The North GA Blue: Getting into Good Trouble podcast covers democratic politics in North GA, the 9th Congressional District, and across the state of Georgia. The podcast is in Q&A/Interview format with various democratic politicos including county chairs, democratic operatives, politicians, and more. It is our mission to deliver crucial information to our listeners in a timely manner as we fight for community values and principles in the 3rd most Conservative district in the state. Our website is: https://www.fcdpga.com/podcasts
Our guests highlight democratic activities and actions to work toward a Blue Georgia. The 9th Congressional District spans 20 counties across the region and covers a good deal of northern GA including Blue Ridge, Morganton, Fannin, Union, Banks, Athens/Clarke, Dawson, Elbert, Forsyth, Franklin, Gilmer, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison, Pickens, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, and White counties.
Our democratic party podcast also disseminates information and interviews powerful Democrats across the state of GA working to overthrow the suppression tactics of the GOP and ensure democracy and our values, grassroots efforts, and goals remain intact.
Hello and welcome back to the North Georgia Blue Podcast produced and distributed by the Fannin County Democratic Party. I'm your host, Meral Clarke, and we're getting into some good trouble today with our special guest Avi Dhyani, Gen Z democratic activist on the ground in Georgia. Welcome to the show, Avi, we're happy you're here with us.
Avi Dhyani:
Thank you guys for having me. It's an honor to get to spend the next hour with you guys.
Meral Clarke:
Well, let's let our listeners know a little bit about you. Avi Dhyani is a Gen Z democratic activist working to empower democratic youth across Georgia. Currently, he is serving as the secretary for the Democratic Party of Georgia's disability caucus, vice chair of the Georgia High School Democrats or GA H SD and national committee person representing Georgia on the National High School Democrats committee who that's impressive. Avi was the former youth director for Representative William Boadie's campaign for labor commissioner and a youth advisor to Warnock for US Senate where Avi spent the midterms drawing out the youth vote, so Democrats could win up and down the ballot, which unfortunately, did not happen. But we'll talk about that a little bit later in the show. So Avi, you're a disability advocate, and you clearly have a disability as well tell our listeners about your disability and how it has impacted your life and your work.
Avi Dhyani:
So first of all, thank you guys again for inviting me on. So I have what's called cerebral palsy or CP for short. And anybody in the audience who might not be familiar with it, it's a physical disability, which it isn't one type of disability, but it's a spectrum. So people with CP I am lucky enough to have a very mild case of it where I only experience slight tremors during the day. But it could be from that mild case all the way to immobilize in a wheelchair.
Meral Clarke:
Well, that is definitely impressive considering all that you do. And thank you for that. As a young democratic activist, how and when did your interest in politics begin?
Avi Dhyani:
So I actually like many people who are now active in the political spirit, never garden woken up by Trump. But for me it was in the 2016 election because I was only in fifth grade when Trump won his first term. Really, it started more near the second 2020 election. And how I got started was by a stroke of kids. I started watching comedy on YouTube. And you might be like, how are the two things related? Well, anybody using the late show great Stephen Colbert, Trevor Noah, John Oliver, we all know that they made a lot of fun, ridiculous stuff Trump was doing in kind of after a couple months watching this, I'm like, Man, our country is in some serious trouble. So that's when I decided this would during the height of the 2020 pandemic, I'm going to get off my ass and start working on a career in politics. So I got started with my first campaign, and I didn't know if I would like it. But luckily after a month or two, I found out I love the work and anybody who knows anything about politics, your first job leads to your next your next lead to another one. So from there, gradual build up to where I am today.
Meral Clarke:
Well, that's fantastic. And how is CP, your specific disability, How has that impacted your political work? Has it helped you at all? Has it hindered you has it made it easier or harder? What are your thoughts on that?
Avi Dhyani:
Being somebody with a disability growing up I was the odd kid out. I mean, I always say elementary schools are some of the meanest person to break down your confidence. It's so true. It is so just been that odd one out. I kind of built a persona and I kind of got used to it. So when I got started in democratic politics, one thing I really liked about it, and what I think is a core of being a Democrat in 2023 is we accept you regardless of what disability you have, if you're LGBTQ straight if you are African American, Latino, regardless of anything, we accept you. So really, once I found this community I felt at home and that sense of belonging within this community really inspired me to grow on my own political path.
Meral Clarke:
Oh, my goodness, your parents must be so proud. I know I am.
Avi Dhyani:
Oh, thank you. In fact, I actually got my mom in 2021. This was a year after I myself got into politics. I got her to run for local city council.
Meral Clarke:
That's wonderful. Did she win?
