PROVIDENCE — The Young Democrats are back and ready to make their mark on Rhode Island politics. That is the message from a group of up-and-coming organizers and activists who are establishing a state affiliate of the Young Democrats of America here in Rhode Island.

YDRI will be hosting Rhode Island’s “Drinking Liberally” event on Wednesday, Feb. 20, from 7-9 p.m. at the Wild Colonial, and will be holding a launch party and cocktail hour on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m. at Aspire Restaurant in Providence—all are encouraged to attend to learn more about the organization’s goals, plans, and how young people across Rhode Island can get involved.

“Having an active and engaged young electorate is vitally important to a healthy democracy,” said Alex Morash, the President of the Young Democrats of Rhode Island (YDRI). “YDRI works to encourage young Rhode Islanders to become engaged in the Democratic Party and to advocate for the needs and interests of young people within the party and in the halls of government.”

YDRI’s board members hail from organizations representing many of the vital constituencies of the Democratic Party, including Clean Water Action, Planned Parenthood, the Progressive Democrats of Rhode Island, the Providence Student Union and Ocean State Action. Also on the board are State Senator Adam Satchell of West Warwick—a young Democrat himself—and Anthony DeRose, Chairman of the Rhode Island Democratic Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Caucus.

“The Young Democrats provide a valuable means for engaging with elected leaders about the needs of our generation and the issues that concern us,” said Kristina Fox, Executive Vice President of YDRI and the Director of Organizing for Ocean State Action. “Our generation must participate in the discussion about job creation, student loans, civil rights, reproductive justice, immigrant rights, education, poverty reduction and labor rights. These and many other issues directly affect young people, and we need to advocate for fair and just solutions."

The Young Democrats of Rhode Island plan to work for those solutions by helping to elect young Rhode Islanders and candidates that will fight for the interests of young Americans, as well as engaging more young Rhode Islanders in advocacy around the issues that matter to them most.