Tia Stanley- Progressive Fighter

Name: Tia Stanley- Progressive Fighter Location: Frostburg, MD My name is Latia Stanley and I am very active politically. This past election cycle I volunteered for the Democratic Coordinated Campaign as well as the Andrew Duck for Congress Campaign. What can I say? I love politics!

A little about me

I currently serve as the Minority Caucus Secretary for Young Democrats of Maryland. I started my own chapter of College Democrats at my school and I am a member of Baltimore City Young Democrats. I have met so many important people this past year. This includes President Obama, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler, Mayland Comptroller Peter Franchot and a host of other local politicians. I currently serve as the State Political Liaison for the Maryland Student Legislature and I enjoy writing bills to be debated by the student body. Last school year I was elected to serve on my universitys' Student Government Association (a term which ends in May). I am very politically active and I believe politics is my calling.

I would describe myself as a

offline activitst

Why I deserve a Netroots Nation Scholarship

I deserve the Netroots Nation Scholarship because I would like to use the skills learned in the upcoming 2012 elections. I believe that I will learn things that will help me inspire the youth to become politically active. I have heard from so many people that the young voter turnout in 2008 was just a one time thing and that young democrats will never come out in large numbers again. I do not believe this to be true. Furthermore, I plan to run for Maryland State Delegate in the 2014 election. I am absolutely certain that I can take the things I learn at the Netroots Nation conference (including strategies and things that I will bring back from the training sessions) to make this county better...one district at a time.

What first inspired me to get involved

I was inspired after the 2008 election to get politically active. I was always politically active and defended liberal causes when talking with my friends but I realized that in order for change to be made I would have to branch out and spread my beliefs with more people than just friends and family. I felt the need to touch people I've never even met and I knew it wouldn't be easy. The hardest part was taking the first step. It was so hard to hit the submit button to register to attend my first Young Democrats of Mayland event. Since then I have yet to look back.

How I've gotten others involved

I have inspired people across the state of Maryland. I've participated at events in Prince Georges County, Allegany County and Baltimore City among other places. During the last election cycle I signed several people up to volunteer for Governor O'Malley's re-election campaign. I have recruited people at festivals, block parties and community events. Also, as Secretary of the Young Democrats of Maryland Minority Caucus we are constantly coming up with strategies to reach out to minorities of all types.

Why I think participation in the blogosphere is important

Unfortunately I am not a blogger. However I do think that blogging is important. No two people are the same. There are people who will only be inspired by meeting someone in person and hearing their testament. There are also people who would be inspired through means of the internet. I would hope that with people reaching out to others through the internet and people like myself reaching out to people in the physical world everything will come together being that we both are sharing the same message.

More about my involvement with DFA and local work

As I said before, I volunteered this past election cycle for the Maryland Democratic Coordinated Campaign (which was originally the O'Malley/Brown Campaign and Barbara Mikulski for Senate Campaign prior to both campaigns merging). As a college student I could not afford the means to make a significant donation to each campaign. Instead I vowed to help the campaign in other ways. I provided hundreds of hours of free labor in which I did phone banking, mailed letters and went out into communities to increase voter participation. Currently I am President of my school chapter of College Democrats and we meet once a week.

More about my volunteer work

This upcoming summer Young Democrats of Mayland will be out informing people all across the state of Maryland about our organization. Our goal is to ensure that the Democratic Party registers and retains the majority of the youth.

My Twitter manifesto on online activism

In a world where technology is coming a bigger part of our lives (I should know because I can't live without my blackberry) it is important that we reach out through technology. In some ways online activists can reach the same amount of people as I can.

My suggested bumper sticker slogan

You call me a socialist and yet your kids recieve a socialist free education, use the public library system and you sent mail using the USPS. Think again buddy!

My idea for a cool new online action

I think it would be really cool if there was a site similar to farmville when people could go and simulate real life using political parties. We could call it Politicville. There would also be a forum and blog section.