Metro Richmond Area Young Democrats

It took nine states – Georgia, Kansas, New Hampshire, Nevada, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, South Dakota, and California. Then, he made Richmond, Virginia, home.

After leaving his hometown of Columbus, Georgia, to attend Kansas State University, Tyrone quickly got involved on his campus and the campaign trail. He served as an Ally Advisor and Multicultural Affairs Director, helping to create safe spaces for students and ensuring the voices of minority communities were being heard.

Tyrone served in a volunteer capacity with the campaign to re-elect President Obama, and then with Paul Davis for Governor. In 2016, he was able to take the skills he’d developed as a volunteer and join the Bernie Sanders for President campaign as a Field Organizer.

He quickly rose through the ranks on the campaign, working in seven different states, and ultimately serving in a role with the National Advance Staff. The campaign had become his second home and the people he worked with, like a second family. So, as the campaign came to an end he sought to find that elsewhere. He found that in Richmond, Virginia, with the Jack Berry for Mayor campaign, and then through the special elections of Senator Jennifer McClellan and Delegate Jeff Bourne.

Since making Richmond his home, Tyrone has expanded that second family through both his work and community service. He currently works with New Virginia Majority as a political coordinator, developing and managing relationships with allied organizations in the progressive community. Tyrone serves as an executive member of the Urban League of Greater Richmond Young Professionals, Richmond City Democratic Committee, Living with Sickle Cell RVA, and serves as a Young Adult Ministry Co-chair at First African Baptist Church.

In addition to Metro Richmond Area Young Democrats, he also belongs to the Democratic Black Caucus of Virginia.

As unique and sturdy as the signature wooden bow-ties he makes – a skill he learned from his Uncle – Tyrone has made a home of Richmond and we’re glad to recognize him as our March Member of the Month.

Know an outstanding young democrat? Nominate our next member of the month here. 

Ben is the Vice President of the Metro Richmond Area Young Democrats and has been a member of the organization since 2015.

A Richmonder by choice, Ben was born and raised in the Minnesota’s Northwoods. Up there, he found his political calling during the Democratic tidal wave of 2006. That year, he volunteered with his local candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives and witnessed the power of community organizing. He was hooked.

Ben moved to Virginia to attend the University of Mary Washington, of which he is a proud alumnus. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and minored in Middle East studies. He spent all four years at UMW as a member of the Mary Washington Young Democrats executive board and one-and-a-half years as president. Under his leadership, those Young Democrats organized and participated in sit-ins, die-ins, and more dorm storms than Ben can count.

After graduating from UMW, Ben was chosen to participate in the Governor’s Fellows Program in the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office. There, he worked on restoration of rights and saw firsthand Governor McAuliffe and Mayor Stoney’s monumental progress on voting rights.

After finishing the Governor’s Fellows Program, Ben retreated to the mountains of Fauquier County for a Thoreauvian soul cleansing. Governor McAuliffe lured him from the woods by offering him a position in the Governor’s administration. Since then, Ben has served as records manager of the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office. His favorite parts of his job are serving as the Virginia Indian tribes’ liaison to the state government and overseeing the Governor’s Fellows Program, the same program he once belonged to (and the program whose applications just opened!).

In the words of Paul Wellstone, Ben represents “the Democratic wing of the Democratic party.” His passion comes from a commitment to workers’ rights, voting rights, community engagement, and maintaining the pillars of our representative democracy.

When he is not gallivanting to political events or attending powwows, you can find Ben cycling around the city, drinking copious amounts of coffee, baking, listening to eclectic music, voraciously reading about obscure political elections, and evangelizing Governor McAuliffe’s mantra “sleep when you’re dead.”

Know an outstanding young democrat? Nominate our next member of the month here. 

Alexsis is the President of Metro Richmond Area Young Democrats and has been an active member of the organization since 2013. She also represents our region on the Virginia Young Democrats board as Executive Vice President.

Alexsis is a native of Hanover, Va., who earned Bachelor’s degrees in Mass Communications and Spanish from Virginia Commonwealth University. Go Rams! When it’s a VCU basketball game day, you can expect Alexsis will be wearing black and gold and making plans to watch the game no matter what.

As the Director of Communications for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia and Virginia League for Planned Parenthood, Alexsis advocates for improved access to reproductive health care for all Virginians. During the 2017 election cycle, Alexsis led digital, media and direct mail efforts for Planned Parenthood Virginia PAC’s $3 million campaign to elect Dr. Ralph Northam for Governor, Justin Fairfax for Lieutenant Governor, Mark Herring for Attorney General, and 66 endorsed candidates for delegate. The historic wins in November 2017 set the stage for major progress over the next four years through legislative, executive and judicial efforts.

Previously as Policy Director for Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam, Alexsis led state legislative affairs and message strategy for his office. Alexsis has managed award-winning communications and advocacy campaigns focused on college affordability, public transportation, pediatric care, labor rights and environmental initiatives.

Alexsis was the youngest person appointed to serve on Governor-elect Northam’s Transition Committee. She is an alumna and board member of Emerge Virginia, and also serves on the board of Virginia Pride.

Know an outstanding young democrat? Nominate our next member of the month here. 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 15, 2018
CONTACT: Alexsis Rodgers, metrorichmondyd@gmail.com