VIP Reception

Be sure to join Democratic VIPs and YDWA Leadership from around the state for a private reception before the awards banquet. This event is not included in the registration fee, and YD tickets can be purchased at the door for $10.

Awards Banquet

Every year as a part of the convention, YDWA hosts an awards banquet to recognize the achievements that our organization has been able to make over the past year. This also pro vides convention attendees to get to know each other in a less formal setting. At the banquet, President Megan Gustafson will present awards to some of the hardest working Young D emocrats from the past year.

Nominations are submitted by members, and carefully considered by the President.

Keynote Speaker — Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn

Prior to being elected Mayor of Seattle in 2009, Mike McGinn served as the leader of the Cascade Chapter of the Sierra Club and the Executive Director and Founder of the Seattle Great City Initiative. His career as an activist spans from serving as the President of the University of Washington's Graduate and Professional Student Senate to leading the campaign against the ill-conceived roads and transit package in 2007. His advocacy was critical in preventing the construction of unnecessary sprawling highways, and the very next year he shepherded through a new transit initiative which expanded the Puget Sounds developing light rail system. As Mayor he has pushed for infrastructure reforms in Seattle, even greater development of light rail and other public transit initiatives, a more common sense approach towards marijuana prosecution and better coordination between schools and the city to promote a better quality of education for students. Throughout both his campaign and his mayoral tenure he has not only encouraged, but actively facilitated youth involvement in the political process.