Over the past few months, the Hydery-Francken for High School Democrats team has been hard at work speaking with local, state, and national leaders in order to present to you, The People's Platform: a revolutionary platform geared towards reforming the High School Caucus. Please consult The Blueprint: Bringing the High School Caucus to New Heights for a detailed program of changes we will institute to further the goals outlined in this Platform.

1. April 2011
The People's Platform
We the People of the High School Democrats of America, in order to form a more
perfect union of Democratic leaders, establish state chapters across the nation, ensure
Democratic victories, provide for the education of liberal ideals, promote the
Democratic Party, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do
ordain and establish this Platform for the Young Democrats of America High School
Caucus.
Over the past few months, the Hydery-Francken for High School Democrats team has been
hard at work speaking with local, state, and national leaders in order to present to you,
The People's Platform: a revolutionary platform geared towards reforming the High
School Caucus. From Metropolitan New York to San Francisco Bay, we have taken into
account the opinions of individuals across the nation to see what changes they would
like to be made in the Caucus. Please consult The Blueprint: Bringing the High School
Caucus to New Heights for a detailed program of changes we will institute to further the
goals outlined below.
1. Enhancing Communication
We are often labeled the "iGeneration" as our society steps into an age of flourishing
technology. The primary goal of the High School Caucus is to promote, strengthen, and
build the base of the Democratic Party, a task far easier accomplished when a majority
of our target audience is aware of our existence and our actions.
The current leadership of the High School Caucus has made great strides in establishing
a website for the High School Democrats (www.hsdems.org). There are several ways
the website may be improve and become a resource for high school students. Our team
will provide tools for chapters to get started, post the latest new stories, deliver weekly
newsletters, and maintain a regularly updated blog to help our chapters grow and
develop. With high school students being the largest consumers of social media like
YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, we would like the Caucus to better utilize them in
order to communicate with our members. You will see the use of media in both our
campaign and in our organization when elected.
2. Increasing Membership
The recruitment process must be the foundation of local chapters as our members are
the pillars upon which the High School Caucus stands. Without having a substantial
membership at the base of the Caucus, we simply will not be able to carry forward its
vision, objectives, and goals, as well as those of the Young Democrats of America and

2. the Democratic Party. Therefore, the Executive Board and the National Committee will
ensure the process for membership is streamlined directly to local chapters. Looking at
the grassroots level first, finding individuals willing to start chapters in schools and
communities and bringing them together will be the means to the expansion and
success of the High School Democrats.
One of our team’s priorities will be growing our organization by expanding to central,
southern, and western states. Not only will we find High School Democrats to form
chapters, but we will also provide a “jump start” to fledgling caucuses, and revitalize
dormant chapters.
3. Active Publicity and Fundraising
We will begin a massive public awareness campaign through national, state, and
county-level democratic organizations, as well as new-media sources and press outlets,
to educate the general populace about the actions and abilities of the High School
Caucus. By partnering with other issue-advocacy organizations, the High School
Caucus will be brought to the forefront of politics. We will fundraise by reaching out to
professional places of business as well as the DNC and YDA and will also help local
and state chapters begin their own fundraising events. We plan on bringing back
transparency and accountability to the budget and financial matters of our Caucus. A
strong yearly budget will help us successfully promote the ideas of both the High
School Caucus and Democratic Party.
4. Holding Leaders Accountable
"Should," "could," and "would," are terms that have been erased from our team's
dictionary. We are a team representing "will"; we will act to meet our goals
unconditionally. Not only do we expect hard work from ourselves, but from all local
and state chapter leaders across the nation. Often times, students take on positions
solely to bolster their college résumés. To ensure the caucus is moving forward, we will
present incentives promoting friendly competition through initiatives such as "The
Most Active High School State Caucus" program. This annual competition will promote
local and state involvement in the High School Caucus by offering the winning caucus a
dinner banquet with a high ranking official and national recognition. The High School
Caucus will also present awards at YDA conventions and conferences (on non-
convention years) to individuals and state caucuses that have exhibited exemplary
abilities in advancing their High School Caucuses, fiscal responsibility, increased
membership, and have achieved and sustained active membership for the duration of
the year.