Callynn Johnson
Callynn Johnson is a member of the YDSA National Coordinating Committee (NCC) and YDS at UCF.
- My name is Callynn, and I use they/them pronouns. I was raised in St Petersburg Florida and am now a Junior at the University of Central Florida, studying Psychology and Philosophy with a minor in Sociology. While at UCF I’ve served as one of our chapters co-chairs for almost 2 years. In that time our chapter has put on large scale mutual aid events reaching hundreds of students on campus. I’ve also led our response to waves of fascist legislation in Florida, educating students on the legislation and introducing them into the basics of Marxism.[1]
2024 YDSA convention
In the closing ceremony, Carolyn Roderique of UOYDSA introduced Red Hot Summer to the delegation. A national program beginning in July training YDSA members for labor organizing both on campus and for the rest of their lives. Sign up here.
From the national tech committee, NPC Member Jen Bolen of Eugene-Springfield DSA and Colin of North New Jersey DSA celebrated the smooth technical work of the national event. They also announced that OpenSlides is now available for chapters and committees to use. You can request access for your chapter here.
Outgoing national co-chair Evan thanked the tech team, the presidium, the resolutions committee, the outgoing NCC, and DSA staff with a special thank you to Anna Bonomo who left YDSA this year after years as its national organizer.
Next, Evan announced the seven candidates elected to NCC at-large positions:
- Callynn Johnson, University of Central Florida
- Daniel Salup-Cid, Florida International University
- David Lefevre, University of Oregon
- Jeffrey Childs, Oakland University
- Sean Bridge, University of Cincinnati
- Steven Rainey, Furman University
- Uma Clemenceau, University of California, Santa Barbara
International abortion activism
- Callynn Johnson - Young Democratic Socialists of America
- Cat Lee - UK Young Labour
- Jemma Hardman - Australian Young Labor Left
YDS at UCF
In 2022 Psychology sophomore Callynn Johnson, was co-chair of YDS at UCF.[2]
YDSA ‘UCF doesn’t care’ rally
“When we fight, we win!” is one of the many phrases UCF students shouted at Memory Mall Thursday October 6 2022, condemning the university’s response to those impacted by Hurricane Ian.
Students held signs that said "Make UCF care" and "UCF doesn't care" at a rally hosted by the YDS at UCF to support the hurricane victims and to demand action from the university.
Lauren Rouse, the outreach coordinator of YDSA, said that the rally was planned to be a movement with nationwide YDSA chapters to fight for reproductive rights. However, when many students felt the lack of support after Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida last week, the organization decided to voice its complaints at the rally as well.
“We were thinking to cancel the initial idea and focus on supporting hurricane victims when we saw campus is opening days after dozens of students lost everything the owned,” said Evan Caldwell, a senior double majoring in political science and nonprofit management and a member of a national YDSA chapter board.
One of the rally participants was senior anthropology major Zachary Miller.
"I came to the rally to support everybody, especially those who have it worse than I do," Miller said.
Jules Lemos-Maldonado, a senior history major and secretary for YDSA, said that UCF tries to look like it cares when in reality, it doesn't.
Maxwell Frost, a Democratic nominee in Florida’s 10th Congressional District, was one of the speakers at the rally. He said UCF was still capable of improving its support system to meet students' needs. Frost said UCF has enough funds to ensure displaced students have a new place to live.
"From the students’ point of view, it looks like the university hasn't done enough," Frost said. "And I stand with the students."
English literature freshman Jadyn Alcorn said she joined the rally to support her friends whose Arden Villas apartment got flooded. She said they were out on the street but still had to go back to school in a few days.[3]
Psychology sophomore Callynn Johnson, a co-chair of YDS at UCF, said after the appalling UCF response, the organization felt it was necessary to address the response to the hurricane at the rally.[4]