Florida Young Democrats will hold their annual convention in Ybor City, just outside downtown Tampa, on May 19-21.
Speakers and panelists include Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, Florida House Minority Leader Janet Cruz, Winter Park State Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith, former State Rep. Ed Narain, felon rights restoration activist Desmond Meade, and Hillsborough County Commissioner Pat Kemp.
Training sessions will cover transit initiatives in the Tampa Bay region, criminal justice reform, how to connect with newly activated progressives, and how to run for office.
“There is a renewed excitement in the Democratic Party,” said Ricky Nettina, president of the Florida Young Democrats. “We hope to bottle up that energy at the 2017 FYD Convention and push it to make progressive change in our own communities”.
“The Hillsborough County Young Democrats (HCYD) are excited to host the 2017 FYD State Convention. Hillsborough and the surrounding counties are essential for developing Democratic leadership in Florida,” said Alvin Jin, Ph.D., president of HCYD. “We look forward to sharing the history of our city with young Democrats from across the state, and encouraging them to get involved locally to shape the current and future direction of the party,” he continued.