Newly Elected Councilman Ezra Temko is the first fellow from YP4 and FLLA to
be elected to office! Not only did he run an amazing grassroots campaign
to become the youngest person ever elected to the Newark, Delaware
city council, he won by a landslide! (article here)

First, congratulations to Julianna for being this year YP4 Ambassador. You're well deserving of the honor to represent YP4.

But more than that, now you and your team have a glimpse of what it's like to run a campaign.

Running campaigns, raising money, organizing people, and building the progressive movement is hard work. It's not for everyone. I mean, who really wants to spend all night working on posters or fliers for little or no pay just to get your message out to change a few people's minds.

Well, you. You do. And I need your help.

As the culmination of the Front Line Leaders Academy, voting for the position of PFAW Youth Ambassador will happen today at the YP4 National Summit.

Below, the candidates answer the question, "Why should someone vote for you for PFAW youth ambassador?" Content provided by Raquel Simon of the Young Elected Officials Network.

Also, check out this picture of the candidates getting down at the fellows-only party last night:

[asset|aid=541|format=image|formatter=asset|width=230|height=192|align=right|resizable=true]

The Front Line Leaders Academy (FLLA), coordinated by the Young Elected Officials Network, provides training for young progressives who plan to run or are considering running for elected office or working as campaign staff.

Twenty young leaders were selected to be FLLA fellows. Shaunna Thomas, YP4's program director, has been blogging all weekend from the FLLA's most recent conference.

Links and more below.

Day 2, Front Line Leaders Training.

As the progressive movement matures and becomes more transparent about its mission, vision and values, it's the emerging generation that will have to embody those values for progress to be made. It's encouraging to see so many established elected officials and leaders in the movement actively listening to this group of emerging talent and it's clear that they understand the implications of this training and this moment in time. Andrew Gillum, director of the Young Elected Officials Network and City Commissioner of Tallahassee, Fl noted: It is our job and it is our time to "Make good on MLK's promise of a race neutral society". In addition to equality, justice, choice and rule of law fully realized in this country, it is our collective responsibility to move toward those goals and preparing my generation, the next generation, of leaders is a critical step in that direction.

I am sitting in a room in Denver this weekend courtesy of a program called Front Line Leaders Academy, run by the Young Elected Officials Network. It is the 5th training in the program's history designed specifically for a group of young progressives who are interested in someday running for elected office. As you might expect, there is a lot of talent and ambition in this room. As you might expect me to say, there is a lot of passion and optimism in the room as well. And you'd be right- but it's more than a trite snapshot of the future of the progressive movement that I'm privileged to witness this weekend.

A couple months ago, I talked a bit about how I wish cadidates (especially presidential candidates) who talk about progressive ideas would sound at least a little passionate about it.  I talked about how tired I am of choosing the lesser of two evils.

I don't know that I feel any differently about any of the current candidates, but the second convening of the 2007 Front Line Leaders Academy definately gave me hope for passionate candidates in the near future.

[asset|aid=376|format=image|formatter=asset|width=256|height=334|align=right|resizable=true]

How will you make a difference in the world?

Front Line Leaders Academy is not just a place for campaign managers and future State Legislators. FLLA is also a training ground for leaders in progressive politics that work locally to make change. Young elected officials usually get their start a mayors, city council members, and school board members- and it's a great place to make visible change in the community.

Hoboken School Board President Carmelo Garcia (NJ) was one of the first trainers for FLLA in 2006, and he helped inspire fellows to work towards platforms that were true to their values.

"Carmelo Garcia was one of my favorite FLLA trainers without a doubt. Being the only fellow from New Jersey, I was so excited to meet and interact with a young elected official from my state, and I couldn't have asked for a better one," wrote Elizabeth Camuti, FLLA 2006 Fellow. "School Board Pres. Garcia was passionate about making a difference and encouraged all of us to get involved in our own unique way. Since our first training in Arizona, I have been in touch with NJ YEOs and I hope to be able to serve in office with some of them in the near future. Without FLLA none of this would have been possible!"

[asset|aid=367|format=image|formatter=asset|width=219|height=200|align=right|resizable=true]

FLLA is accepting applications for the class of 2007 until May 8th- and one of our alumni from 2006, Alex Flores, shares his impressions of FLLA below:

"What are Young Elected Officials? They're just like you and me. They're just a couple of years removed from college, still paying their loans, still listening to some of the same music we do. They enjoy the same culture, have the same understanding of the world, and uniquely appreciate our point of view when it comes to politics.

"And that's what made FLLA so special."

[asset|aid=358|format=image|formatter=asset|width=256|height=68|align=right|resizable=true]

Front Line Leaders Academy is up and running again this year, and is now accepting applications for the class of 2007. Over the next month, you will hear from our 2006 fellows about how this progressive and innovative program changed their lives. But let's start at the basics.

What is FLLA?

FLLA, Front Line Leaders Academy, is the premier campaign leadership development program that provides prospective candidates and campaign leaders the ability to learn from successful political campaign professionals. Provided by the Young Elected Officials Network, a program of People For the American Way Foundation, Fellows selected to this elite academy are trained on how to be an effective candidate, campaign manager, finance director, communication director and field organizer.