Kickoff Meeting

 Meeting Date: 05/09/2026

Time: 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Location: The Inkwell Art Bar

Welcome and Introductions

• The meeting began at 2:30 p.m. with a welcome to attendees and opening introductions.

• Everyone was asked to sign-in at nassauyoungdems.org/sign-in and answer the survey questions

• Hunter provided introductory remarks, including background on how the Nassau County Young Democrats came together and the purpose of the kickoff meeting.

• Attendees were thanked for coming, and The Inkwell Art Bar was recognized for hosting the event. Attendees were invited to grab a drink and socialize as the meeting began.

Goals and Structure

The group’s goals include:

• Building a community focused on issues affecting people age 40 and under, including how to better reach younger residents.

• Educating young voters through a modern website and having candidates come speak.

• Supporting the meetings/events of other political/civic groups and non-profits.

The group’s roles are:

• Board

  • Registered Democrats, age 18–40

  • Chair

    • Provides overall leadership and sets the agenda for the group.

    • Currently held by Hunter Ellis

  • Co-Chair

    • Assists the Chair and steps in to lead meetings or initiatives as needed.

    • Seat currently empty

  • Secretary

    • Manages organization records and records the minutes for all official meetings.

    • Seat currently empty

  • Treasurer

    • Oversees the organization’s finances and ensures accurate financial reporting.

    • Seat currently empty

• Voting Members

  • Registered Democrats, age 18–40

  • Does not formally exist yet; has to be voted on by the board

• Associate Members / Volunteers / Guests

  • Any party affiliation, any age

  • Does not formally exist yet; has to be voted on by the board

The broader organization structure is at: nassauyoungdems.org/organization

Common Questions

Several common questions about the organization were addressed.

Am I too young or too old for the group?

• All ages are welcome. The group emphasized that organizing takes a broad community and that allies of all ages are needed to achieve its goals.

• Because there are not currently established Young Democrats groups at the local high school or college level, the organization expects and welcomes a wide age range.

• All participants should be treated as equals regardless of age.

Am I too progressive or too left for the group?

• The group acknowledged that members may hold a wide range of views. The purpose of the organization is to come together around shared values and collective goals.

• It was emphasized that young Democrats are future Democratic leaders and have a role in shaping what the party stands for.

How to Get Involved

Attendees were encouraged to participate in whatever way they are able.

Ways to get involved include:

• Attending meetings and telling others about our group is already a large contribution

• Sharing, liking, and commenting on our social media posts helps us reach more people

• Volunteering (including but not limited to) the open board seats

• We’re trying to keep the group as cheap/free as possible but any donations (one-time or recurring) are appreciated

CD4 Candidate Speakers

The group discussed Florida’s Congressional District 4.

Florida has 28 congressional districts, and Nassau County is located in Congressional District 4, currently represented by Aaron Bean.

Three Democratic candidates are running in the district:

• Brit Robinson

• Michael Kirwan

• L.J. Holloway

Each candidate was invited to speak, in the order listed above.

Attendees were informed that candidate petitions would be available for signing afterward. It was clarified that signing a petition allows a candidate to qualify and does not indicate a commitment to vote for that candidate.

Unified Nassau Florida and No Kings Protests

Unified Nassau Florida was recognized for its work coordinating No Kings protests.

The group noted that the successful kickoff was supported in part by videos created at those events, which received more than 175,000 views and helped the organization grow to more than 900 followers.

Unified Nassau Florida is linked on the Nassau County Young Democrats organization page under community groups.

Nassau Community Voices Coalition

Nicole Kresse introduced Nassau Community Voices Coalition and the upcoming Community Hangout.

Event details:

• May 16th - 1:00pm to 5:00pm

• MLK Center Park | 1200 Elm St, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034

Democratic Club of Amelia Island (DCAI) was mentioned and that there is a home for everyone across all the groups and we’re happy to help anyone find their right match.

Final Remarks

The meeting concluded with thanks to:

• Everyone who attended.

• The groups that came out to support the kickoff.

• The Congressional District 4 Democratic candidates.

• The Inkwell Art Bar for hosting the event.

Next NCYD Event:

• Monthly Meeting

• June 13th - 2:00pm to 4:00pm

• Location TBD based on survey feedback

Attendees were invited to continue socializing until 4:00 p.m. when the venue would be re-opened to the public.