Elected Officials Under 35: The Changing Face of Political Office

March 17, 2021, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Hosted by PVCC Democracy Fellows, Alex Flowers and Sommerville Munt, and Campus Vote Project

Serving in an elected capacity is another form of advocacy and activism. This diverse panel is designed to engage college students with young professionals who have experience in different forms of public office. Our guests will highlight the possibility for students to serve in similar capacities and encourage them to embrace the process if interested. This young but experienced panel brings a variety of unique perspectives to this year's civic engagement conference. The panel will be moderated by two PVCC students in collaboration with the Campus Vote Project.

Confirmed Speakers

 

Chuck Black is the Pennsylvania Coordinator for the Campus Vote Project. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Science in project management from Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. Chuck has been an activist from a young age, and he successfully co-organized a movement during his undergraduate career to petition the county to move the local precinct to be closer to campus. In 2016, Chuck was nominated by Governor Tom Wolf to the Shippensburg University Council of Trustees where he is serving a six-year term. Chuck is excited to help empower students across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to use their voice and vote.

 

 

Raaheela Ahmed is the Deputy Director for Fair Elections Center's Campus Vote Project. She is an experienced activist and organizer from Maryland and an elected official on the Prince George's County School Board, who has worked with several nonprofit organizations including America Reads America Counts, and New American Leaders. She is also a trainer with the Progressive Governance Academy, where she trains elected leaders across the country on community leadership, good governance and legislative action.

 

 

Sumaiya Ahmed Sheikh comes from a long history of community service, marketing & communications, and civic engagement. Prior to joining Campus Vote Project, Sumaiya served as the Executive Director of the Michigan Muslim Community Council; where she helped organize and coordinate various community-based events on a national and local level, built relationship’s through interfaith work & collective collaboration, worked directly with media-based outlets to advance voices of American Muslims and aimed to improve the structure of nonprofit organizations in Michigan. Prior to that she was the National Communications Director for Engage where she helped educate, empower, and engage minority communities through political organizing. Sumaiya is excited to work with Michigan’s universities to help institutionalize GOTV. Read more at www.campusvoteproject.org.

 

 

Caleb Rogers was elected to the Williamsburg City Council in May 2020. He currently works as the manager of operations at Alcove Corporation, a real estate investment company. In his Council appointments, Caleb serves on the boards for Olde Towne Medical Center, Virginia First Cities, and Virginians for High Speed Rail. Also in May 2020, Caleb graduated from the College of William & Mary with a B.A. in Public Policy. As a student, he directed fundraising campaigns for the House of Mercy, a regional complete care center for the homeless. He also served a partial term on the Planning Commission and interned in the City’s Economic Development Office.

 

 

 

Samantha Perlman made history as the youngest woman and first Jewish woman ever elected to the Marlborough City Council at age 24 and first new candidate to top the ticket in a Council race. A graduate of Emory University, Sam works as the Civic Engagement Manager at Scholars Strategy Network and is Chair of her city’s Cultural Council. Through her community advocacy, Sam helped secure passage of the 2018 Massachusetts civic education law. Sam is also a graduate of Emerge Massachusetts, where she serves on the Alumnae Committee, and the Institute for Nonprofit Practice’s Community Fellows Program as well as a current 2020-2021 The Philanthropy Connection Fellow. Sam is passionate about empowering the next generation of leaders, especially young women, to be involved in government and run for office.
Other related events to share