What’s in Iowa’s future? In this session we learned what high school and college-aged activists are fired up about, what they’re doing to move the needle in politics, and how we can help them. 

 

The session featured two young Democratic leaders, one with a college perspective, and one in high school.

 

Estella Ruhrer-Johnson (she/they) is a 22-year-old community organizer and activist from Sioux City. After obtaining her BA in both Political Science and Social Justice, she is now pursuing an MS in Political Science with a certificate in Urban Leadership. They wear many hats, including DEI Chair for Congressional District 1 and Johnson County Democrats, Chair of Iowa College and Young Democrats, elected member of the DNC Youth Council, and currently, coordinated campaign field organizer in Johnson County. Their advocacy is centered in Black intersectional feminism with emphasis on Racial and LGBTQIA2S+ liberation. When she is not making good trouble, you can find Estella grabbing a cold brew at your local coffee shop or home with her wife Rena, as well as dog Blue–named after the Democratic party!

 

Preet Shukla is a rising senior at Waukee High School. She is part of the Institute of Youth in Policy as a Public Health Analyst and Community Fundraising Coordinator and is now a Public Policy Fellow. She is also closely working with organizations like High School Democrats of America as the Iowa Vice Chair; she is interning with Sarah Trone Garriott (Congressional District 3) and is a field intern with the Rob Sand campaign. Preet is on a mission to combat Iowa’s rising cancer rates, and she is leading a professional team to architect and lobby for the “Iowa Drink Safe Act.” Her work focuses on bridging the divide between public health and Iowa’s agricultural heritage.