National Convening Program Books 2014 YEO National Convening Program Book | Page 4
Dear Friends:
Welcome to the ninth annual Young Elected Officials Network
National Convening! We are thrilled you have joined us for this
exciting event.
As you can see, this year we have left the Washington, DC beltway
behind. Instead, we are bringing the National Convening back
to the states, where real change is underway. We look forward to
learning from local and community-based partners – and of course,
from all of you. At YEOs’ request, we have created more time and
space for peer to peer discussion and strategizing about your policy
endeavors. We take pride in the YEO Network’s model of participatory leadership,
as evidenced by our community and membership driven agenda. We look forward to seeing the impact
we can make when we harness the collective energy of YEOs across the country.
Our focus this year is on the struggles against inequality that lie at the heart of all of our platform issues
– a reminder that the YEO Network is truly “of, by, and for” the people. As we see widening income
gaps, increasing privatization, and continued and organized attacks on our democracy and rights, our
work at the YEO Network has never been more important. We used this lens of restoring power to the
people and advancing equality in all of our policy sessions and skills trainings. We look forward to the
ideas and collaborations that you develop as a result of these trainings.
We face a critical moment in our country. We face big decisions about our future – about our natural
resources, about some of our most valued rights, about equality of opportunity and outcome, about
the very notion of the American Dream. But this network gives me hope for the future, and reaffirms
our purpose: that we are indeed creating an enduring pipeline of courageous and innovative leaders
to change the world.
We hope this weekend will cement your own call to service and inspire new ideas, action, and real
change in your own communities. If there is anything that we can do to enhance your YEO Network
experience or support you in that call, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
Again, welcome!
Yours in service,
Andrew D. Gillum
Executive Director, Young Elected Officials Network
City Commissioner, Tallahassee, FL