
Co-Host: Latine Young Democrats of the East Bay
Monday, April 15 | 6:30 - 8:00 pm
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This month's voting topics include: the Berkeley City Council District 4 special election; Berkeley Citizens for Safe Streets' proposed ballot measure; the Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act; and decline to sign efforts regarding the proposed “Restricts Rights of Transgender Youth” ballot initiative. Candidate questionnaires will be posted here as we receive them.
In order to be eligible to vote, you must attend the event, be 14-35 years old, have attended at least one EBYD meeting or event from April 16, 2023, to March 25, 2024, and have paid your annual dues.
Questionnaires: Soli Alpert | Elana Auerbach | Rubén Hernández Story | Igor Tregub
Previous Events
Social Hour
Co-Hosts: East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club and Latine Young Democrats of the East Bay
Friday, February 23 | 6:00 - 9:00 pm
The Port Bar | 2023 Broadway
Join us and learn about the work we do and how you can help! We will be supporting The Port Bar one last time (for now) as they closing due to a dispute with their landlord who wants to stop their queer programming. They have been a major partner of our clubs and the owners are former EBYD members. In the meantime, you can support their sibling location, Fluid510.
General Membership Meeting
Wednesday, February 21 | 6:30 - 7:30 pm
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Join us as we hear from candidates for the Berkeley City Council District 7 Special Election and receive a presentation from BART Director Rebecca Saltzman about their Safe & Clean Plan! EBYD members will also be voting on our club endorsement for this race.
In order to be eligible to vote, you must attend the meeting, be 14-35 years old, have attended at least one EBYD meeting or event from February 22, 2023, to January 21, 2024, and have paid your annual dues.
Questionnaires: James Chang | Cecilia Lunaparra
General Membership Meeting
Co-Host: Latine Young Democrats of the East Bay
Wednesday, January 31 | 7 - 9 pm
Spats | 1974 Shattuck Avenue
Join us at our first event of the year! We will be voting on endorsements for the candidates and issues below. In order to be eligible to vote, you must attend the event, be 14-35 years old, have attended at least one EBYD meeting or event from February 1, 2023, to January 10, 2024, and have paid your annual dues.
State Senate District 5: Jerry McNerney
Alameda County Board of Supervisors District 2:
Alameda County Board of Supervisors District 4: Jennifer Esteen | Nate Miley
Alameda County Board of Supervisors District 5: Ben Bartlett | John Bauters | Nikki Fortunato Bas | Gregory Hodge | Lorrel Plimier
City of Oakland Auditor: Michael Houston
Proposition 1: Yes on Prop 1 | No on Prop 1
Measure A: Alameda County Charter Amendment (Notification Period of Civil Service)
Measure B: Alameda County Charter Amendment (Adopting State Law Recall Procedures)
Measure D: City of Oakland Regular Measure (Increasing the Appropriations Limit)
Measure H: Berkeley Unified School District Parcel Tax
2023 Events
2024 Executive Board Elections
Join us at our last event of the year!
Thursday, December 14 | 7 - 9 pm
Kinfolx | 1951 Telegraph Avenue
Candidate, Pronouns, Position Sought, Statement
Rubén Hernández Story (He/Him/Él) - President
“After serving on the board for five years, I would be honored to be your next president! When I moved to California in 2018, I was immediately welcomed into the EBYD family and I cannot wait to continue to give back to our members and the community at large. From México to Texas, Ohio, and California, I have been fortunate to meet folks from all walks of life and I use that daily to guide my moral compass. I hope to utilize my eight years of experience as a legislative aide (Ohio Senate and East Bay cities of Richmond and Berkeley) and years of board service on EBYD and the Latine Young Democrats of the East Bay (last two as president) to work with my fellow board members to further elevate our club and our membership in the local and state Democratic Party.”
