"My parents had to work 2-3 jobs and they were still not able to make ends meet in this country," Gillum said. "They did everything in their power to provide for their family and it just wasn't enough. For me, it is so fundamental to understand where government picks up and the need in this country for a strong social infrastructure as well as a strong federal government and a strong private sector and policy that helps close the wealth divide that exists today.
"A worker's rights agenda to me would be an agenda of the household I grew up in. It is fundamental to who I am and it is why I am a progressive. It is also the impetus for why I am a fervent advocate for inclusion and aim to create social and public policy that speaks to the root of the problem and not the symptom."
We invite you to listen to more of Andrew Gillum's thoughts -- in his own words.
http://www.yeonetwork.org/content/commissioner-andrew-gillum
YEO Network
To get a flavor of the "coast-to-coast" connection of the YEO Network, check out the list of young elected officials elected in 2011.
Perhaps one of the best examples of the network's leaders includes Wisconsin State Senator Chris Larson. Larson was one of the 14 state democratic senators who left the state last winter and slowed down the legislative process that helped to bring national attention to the anti-working agenda of Wisconsin right-wing Governor Scott Walker.
"The first (YEO) event I went to was in May 2010. I was a county supervisor at the time and just considering running for state office. It was where I could talk to other young people who had gone through the same things and in fact there was another young official going through the exact same thing (deciding whether to run for state-wide office)," Larson said. "It was tremendously helpful to be able to compare notes and was a huge factor in helping me decide to take on an incumbent and run and eventually win.
"I think each generation worries that the next generation isn't going to be able to live up to the legacy that was chartered before it. But what I feel confident about is that there is a new generation coming in. I believe there are at least a half a dozen YEOs running for Congress in 2012. There are people who are stepping up and are looking to lead.
"A lot of people feel compelled to stand up because of what happened with the Citizens United ruling and how there is a huge shadow of corporate influence on our government. There's a feeling among my generation that the only way to change that is by getting in and fighting and it's important to have the grass roots tools in order to fight back. Quite simply, Citizens United is going to be the fight of my generation"to make sure that there is an even playing field for democracy to play out as opposed to this corporate boss system where only a handful of people who have the money stay involved."
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