our story
The Columbia University College Democrats are an undergraduate student-led campus organization at Columbia University in the City of New York. We fight for progressive values at all levels of government, help elect Democrats across the country, and work to shape the future of the Democratic Party.
OUR vision
Our vision is a Democratic Party that advances the movement for justice, equity, and authentic representative democracy by engaging young people as partners in shaping our progressive future.
OUR mission
Our mission is to empower young people to be change-makers in their communities by creating an inclusive, student-led space for political education, civic discourse, and democratic action in pursuit of our core values and issues.
our equity statement
As an organization fighting for progressive change across the nation, we firmly commit ourselves to the pursuit of equity and justice. We welcome Columbia University community members of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, abilities, citizenship statuses, nationalities, socioeconomic statuses, religions, identities, lived experiences, and perspectives. We acknowledge the systemic nature of oppression, and condemn racism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, sexism, classism, and bigotry of any form.
We recognize that fostering diverse perspectives is not a passive endeavor. Accordingly, we commit ourselves to actively uplifting BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer+), FGLI (First-Generation, Low-Income), and other underrepresented voices. We take every effort to eliminate barriers of accessibility in participation in our organization and its events.
We recognize that fostering diverse perspectives is not a passive endeavor. Accordingly, we commit ourselves to actively uplifting BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer+), FGLI (First-Generation, Low-Income), and other underrepresented voices. We take every effort to eliminate barriers of accessibility in participation in our organization and its events.
Community Guidelines
Before each meeting, we establish the following norms for our space, with the intention of creating safety, inclusion and community within the context of productive conversation. This list is non-exhaustive, as students have the opportunity to propose new guidelines at each meeting.
- When speaking, state your name and pronouns, if you're comfortable. Default to they/them pronouns when you do not know someone’s pronouns.
- Speak from the “I” perspective.
- Sometimes it's okay not to respond.
- Listen more than you speak.
- All questions are valuable!
- Respect each other and yourselves.
- What happens here stays here, but what’s learned here leaves here.
- Take a break if/when you need it.
- This is a space welcome to all left-leaning ideas.
COre values
INCLUSIVITY |
Equity |
collaboration |
ANTI-RACISM |
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT |
active listening |
RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE |
Leadership |
INTERSECTIONALITY |