YDA Structure
The YDA leadership structure has ensured YDA continues to exist on a national, state and local level with a consistent transition of leadership for more than 75 years.
All of the YDA leaders’ contact information is located on the YDA Leadership List which is located on the YDA Member Site. For login information to the member site, please email office@yda.org.
National Officers: There are nine people elected every two years by the delegates at YDA’s National Convention. The Officers hold calls regularly and guide decisions for the organization. These are distinguished positions which take dedication to building the sustainability of YDA. The nine elected officers currently serving YDA are:
- David Hardt, President
- Chris Anderson, Executive Vice President
- Francisco Domenech, DNC Committeeman
- Crystal Strait, DNC Committeewoman
- A’shanti Fayshel Gholar, Vice President
- Josh Blevins, Vice President of Programs
- Omar Khan, Vice President
- Amy Lewis, Treasurer
- Stephanie Hausner, Secretary
Executive Committee: Serving as the formal body in the YDA charter, this includes Officers, Presidential Appointments, Caucus Chairs, Regional Directors, College Democrats President and the past YDA President. The Executive Committee can make decisions between meetings of the National Committee. It is comprised of 46 people.
National Committee: This is the governing body of YDA between conventions. It is comprised of the Executive Committee plus three people from each state, President, National Committeeman and National Committeewoman. This body can change the charter, pass resolutions, etc.
National Staff: YDA employs staff members on a full, part-time and campaign season basis. The national staff currently includes a full-time Executive Director, Director of State and Local Programs, Finance Director, Political Director, and Operations Director.
State Staff: YDA, in partnership with our State Chapters, employ State Executive Directors, Campaign Directors and canvassers. States that have Executive Directors include AR, AZ, CA, GA, and PA.
Interns: Internships with YDA are available on a national and state level.
YDA Organizational Structure
Charter and Bylaws: The operating rules for YDA are the Charter and ByLaws. A copy of both is available to all members on the YDA website and available upon request.
Platform: The National Platform of YDA is debated and adopted at the biennial convention of the membership. It is available on the YDA website at www.yda.org.
Judicial Council: Handles any ethical disputes and disputes of the YDA Charter.
Standing Committees: Membership is composed of the Appointed Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary and a representative from each chartered state.
- Credentials: Handles official certification of voting credentials at YDA meetings & conventions.
- Rules and Charter: Handles all amendments to the YDA Charter and Bylaws.
- Resolutions: Handles all resolutions submitted to YDA for approval.
Select Committees: Membership is composed of the Appointed Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary and a representative per Region appointed by a Regional Director.
- Affirmative Action and Outreach: Coordinates activities with the National Affirmative Action Committee of the DNC and implements policies and programs of affirmative action at every level within YDA.
- Budget: Approves the national YDA budget.
- Campaign: Establishes all campaign plans on a national level including the Alliance peer-to-peer field programs to ensure Democratic success at the voting booth.
- Chartering and Conventions: Time-limited committee to recommend changes to the Convention and Chartering procedures.
- Finance: Oversees the budgetary functions of the organization, including review, modification and acceptance of the Presidential Executive Budget. Plans events and other efforts to raise and spend the funds of the organization.
- Site Selection: Manages the process for selecting the host chapter and further to coordinate planning with that chapter for the national convention.
Caucuses: Caucus leadership is chosen by the membership of the caucus at the YDA Biennial National Convention. Formally recognized caucuses have a representative on the YDA Executive Committee. Membership of the various caucuses are defined by the YDA bylaws, which are housed at the national office. Any YDA member may attend all functions of any caucus. Caucuses serve to further the involvement and leadership training of the various Base Vote constituencies within the YDA, and foster the education of the youth electorate within these constituencies:
- College Caucus
- Disability Issues Caucus
- High School Caucus
- Labor Caucus
- Rural Caucus
Regions: The membership of the YDA is divided into eight Regions. Each Region elects officers and selects representatives to the select committees and the Judicial Council. Regions convene meetings in accordance to the bylaws. Each region establishes it own bylaws and officer structure.
- Northeast: CT, ME, MA, NH, NY, RI, VT
- Mid-Atlantic: DE, DC, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV, YDA abroad
- Southeast: AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, PR, SC, TN, VI
- Great Lakes: IL, IN, MI, OH
- Midwest: IA, KS, MN, NE, ND, SD, WI
- South-central: AR, LA, MS, OK, TX
- Southwest: AZ, CO, NV, NM, UT, WY
- Pacific: AK, AS, CA, GU, HA, ID, MT, OR, WA