Christina Becker (She/Her) - VP of Political Affairs
“My name is Christina Becker and I am running for the role of VP of Political Affairs. I joined EBYD in 2016, and have held several board positions, including President and VP of Programming. My experience has taught me how important the endorsement process is to EBYD and its membership, but also how much work goes in to putting on endorsement events. As VP of Political Affairs, my goal will be to put the interests of our membership first. I will collaborate with our members to create a sustainable endorsement roadmap, one that prioritizes races that benefit Young Democrats and also ensures that we don't burn ourselves out trying to endorse in every race.”
Daijon Jackson (He/Him) - VP of Programming
“Hi I’m Daijon, born and raised in Oakland CA. I have been involved in politics since highschool working with advocacy groups, campaigns, and electeds. Currently working with Senator Wiener and will soon be transitioning to campaigning with Lateefah Simon. I am looking forward to joining the board to build the young dem community, build local partnerships, and get more young dems in office!”
Erika Neal (She/Her) - VP of Membership
“I am thrilled to announce my candidacy for Vice President of Membership for the East Bay Young Democrats. As a dedicated advocate for community engagement and progressive values, I'm committed to fostering inclusivity and expanding our membership base. My passion for civic involvement and youth empowerment aligns with the goals of the East Bay Young Democrats. If elected, I will work tirelessly to amplify our impact and ensure that our membership reflects the our community.”
Annie Koruga (They/Them) - Policy Director
“Hi all! I’ve been proud to serve in a variety of positions, both in the Young Democrats and the Democratic Party. I currently serve on the boards of the CYD Environmental and Progressive Caucuses, as well as on the board of the YDA Disability Caucus. Within the CDP I serve as likely one of the youngest Executive Board Members, alongside my roles on the Executive Board of the ACDCC and the Renter’s Council. I want to bring these experiences and perspectives to EBYD, as we seek to continually uplift the voices of each other as Young Democrats.”
Caleb Smith (He/Him) - Parliamentarian
“I am seeking my fifth term on the EBYD board and a return to parliamentarian. I look forward to helping with candidate forums and various odds and ends next year. I also promise a lively sense of humor.”
Sky Marazzi (They/Them) - VP of Fundraising
“Hello fellow East Bay Young Dems! My name is Sky and I'm excited to tell you about why I would love to join the EBYD Board next year and how I hope to serve our community! A little bit about me is that I originally came to the East Bay for college and it's since become my home. I've been a part of a number of community organizing campaigns and regularly engage in policy advocacy work to address issues of housing, sustainability, and civic engagement among young people and migrant populations. What I've gleaned from my experiences is that in order to address the issues before us, we need to engage those who are often most overlooked, but also most affected by what the future holds. I want to empower other young people and marginalized communities to share their perspectives and become leaders of change. I hope to help EBYD bring more voices to the table, expand opportunities for people to get involved in regional advocacy, and overall, work to address the economic, environmental, and social justice issues that continue to impact our community. Thank you and I'm excited at the prospect of serving as one of your Board reps!”
Celina Reynes (She/They) - Parliamentarian, Secretary, or Board Member At-Large
“My name is Celina. I’m a City Councilmember for San Leandro, where I was elected in 2024 with the help of EBYD. Before that, I was on EBYD’s board as Secretary. I am currently in law school where I am focusing on plaintiff-side consumer protection and mass torts (i.e., making bad people pay for doing bad stuff). I live in San Leandro with my husband, daughter, and two cats.”
Tina Posner (She/Her) - Controller
“I am currently a Legislative Aide in a Berkeley Council Member's office and looking to stay engaged and uplift other young people in the political realm. Excited to [hopefully] be part of the rad things EBYD does in 2024!”
Olivia Asemota (She/They) - Director of Communications
“I've spent the past year as a Board Member At-Large for EBYD and was able to learn so much more about the political spheres of California and the East Bay. I plan on using this knowledge to continue the phenomenal work of our outgoing Director of Communications and expand our outreach to the community. I plan to use effective communication styles to strengthen our social media presence and diversify our audience.”
