【時報訊】

為促進族裔和諧、提昇政治警醒，以教育實際行動之大聖路易地區民主黨青年團 (GYD, Gateway Young Democrats)日前成軍，四月二十三日(週六)晚間七時，民主黨青年團在聖市城區Roberts Mayfari大旅館舉行第一屆年會，邀請各族裔代表及民主黨政界人士與會。並頒發領導獎予聖路易郡郡長Charlie Dooley及四位市議員及州代表，年齡25歲卻與腦癌奮戰四年之久，目前擔任癌症患者義工之Julia Gold則獲頒英雄獎，Julia Gold 在領獎後含淚致詞，全場來賓為她的不懼病魔之堅韌毅力而鼓掌致意。

大聖路易地區民主黨青年團(Gyp)會長為Michael Roberts Jr.，副會長Terri Harris 及包括Charlie Dooley郡長女兒Stephanie在內之所有會務幹部及會員都是年輕有為，對政治充滿抱負之年青人，他們成立青年團，宗旨在於提昇政治警醒，以教育並採取行動，讓大聖路易地區政治和社區更和諧更健康(Awarencss, Education and Action in All Facts of Life)。

GYD會長 Michael Roberts Jr.與郡長Charlie Dooley

目前任職律師之民主黨青年團會長Michael Robert. Jr.畢業於聖路易Clayton高中，大學就讀亞特蘭大Morehouse學院，這是一所非洲裔美人最具歷史及最優秀之私立學院，黑人民權領袖馬丁．路德就是畢業於該校，Morehouse學院畢業後
Michael Roberts Jr.進入加州法學院就讀，畢業後擔任律師並於2004年自加州回到
自己的家鄉聖路易服務並致力成立民主黨青年團。

Michael Robert Jr表示，民主黨青年團注重青年領袖之培養，社區多元延伸及去除代溝，讓年輕的一代能承襲長輩的理念，發揮政治理想抱負，共同來改善我們所居住的大聖路易地區。近年來有愈來愈多的亞裔年青朋友對政治展現興趣和熱誠。Mike Roberts Jr.歡迎亞裔朋友的加入，落實族裔多元化，促進社區的和諧與美麗。

聖路易郡郡長Charlie Dooley在接受領導獎後致詞表示，很高興看到這麼多年輕人願意站到台前表達自己的政治理念和施展抱負，他說，聖路易市和聖路易郡是一家人，可以攜手合作建立大聖路易地區更繁榮的遠景。

參加大聖路易地區民主黨青年團之條件為年齡在18到36歲間並完成選民登記，參加例行會員會議，並願意讓社區和世界有更美好的明天，會費40元，詳情可發電郵 GYDSTL@aol.com

Charlie Dooley郡長獲頒領導獎

The Gateway Young Democrats, a new Democratic Party organization in St. Louis, held a gala on the evening of Saturday, April 23 at the Roberts Mayfair Hotel in downtown.

The gala began with a reception, in which people mingled briefly in the upstairs balcony. A piano was playing in the background. Then everyone was called downstairs to the hall where the gala was to be held. St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, Comptroller Darlene Green, and other elected local and state officials were present. Members of other local Democratic Party organizations were also there, including Rekha Sharma, President of Florissant Valley College Democrats, Sreenu Dandamudi, Executive Board member of Young Democrats of Greater St. Louis, and Stephanie Dooley, Charlie Dooley's daughter and an Executive Board Member of Gateway Young Democrats.

St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley
聖路易郡郡長Charlie Dooley在GYD大會中致詞

Gateway Young Democrats Vice-President Terry Harris praised St. Louis, saying that the city is coming back, that it is changing, and there is hope for Democrats. Harris also emphasized the mission of Gateway Democrats of St. Louis, focusing on citizen activism and new generation leadership. Locally, he said, its mission is to focus on leaders, elections, outreaching, awareness, education and action; and nationally, electing democratic candidates, encouraging youth involvement, supporting Democratic Party ideas on all levels, and harnessing young people's skills.

Several people were honored with awards at the gala.

Charlie Dooley received an Outstanding Leadership Award from the Gateway Young Democrats. "We've got to do more of this," he said, referring to the gala. "Young Democrats are better than young Republicans," he said, to the audience's laughter.

Comptroller Green also received an Outstanding Leadership Award. She praised the Gateway Young Democrats organization, saying that it was good to see young people coming together to make a solution, rather than a problem. She also advised young Democrats to grow and sustain membership, and make democratic society stronger, with the knowledge they are a force in St. Louis.

19th Ward Alderman Michael McMillan received an achievement award. He congratulated all the awardees and gave thanks to the Gateway Young Democrats. McMillan said, "Let's bring success to Democratic Party, and try to make it successful. Keep up the good work." Along with McMillan, State Representatives Rodney Hubbard and Rachel Storch also received the achievement awards. Hubbard said that he works with more young people in North County. Thanking the Gateway Young Democrats, he said, "Let's continue to promote Democratic Party and democratic messages, let's get busy. Hit the ground and elect democrats."

Julia Gold獲頒英雄獎	GYD會長Micharel Robert Jr.與父親合影

Julia Gold received the Unsung Hero Award. Gold, who had brain tumor, volunteered to help other children who also had brain tumors. She said her actions were giving back to the community what the community gave to her, in terms of helping her with chemotherapy, radiation, and brain surgery.

The President of Gateway Young Democrats, Michael Roberts Jr., closed with a speech. Saying he would speak from the heart although he had some notes in his hands, he said that this first gala was very successful and was created from nothing. He praised the diversity of the crowd, saying, "It is time to unite and bring the city together." He said that young Democrats should view the baby boomers as role models, in terms of how they united and became a powerful political force. He thanked his father, uncle and advisors of Gateway Young Democrats, Gregory Carter, 27th Ward Alderman and Harold Crumpton, the President of St. Louis City Branch of NAACP. Finally he ended the speech with the message that young Democrats should unite and take wisdom from baby boomers to bridge the gap.

The event was considered very successful by the participants, and had a very high turnout.

Calling the event "monumental," Gateway Young Democrats President Michael Roberts Jr. said, "It allowed for a blend of generations of citizens to come together, with one common theme – that is, to change the way we're going in this country. Young Democrats are a group of bright, articulate, very credible academic people." Citing the diversity of the attendees, Roberts said, "We saw people from all walks of life, and what better than to have a unified political party in a country that is, by its nature, diversified?"

GYD會長 Michael Roberts Jr.及 郡長女兒Stephanie Dooley合影 Gateway Young Democrats, Michael Roberts Jr. and Stephanie Dooley	GYD會長 Michael Roberts Jr.(右二)副會長Terry Harris(右一)聖路易國際機 構人士合影

27th Ward Alderman Gregory Carter praised the Gateway Young Democrats, saying unity among the various groups of young Democrats was needed: "What this group [Gateway Young Democrats] is trying to do is diversify, and let people know that the City of St. Louis is not only on the rebound, and we must start thinking about not just the city but the county as well."

St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley said, "I thought it was an outstanding event. I think the St. Louis metropolitan area has a lot to look forward to in the future. This is good...the young people are involved in their own community, and I'm excited about it." When asked what he thought of the Missouri state government's initiative to lower the income threshold to qualify for Medicaid, Dooley said, "I think it's unfortunate. This is the greatest country in the world, and health care should never be an issue." About young Democrats, he said, "Keep up the good work. There's a lot to be done. I'm quite sure that they're well-fortified to carry the message and the baton forward for the better of all of us."