The Fresno City College Democrats (FCC Dems) are a new club on campus this semester.
FCC Dems is a chapter of the Fresno County Young Democrats (FCYD), which itself is part of California Young Democrats (CYD). The club operates as an organization under the Democratic Party, according to FCC Dems President, Anthony Ruggeri.
Ruggeri began working on a campaign in October 2023 for John Burrows, CA-20, on behalf of CYD. Joining this campaign equipped him with the skills needed to serve as president of FCC Dems and act as the liaison for FCYD.
“I came in wanting to learn how to work on a campaign,” Ruggeri said. “I left that [campaign] knowing how to run one and guide people in running a campaign.”
FCC Dems welcome people under 35 years old to join and meet like-minded individuals, gain access to resources for political activism, and have a chance to make a difference in the community.
“It’s very connected. You can meet new people all the time,” Ruggeri said.
“Understanding who’s important to vote for, what issues matter, and what’s affecting the Central Valley are things you discover by joining.”
CYD is large, and sometimes people can get lost in its inner workings. FCC Dems hope to bridge that gap locally.
“We wanted to figure out how we can get involved,” Ruggeri said. “Our main goal is to bridge the gap between CYD and the student population.”
The students at FCC are the reason they wanted to establish a chapter on campus.
According to Ruggeri, there have been insufficient resources and information on
local politics in the Central Valley, specifically Fresno County.
“We know there’s a lack of access to politics in Fresno…We’re here trying to bring opportunities to you guys [FCC],” Ruggeri said.
Jack Howard is the political director for FCC Dems and encourages people of all backgrounds to attend and experience the meetings.
“Members can look forward to guest speakers, volunteer opportunities, workshops on campaign strategies and grassroots organizing, and the chance to build leadership skills within the organization,” Howard said.
The club currently consists of around 10 to 15 members, but students are encouraged to attend, even if they don’t know much about politics.
“This is a place to get started,” Ruggeri said. Meetings are held every other Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. in the senate chambers.
