The Hot Sheet

Jennifer England Joins the PA League of Young Voters as New Director of Communication

Pittsburgh, PA—Jennifer England has joined the PA League of Young Voters as the new Director of Communication, the League announced today.  Ms. England, a native of Eastern Pennsylvania, has been volunteering for the League and sitting on the executive committee since 2004.

“Jennifer has been volunteering with us for several years, but we are thrilled to have her on full time.  Her professionalism and communication experience, along with her creativity and drive helps us out as we expand throughout the state” commented Khari Mosley, Regional Director for the League.

 Ms. England, originally from Bucks County, PA, moved to Pittsburgh in 1994 to work on a doctorate in American History at the University of Pittsburgh. As a graduate student at Pitt she focused on American Social Movements and Women’s History.  While working on her doctorate she also taught History at Pitt, Carnegie Mellon University and Waynesburg College.  

 While working on her dissertation, she decided to completely switch directions and entered the world of professional communications. As an Account Supervisor for Shorey Public Relations, a PR firm with headquarters in Saratoga Springs, NY and Washington, DC, her clients included government and cultural institutions, along with corporate clients.  The Valerie McDonald Roberts Campaign for Lieutenant Governor provided her an opportunity to bring her communication expertise to Pennsylvania politics.  Jennifer has also been active in the local community through volunteer organizing with the Campus Coalition for Peace and Justice, Pittsburgh Free Mumia Chapter, and several political campaigns both national and local.  She has been on the Executive Committee of the League since 2005.

“The League has been my passion since 2005.   Civic engagement provides the cornerstone of our society.  By engaging citizens at a young age, we can create life long voters, people who deeply participate in their government and society. That can only bring good things to our communities.”

Tags: pa league of young voters

‘Propel’ Equals Seperate but Unequal Commission

Propel Equals Separate but Unequal Commission

Pittsburgh, PA:  In response to today’s introduction in City Council of the ordinance to establish Propel Pittsburgh, the Pennsylvania League of Young Voters calls for the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh to adopt a meaningful youth policy rather than continuing to create more toothless unfunded commissions.  Young people do need to have a meaningful voice in city governance, but the Propel Pittsburgh Commission is at best redundant and at worst an autocratic attempt to disfranchise already active young Pittsburghers.

Pittsburgh already has several organizations designed to engage and empower young people including The Pennsylvania League of Young Voters, PUMP, and Progress Pittsburgh.  Creating a commission to represent young people not only replicates the efforts of longstanding organizations like Progress Pittsburgh and PUMP but worse yet, it has been done without any attempt at dialogue with these groups.  The creation of this commission has been done in a complete vacuum. 

Rather than create another commission we ask that the Mayor, who should understand the priorities of young people, pledge to appoint a diversity of young people to all city commissions, boards, and authorities.  Creating a commission on women, youth or people of color is not the same thing as integrating women, young people and people of color into government and making policy decisions based on their best interest.

We should not be creating a separate and unequal commission because the interests of young Pittsburghers span the already existing boards and commissions.  The City Planning Commission, the Ethics Hearing Board, the Citizens Police Review Board, the Housing, Parking, Water and Sewer Authorities, and all the commissions, boards and authorities hold relevance for the city’s young population. More importantly retaining and attracting young people depends on the decisions these bodies make every day. Having a separate commission to make recommendations further distances, disenfranchises and alienates the very people it is meant to include.  Should the Mayor decide to prioritize youth representation on all commissions, the League of Young Voters, would be happy to assist in the nomination process.  We would urge the Mayor to consult Progress Pittsburgh and PUMP for their recommendations as well.

Should this commission be created we suggest rethinking the make-up as well.  The unwieldy size, 35 members, will impact the ability of the commission to meet and come to a consensus.  Beyond the size, we strongly urge the members are more proportional appointed. As it stands, 75% of the members will be appointed by the mayor.  A better structure would be to have equal number of nominees from each city council member and the Mayor’s office.  Two nominees, one female and one male, from the Mayor and from each city council member would create a commission of twenty members guaranteed to represent the city geographically.  We also strongly urge members to reflect the city’s diversity in other areas as well. 

Tags: pa league of young voters, Pittsburgh City Council, Propel Pittsburgh

Stop the Transit Cuts!

Download this petition to stop the public transit cuts in Allegheny County. Then print it out, circulate it to get the signatures, and then just send or drop it off back at our Pittsburgh office at 801 N. Negley.  Making a difference doesn’t get much easier!

Tags: bus cuts, pa league of young voters, public transit

David Dix Joins PA League of Young Voters as New Political Director

David Dix Joins PA League of Young Voters
as New Political Director

Pittsburgh, PA—David Dix has joined the PA League of Young Voters as the new Political Director, the League announced today.  Mr. Dix, a native of Erie brings a long and impressive political resume to the League.

David deepens our bench in really important ways.  The fact that he has deep roots in Erie and considerable experience in Harrisburg helps us out as we expand throughout the state, commented Khari Mosley, Regional Director for the League.

Dix started his political career early, interning for two Pennsylvania gubernatorial campaigns, the Republican National Convention, a congressional campaign and for the Governors Office of Labor-Management Cooperation before graduating from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  David also served as President of the PA State NAACP and was appointed by Gov. Tom Ridge to the Governor’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs, and served as an intern for the 2000 Republican National Convention. Upon graduation David continued to amass an impressive political resume holding various positions on a number of campaigns as a Senior Consultant for Rushmore Group, LLC.  Along with his professional efforts David serves as the Co-Chair for the Pennsylvania Hip Hop Political Convention and on the National Steering Committee for the National Hip Hop Political Convention.

I’m looking forward to working for the League as Political Director. I really believe in the League mission to engage, educate and empower young people and disenfranchised voters. I think the surest route to change is to get more people engaged in the political process and the League has proven its ability to do that.”

Tags: pa league of young voters