The Young Democrats of Arkansas is a member chapter of the Young Democrats of America (YDA) and holds three votes on the YDA National Committee: President Chris Burks, National Committeeman Zach Morrison, and National Committeewoman Jessica DeLoach. Additional information about the Young Democrats of America can be found at www.YDA.org

The Young Democrats of Arkansas is a member chapter of the YDA Southcentral Region Caucus which is composed of Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Rebecca Burgin of Oklahoma is the chair of the South-Central Region. Additional information about the Young Democrats of America Southcentral Region Caucus can be found at
http://facebook.com/group.php?gid=2302094169

Young Democrats of America National Convention

The Young Democrats of Arkansas hosted the 1999 National Convention with a keynote from DNC General Chair Roy Romer.  We also hosted it in Hot Springs in 1971 with keynote speaker Hubert Humphrey.
 

About the Young Democrats of America

The Young Democrats of America (YDA) has been the official youth arm of the Democratic Party since 1932. Open to anyone under the age of 36 who affiliates with the Democratic Party, YDA is a nationwide grassroots organization with 42 chartered states and 780 local chapters. The 43,000 plus membership reflects the broad diversity of our national and the Democratic Party. This includes high school students, college students, young workers, young professionals and young families. All of the members have the interest of their community at heart and work hard to affect the democratic process.

Founded in 1932, the Young Democrats of America held its first national organizational meeting in Washington D.C., with delegates from 27 states and the District of Columbia present. The YDCA was formally organized, but later in the year, over 600 people attended the first real national meeting held at the DNC National Convention in Chicago. Shortly thereafter, the DNC adopted the Young Democratic Clubs of America as the official youth organization of the Democratic Party. The first national convention was held in Kansas City in 1933. A detailed history of the YDA is available from the National Office.

Today, participation in the Young Democrats of America gives members the opportunity to network with their peers from across the nation and the opportunity to sharpen their political skills; YDA serves as a coordinating body, a training ground, and a valuable resource tool for our members. YDA members get first-hand experience in a wide variety of activities including campaigns and elections, grass roots organizing, fund-raising, conventions, and candidate endorsements. Additionally, Young Democrats help shape the ideas of persons seeking elective office. Sometimes those candidates are members of - or are directly recruited from - the Young Democrats of America.