Ambar Mishra (He/Him) - Board Member At-Large
“I am delighted to run for a board member position with the East Bay Democrats. My engagement began with helping in organizing a candidate mixer event and regular meeting attendance, deepening my understanding of the organization. My involvement with Maitri, a South Asian domestic violence survivor resource group, and my advocacy with the ACLU, reflects my dedication to inclusive social justice. Recently, I've become a certified counselor in sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking, furthering my commitment to addressing critical societal issues. I hope to bring my diverse experiences and a passion for progressive values to contribute effectively to EBYD's future.”
Gordon William Russell (He/Him) - Board Member At-Large
“My name is Gordon Russell. I was born and raised in the City of Berkeley, and I currently work in City Government. I joined EBYD about half a year ago, and have been blown away by what we have accomplished so far and by the many friends I have made. I want to help out in multiple avenues, so I believe being a board member at-large would be the best way to make the multifaceted impact I hope to have on and with this important organization. Thank you for your consideration.”
Taj Herzer-Baptiste (He/Him) - Board Member At-Large
“My name is Taj and I’m running for VP of Fundraising and Board Member at Large. In my current position as Intern at Emerge America, I have extensive experience with fundraising for progressive caucus. I look forward to working with EBYD to ensure a much stronger fiscal/financial outlook. LFG! Onwards together”
2023 Annual Gala
Join us at our biggest event of the year and our annual fundraiser - this year’s theme is “Beyoncé Renaissance”
Saturday, November 4 | 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Fluid510 | 1544 Broadway (Oakland)
Young Democrat ($20) - for due paying members of East Bay Young Democrats
Friend of the Bay ( $25) - for non student or non-due paying members
Student Tickets ($10) - for Young Democrats that present valid student-id
Sponsors: A HUGE thank you goes out to our sponsors for their support and generosity in helping young Dems fight for a more progressive East bay - do not worry, if you have not yet, you can still donate now, at the gala, or anytime after!
Trailblazers: Representative Barbara Lee, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, Assemblymember Mia Bonta, Councilmember Sophie Hahn, Kos Read Group
Organizers: Director Lateefah Simon, Councilmember Terry Taplin, Vice Mayor Courtney Welch, Denard Ingram, Caleb Smith, SMART Local Union No.104, Housing Action Coalition, Clifford Moss
Activists: Assessor Phong La, Supervisor Nate Miley, Trustee Ryan LaLonde, Councilmember Mark Humbert, Chair Igor Tregub, Victor Flores, Warren Logan, San Francisco Young Democrats
Supporters: Victor Aguilar Jr., Soli Alpert, Jesse Arreguín, Christina Becker, James Chang, Sam Davis, Rocky Fernandez, Nikki Fortunato Bas, Kate Harrison, Rubén Hernández Story, Adena Ishii, Aisha Knowles, Elaine Peng, Celina Reynes, Libby Schaaf, Lena Tam, Loren Taylor, Alfred Twu, Jean Walsh, JP Walsh, Jenny Wong
Awardees: Sasha Ritzie-Hernandez (Barbara Lee Beacon of Hope Award), Victor Flores (Kick-Ass Youth of the Year), Senator Aisha Wahab (Legislator of the Year), SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (Organization of the Year), and Erika Neal (EBYD Member of the Year)
Financial Accessibility: If you are a Young Democrat concerned about finical barriers to our events, please reach out to Finance@EBYD.org to discuss other ways to participate.
Membership Dues Waiver: Through sponsorship or purchasing a ticket, guests of sponsors and new attendees are eligible to waive their membership dues.
General Membership Meeting (Second Mondays)
Co-Host: Latine Young Democrats of the East Bay
Voting will occur on agenda items that are posted seven (7) days prior to the meeting. If you would like to add an item to the agenda, please contact info@ebyd.org. In order to be eligible to vote, you must attend the meeting, be 14-35 years old, have attended at least one EBYD meeting or event from October 17, 2022, to September 25, 2023, and have paid your annual dues.
