2020 is a tough year to be a Manhattan Young Democrat, but it doesn’t mean we’re any less resourceful, resilient, and tough. This year’s 2020 Young Gets It Done reflects the tenacity of New York City’s young Democrats. This year, our honorees protested for our rights in the streets, pushed for legislation to protect the livelihood of others, and protected immigrant communities from Trump’s administration.

2020’s Honorees

 

Carla Sanderson Esq

Check out Carla Sanderson’s Facebook interview with MYD!

Carla Sanderson opened her law firm in January 2016. The firm’s practice areas are criminal defense, employment discrimination, civil rights and immigration. Carla‘s criminal defense work consists primarily of representing people charged with federal crimes, including those charged with capital offenses, who cannot afford an attorney. Through her work, Carla zealously advocates for her clients and strives to raise awareness of the urgent need for reform of the criminal system. Carla is a member of the Souther and Eastern District of New York CJA panels, the LGBT Bar Association, the Federal Bar Council’s Inn of Court and Committee on Sentencing and Alternatives to Incarceration and is the Treasurer of the New York Criminal Bar Association. 

 

Glenn Cantave

Check out Glenn Cantave’s Monument’s Project!

Glenn Cantave is the Founder/CEO of Movers & Shakers NYC, a nonprofit that uses augmented reality to write black and brown history in American curricula. They are developing a catalog of augmented reality monuments and culturally responsive pedagogy for middle school students. Glenn is an activist, performance artist, and social entrepreneur. Past pieces include running the NYC Marathon in Chains, a slave auction pop/up AR exhibit and a fast for the duration of Black History Month 2020 calling for a more equitable blueprint of NYC. Glenn has been advocating for equitable representation in public spaces since 2017. He was on the front lines in Charlottesville, Virginia as a counter-protester at the Unite Against the Right Rally. His photo of protesting in chains went viral around the world.  His TED Talk on ‘How Augmented Reality is Changing Activism’ was featured on the homepage of TED.com in July.  He is a Camelback Fellow, TED Resident, and former artist in resident at Eyebeam.

 

Jessica Ramos

Learn more about Jessica Ramos here and here!

 

TS Candii

Check out Black Trans Nation’s Facebook page!

Check out TS Candii’s interview with MYD!

From TS Candii:

 

“I’m founder of Black Trans News LLC/Black Trans Nation leader of DecrimNY & Repeal Walking While Trans ban. Public-speaker, public-figure, pro-politics, organizer, activist, and film-producer – working on the documentary POLICING OUR BODIES has given me a creative way to share my life experience organizing as a black transgender womxn.”

 

Xiomara Loarte

Check out Xiomara’s interview with MYD!

Xiomara Loarte is a first generation Peruvian-American born and raised in Newburgh,New York. The City of Newburgh is home to a predominantly Black and Brown community in the Hudson Valley that has been plagued by a constant negative narrative. Whenever there were struggles her mother would always say, “Everything has a solution, except for death.” Xiomara lives by that philosophy.

Everyday, Xiomara carries this philosophy with her as she works as an advocate for change.It brought her insights growing up amidst economic stresses and community tensions. She understood that those barriers were rooted in deeper issues like people needing to work 2 jobs because of unlivable wages, the lack of job security, limitations because of immigration status, and simply the lack of opportunities. As a high school senior, Xiomara took on new challenges when her father and brother were detained as a result of a workplace raid. She says now, “I got where I am because of the fighting spirit the City of Newburgh instilled in me.”All of these experiences as a minority youth of inner city Newburgh influenced her trajectory in the years to come.While studying at Mount Saint Mary College, Xiomara majored in History and Political Science at Mount Saint Mary College. During her time at MSMC she interned for her local Congressman and for the NY State Senate. She was honored for inclusion in “Who’s Who Among Students” and was named “Student of the Year” by the New York State Cooperative &Experiential Education Association.Upon graduating Xiomara gained her first position as a legislative staffer for State Senator Gustavo Rivera after graduating in 2014.She joined the New York City Central Labor Council,AFL-CIO team in 2017 where

Xiomara found her true home –in the labor movement- as the Community Outreach Coordinator. There, she encourages affiliate members to get involved in local Community Boards, so the voices and interests of unions and working people are heard. She enjoys building community partnerships and assisting in events like“Future in Focus” with the United Federation of Teachers, which encourages high schoolstudents to “think big” about their futures… and think union!This year, Xiomara was selected by City & State as a “Labor Rising Star” and has begun her Labor Studies master’s program at the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies. “The Labor Movement ignites her dedication to their mission because the very values that she was raised on – equality, respect, and perseverance – are similar to those that ignited and continue to move the Labor Movement. Working with different unions,Xiomara believes, “Although we may disagree at times, with genuine respect and openness,we can collaborate to build a better future.” And that reinforces the wisdom of her mother’s favorite saying, “Everything has a solution…”