JOHN EASTERLING FOR CDNC PRESIDENT: A CANDIDATE WITH A VISON

Principled. Proven. Progressive.

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MEET JOHN EASTERLING

My name is John Easterling and I am a proud North Carolinian and I believe that our states brightest days are ahead. I was born in Moore County, NC and raised in a rural and textile dependent community of Laurinburg, North Carolina. I am a graduate of Scotland High School and the product of public education. As of now I currently attend the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and pursuing a major in Political Science and a minor in History.

“Tragedy is a tool for the living to gain wisdom, not a guide by which to live.”-Robert Kennedy

During the economic recession of 2007 I saw first hand my community whose economic infrastructure was crippled by the shut down of the vast majority of the textile mills in the county. I saw those who I loved struggle for a dollar and after 20+ years of working for a company just get laid off without any warning. It was at that point that I made a personal commitment to myself to make sure that I one day can be apart of the solution to ensure things like this never happen again to the good and hardworking people of rural North Carolina.

In the year of 2008 I was privileged to get the opportunity to attend a Rally for Hillary Clinton which included her surrogate President Bill Clinton speaking to the crowd. Just imagine an 11 year old boy in a crowd of over a thousand people trying to get to the front ropes to shake the hands of one of his personal heroes. When I thought all hope was gone some random stranger saw my tears and to my astonishment led me to the front where the President noticed the tears and shook my hand, leaned forward and told me “Mark it off your bucket list” and just like that my flame to get involved was sparked once again.

“The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die.”-Ted Kennedy

In the years following in 2009 fellow young people in the community saw fit to elect a 12 year old as their county NAACP Youth Council President. Since then I have been privileged to serve in numerous capacities in the Democratic Party and my community.

2011-2012:Member, Congressman Larry Kissell(D-NC8) Youth Leadership Counsel
2011-Present: Sergeant, Laurinburg Police Dept Explorer Post 400
2012-2013:President, Scotland High School 10th Grade Class
2013-2015:President, North Carolina Association of Teen Democrats
2014-2015:Chair, Young Democrats of America High School Caucus
2015-2016: Minority Affairs Chair of the 8th Congressional District/ College Democrats of NC Rural Caucus Chair/ Coordinator of Students for Chris Rey/ UNCG College Democrats Chief of Staff
2016-Present: CDA Black Caucus National Chairman & CDNC Membership Director
2016- At Large Delegate from North Carolina to the Democratic National Convention for Hillary Clinton

My mission in life is to give and make the lives of so many others better. I wanna see the day where mass shootings isn’t a everyday norm, where youth aren’t gunned down in the inner cities of the United States. I wanna see the day where rural citizens of North Carolina shouldn’t have to travel many of miles to gain access to health care just because the republicans in the General Assembly decided to cut substantial funding for rural health facilities. The North Carolina I know is better and its time to return to higher ground.

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Diversity Outreach

Rural Outreach

Chartering small, private, and community colleges(2)
Charter all UNC Public Universities
Officially engage the Community College Caucus and develop a strategic plan of action
Build partnerships with District and County Parties
Have active and engaged CDNC reps in all 13 congressional districts

Minority Outreach

Organization and Chartering of all North Carolina's HBCU’s
Developing Partnerships with constituency caucuses in NCDP (AAC, Hispanic Caucus, LGBT, and AAPI)
Caucus utilization as our communication base to outreach to diverse groups.
Diversity and Inclusion goals in our appointed leadership

Financial Security

Setting a goal of raising $5,000 in our first year
2,000 Dollar Standing Convention Fund
Finding a ceritified finance director who can commit to two years in that post
Establishing a standardized budgeting process through which a budget is drafted and accepted by the executive board and state council

Engagement

Political Engagement

Building a strong relationship with NCDP and with our democratic leadership in the NCGA(Senate and House Caucus)
Starting a new initiative called “CDNC Leads”, which is targeted to engage college dems in a more in depth way and providing the tools and political knowledge to become an asset for Democratic victories up and down the ballot. Also holding trainings at every triannual CDNC Leadership Meeting.
Developing connections with campaigns and candidates in municipal and legislative elections for the 2017 cycle.
Hosting CDNC campaign invasions twice in the 2017 elections ( ideally once the weekend following the primary and GOTV)
A CDNC fundraising breakfast/ dinner in January 2018, calling it a legislative breakfast, bringing either the Governor or the AG and members from the NCGA leadership.

Chapter Engagement

Monthly State Council calls with a guest speaker always on the call
Forming more leadership opportunities to get chapter leaders/ or members involved in the decision making process(establishing a political campaign committee, finance, and Programing committees) and all these committees are open to any member to apply
A leadership retreat to be held after convention and with newly elected state officers, but with our chapter leaders to discuss ideas and plans for the year ahead.