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Category: In The News

Great Article in the Queens Courier on Our President Emeritus, Matthew Silverstein!

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Matthew Silverstein has been serving the only place he has ever lived in since he graduated college. Silverstein calls civic associations the backbone of our communities. In addition to serving as a volunteer at his local civic association, Silverstein volunteers for a political group as well. From 2005-08, he served as president of Queens County Young Democrats, for whom he worked for five years to gain recognition of his chapter as a major contributor to the political scene. Now as the new NYS Young Democrats president, he encourages youth involvement in the Democratic Party and instills young people with the values that the Democratic Party stands for.

PERSONAL: The 28-year-old graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from City University of New York (CUNY) Baruch, and in 2007 with a Masters in Urban Affairs from CUNY Hunter. He is unmarried and has lived in Bay Terrace since he was five.

JOB: Silverstein works as project analyst for America Works, which is an organization that puts hard to place people such as veterans and homeless people back to work.

Read the full article from the Queens Courier here.

New Yorker Stephanie Hausner Gets Re-Elected to YDA DNC Post

Clarkstown Councilwoman Re-Elected to National Democratic Post

William Demarest, New City Patch, July 19, 2010

Clarkstown Town Board member Stephanie Hausner has been re-elected to serve as the Young Democrats of America DNC Woman.

She was re-elected at the YDA Summer Meeting in Washington, D.C., along with a new president of the national youth outreach arm of the Democratic National Committee.

Hausner will continue to be responsible for helping shape the direction of the Young Democrats of America. In her position as DNC Woman, she is one of nine national officers elected every two years. These officers include, president, three vice presidents, treasurer, secretary and YDA DNC man and woman.

During her time as the YDA DNC Woman, Hausner has been able to advocate for youth in New York and has been a leading voice at the national level on behalf of her home state.

“I am incredibly thankful to YDA for once again trusting me to represent young Americans on the DNC,” Hausner said. “I’m excited to continue to work with leaders from across our country so that together we can maintain the momentum that the young Democrats started in 2004, which reached record heights in 2008, and will continue to soar in 2010.”

“In what is clearly a crucial election year it is extremely reassuring to know that New York will continue to have an advocate at the National level,” said New York State Young Democrats President Kevin Lawrie. “Obviously Democrats all over the country have a lot at stake this year and New York is no different. Stephanie’s experience and connections with the DNC will help tap into necessary resources that will help get out the vote in November.”

To read more visit: http://newcity.patch.com/articles/clarkstown-councilwoman-re-elected-to-national-democratic-post

Westchester County Young Dem Featured in Local News Young Bedford Corners Democrat Taking Local Politics by Storm

Nina Markowitz–Bedford-Katonah Patch

July 3, 2010

Bedford Corners resident Jeremy Mand never let go of his college idealism. In fact, he built his life around it. Mand, 25, is co-vice chair of the Bedford Democratic Committee, the treasurer of the Westchester Young Democrats, and has a growing list of local politicians he has worked with.

“As a young person graduating school, you want to hope for the best for the future,” Mand said at a recent luncheon held by the Bedford Democratic Committee. But when Mand graduated from Manhattanville College in 2008 and looked to the future, he didn’t like what he saw. And it was the unsettled feeling government gave him that motivated him to take charge of change.

“I got really started with being upset with the policies in the Bush Administration,” he said. “That was a start for me, got me motivated to go into politics.

In a field typically dominated by older generations, and notorious for C-SPAN style, sleep-inducing speeches, Mand instantly found his calling.

What’s more, he described his leap into the world of politics to be “exciting” and “energizing.”

Mand began his career working for Congressman John Hall on his election campaign in 2008, and on his finance team in 2009.

“Getting to know Congressman Hall on a personal level, he’s just such a good person,” Mand said. “He is just such a good guy, with the highest ideals.”

To read more of the article by Nina Markowitz go to: http://bedford.patch.com/articles/young-bedford-corners-democrat-taking-local-politics-by-storm#c

NYS Young Democrats VP Named Rising Star in Politics Selected to The Capitol News "Top 40 Under 40" List

ALBANY, NY In this month’s edition of The Capitol Newspaper, NYS Young Democrats Vice President and Albany County Young Democrats (ACYD) President, Matthew Peter was selected to the Top 40 Under 40 list. Peter is one of the youngest politicos selected to this list at just twenty-four years old. Matthew is a Fiscal Budget Analyst, specializing in education and tax for the Senate Majority’s Finance Committee.