Monday, October 16 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm | Agenda
Democratic Central Committee: Jason Park (Video Statement)
California Congressional District 12 Candidate Mixer
Co-Host: Latine Young Democrats of the East Bay
In order to be eligible to vote, you must attend the event, be 14-35 years old, have attended at least one EBYD meeting or event from September22, 2022, to August 31, 2023, and have paid your annual dues.
Thursday, September 21 | 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Fluid510 | 1544 Broadway (Oakland)
Questionnaires: Tony Daysog | Denard Ingram | Tim Sanchez | Lateefah Simon | Jennifer Tran
General Membership Meeting (Second Mondays)
Co-Host: Latine Young Democrats of the East Bay
Voting will occur on agenda items that are posted seven (7) days prior to the meeting. If you would like to add an item to the agenda, please contact info@ebyd.org. In order to be eligible to vote, you must be 14-35 years old, have attended at least one EBYD meeting or event from September 12, 2022, to August 21, 2023, and have paid your annual dues.
Monday, September 11 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm | Agenda
Congressional District 8: John Garamendi
Oakland Unified School District 5: Jorge Cantu Lerma | Sasha Ritzie-Hernandez
State Assembly District 14: Buffy Wicks
State Assembly District 18: Mia Bonta
State Assembly District 20: Liz Ortega
State Assembly District 24: Alex Lee
State Senate District 5: Rhodesia Ransom | Edith Villapudua
State Senate District 9: Marisol Rubio
US Senate: Barbara Lee | Katie Porter | Adam Schiff
State Senate District 7 Candidate Forum & Debate
Co-Host: Latine Young Democrats of the East Bay
In order to be eligible to vote, you must attend the event, be 14-35 years old, have attended at least one EBYD meeting or event from August 18, 2022, to July 27, 2023, and have paid your annual dues.
Thursday, August 17 | 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Fluid510 | 1544 Broadway (Oakland)
Questionnaires: Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín | AC Transit Director Jovanka Beckles | Oakland Councilmember Dan Kalb | Kathryn Lybarger | Assemblymember Sandré Swanson
General Membership Meeting (Second Mondays)
Co-Host: Latine Young Democrats of the East Bay
The monthly Policy and Political Affairs Committee meetings have been converted into general membership meetings, where voting will occur on agenda items that are posted seven (7) days prior to the meeting! If you would like to add an item to the agenda, please contact info@ebyd.org. This month, we will also be holding an early endorsement vote for BART Board of Directors District 7, so if you are a candidate who has yet to announce or file - please reach out ASAP! In order to be eligible to vote, you must be 14-35 years old, have attended at least one EBYD meeting or event from August 15, 2022, to July 24, 2023, and have paid your annual dues.
Monday, August 14 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm | Agenda
Social Hour
Meet the board and other members and learn about the work we do and how you can help!
Friday, August 11 | 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Kinfolx | 1951 Telegraph Avenue (Oakland)
Become a Member (ActBlue) | Donate (ActBlue)
Policy and Political Affairs Committee
Co-Host: Latine Young Democrats of the East Bay
July’s meeting has been converted into a general membership meeting, where we will be proposing updates to our bylaws for your review and input!
Monday, July 10 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm
California Young Democrats Bay Area Policy Forum
Join us for a fun, transit-packed presentation night!
Thursday, May 18 | 6:30 pm
Pelosi Headquarters | 541 Castro Street (San Francisco)
California Young Democrats Bay Area Cinco de Mayo Mixer
Thursday, May 4 | 7:00 pm
Nido's Backyard | 104 Oak Street (Oakland)
Social Hour
Join us for bowling in Oakland's Jack London Square! Meet the board and other members and learn about the work we do and how you can help.
Friday, April 28 | 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Plank | 98 Broadway (Oakland)
California Young Democrats Bay Area Virtual Regional Meeting
Join us to learn more about convention, vote on new merchandise, and win fun prizes!
Wednesday, April 19 | 7:00 pm
Social Hour
Join us at our first event of the year, featuring karaoke and arcade games! Meet our board and other members and learn more about the work we do and how you can help.
Friday, February 3 | 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Bumpers | 408 15th Street (Oakland)