Under Matthew’s leadership, the Albany County Young Democrats were instrumental in several Senate races in 2008, conducting phone banks into several critical swing districts that led to a Democratic Majority. In 2009, ACYD expanded its involvement to the municipal level to help turn former Republican strongholds into areas with Democratic Town Supervisors and Town Boards.

Matthew’s inclusion in this list continues the upward trend of young adults seeing early success in government and politics. Usually, there’s a quick surge and then we fizzle out. We need to become a sustainable and lasting part of the process. We can’t just be viewed as people who get excited about a particular candidate. Our involvement needs to be issue-centered, and we need to be in it for the long haul, said Mr. Peter.

NYS Young Democrats President Kevin Lawrie stated that, “Matt has been an asset to the New York State Young Dems as the President of Albany County’s Chapter and will provide even greater contributions as our Vice President. Matt’s experience and relationships with our elected officials in the Capitol and in the surrounding areas are going to be a key part of the organization moving forward. It is a pleasure to congratulate Matt on his selection to this list and I am sure it is not the last time he will be on it.”

Vice President Peter was included in a list with several members of the Senate and Assembly, lobbyists, reporters and other policy analysts much like himself. To read the full article about Matthew and his fellow rising stars, go to Capitol Newspaper’s Website at http://www.nycapitolnews.com/news/125/ or pick up a copy already in print.

Young Dem’s Act Out Against Hate

To Purchase Tickets Please Visit: http://www.actblue.com/page/actout

The New York State Young Democrats would like to thank the following individuals for their support of Young Dems Act Out Against.

Host Committee

Producer
Former Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi
Dave Pollak

Director
Zac Townsend

Ensemble
New York State Senate Tom Duane
Assembly Member Micah Kellner
Matthew Morningstar & Alan Van Capelle
Sean Patrick Maloney

DNC Woman & Clarkstown Town Council Member Stephanie Hausner
Matthew Silverstein
Costa Constantinides
Al Benninghoff
Michael Corbett
Jeremiah Frei-Pearson
Sam Hudis
Benjamin Kallos
Ricki Lieberman
Kate O’Hagen
Ian Rivera
Krisana Silverstein
Yetta G. Kurland

Honorable Mention

Michael Gilberg
Chris Ryan
Amanda Pizzuti
Ciara Pressler
Tajian Jones
New York City Anti-Violence Project
Nassau County Police Department

Broadwayworld.com Features Young Dem’s Act Out Against Hate

Arnette, Mello, Johnston Set for Stage Reading of STOP KISS, 1/16

Original Link:
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Arnette_Mello_Johnston
_Set_for_Stage_Reading_of_STOP_KISS_116_20091226

Diana Son‘s play ‘Stop Kiss’ will receive a one-night only stage reading on January 16.  The reading will be performed by Crystal Arnette as Sara, Jennifer Mello as Callie, Jared Johnston as Peter, Jeremy Seglem as George, Mary Leggio as Mrs. Winsley/Nurse and Bernard Burlew as Detective Cole. Directing will be Brian Letchworth; Sarah Jane Arnegger will produce the event.

According to press notes, ‘Stop Kiss’, according to press notes, “is about loving and the consequences of loving – both wonderful and terrifying, both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Through humor and ordinary interactions, important questions are asked: When do we risk our personal safety for the sake of speaking our truth? What happens when our hearts are open to another person? Taking risks, both personal and emotional, is at the core of Diana Son‘s deceptively simple play. Stop… or go forward? Kiss… or keep walking? Speak up… or stay silent?”

‘Stop Kiss’ was produced Off-Broadway in 1998 at The Public Theater in New York City, and starred Sandra Oh and Jessica Hecht.

‘Stop Kiss’ will be held at Hunter College for one-night only on January 16. The reading commences at 8PM.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by clicking here. The Ida K. Lang RecitAl Hall at Hunter College is located at 695 Park Avenue.