Avi Dhyani:
Yeah, we know it was a blowout for us on the lose sign. But we ended up gaining a lot of connections. And that's also how I got more deeper connected with my local county in birdie go Fulton Democrats, and also various young Democrat organizations across the State of Georgia. Also some happy news this past Thursday, my mom was just like, get to the Democratic state committee. So that is on the plus side.
Meral Clarke:
Oh, my goodness, that's huge. Congratulations to both of you.
Avi Dhyani:
Thank you.
Meral Clarke:
That is so exciting. Well, tell us about the kind of work you've performed during last year's election cycle. Why do you think we failed to elect Democrats to statewide office for the actually, we haven't had a Democrat in statewide office for the past four election cycles running on nearly two decades now. So do you see that as a failure on the part of the DPG the candidates or is it just lack of effective messaging? What do you think is the problem as a Gen Z?
Avi Dhyani:
Let me answer that in two bytes. First of all, let me kind of explain what work I did in the last midterm cycle. On the last midterm cycle. I was elected to the Vice Chair of the GA High School Democrat. And in that role, I was able to work and I am still working till this day because my term is up in May, we were able to work with high schools across the State of Georgia town halls, phone rings, Kim was in Aberdeen and God every rallies, we were able to set up and over high schools across the state. One thing I'm really proud of if they wanted to get involved during the maintenance season, they always had an opportunity. According to our into your data membership engagement rose nearly 600% from the prior year. We mobilized high schools in Georgia on a scale never seen. We also were able to build back relationships with the DPG after they kind of were lost over the past few administrations. But besides that, in the general election cycle, I had the opportunity of working with Charlie Bailey helping him out with volunteer recruitment. But in a bigger role, I will with William Bodi where I was a student engagement director, so we were again able to work with his grass this day to bring Woods historically been a office, you'd never think about the labor commissioner to frona minds. And then in the runoff election, I got the amazing opportunity to work as a youth advisor with Senator Warnock. So I would just help you know, the campaign on different youth initiative to mobilize kids across campuses in the great State of Georgia.
Meral Clarke:
Wow, that is so impressive, Avi, I have to say, and thank you for all your work and successes in this arena. So Avi, tell us about your upcoming plans with the Georgia High School Democrats. Are you planning to run again and if so for what position and when?
Avi Dhyani:
Yes, so as a junior luckily, I am eligible for high school Democrat for one more year. So this past year, I tell people if we got a 10th of the stuff We got done would still be probably the most successful board career in organization history. From abrogating to engaging high schoolers across the state, we've been able to do amazing things. I am hoping that in April, any high schooler, who is a member of Georgia High School will approve with the work we've done and send me back for another year so we can get the job done.
Meral Clarke:
In your opinion, and obviously, you're pretty astute politically at this point, in your opinion, what's it going to take to get Democrats elected to statewide office in Georgia? What are your thoughts moving forward into 2024 and beyond?
Avi Dhyani:
So first of all, I want to say like, everyone, I was outraged on election night, we had amazing candidate from the top or the very bottom, and every Democrat who was running should have easily won their seats, I think when it comes down, though, is messaging and reaching the people where they are, this is one thing, I'm a big advocate for doors, several campaigns that did a lot of stuff in metro Atlanta, even Savannah in these metropolitan areas, but then they weren't as much in the rural areas as someone have liked. And I think we cannot expect the voters to come to us, as much as we know that people should be voting about abortion rights, migration rights, gun control, the fact is, for your average Georgian, those aren't top concerns, their top concerns are going to be who's going to but the most money in my pocket. And that's one thing I think we really need to focus on the next election is explaining a little better how Democrats are good for voters, not just that they should vote for our core policy issues, because they are the right issue to agree with.
Meral Clarke:
Absolutely. And I agree with you on the fact that we do need to change our messaging from the top down. So you've also stated that it's important to invest in young democrats across the state. What does that mean to you? And how should we go about reaching this ever moving goal of reaching young voters?
Avi Dhyani:
So the passages I was looking at analytics from the races, we did win, which was senators, Warnock and some down ballot races, the fact is, in the races, which Gen Z and millennials showed up, we win, that's an undeniable fact. So what we now have to do is we have that data and we have to invest again, one thing I'll consistently advocate for is reaching people with their ad, we need to make sure that instead of spending millions of dollars on flyers, mailers, and different stuff like that, we're doing tick tock, we're doing Instagram, we're not just posting on social media, but we have professional political operatives who know how to use ad and targeting young groups be connected, and there's a one I found a Will my mom's campaign, it is much more effective to reach people online digital than it is to reach physically.
Meral Clarke:
Okay, so definitely online, especially for the Gen Z generation, correct? Yeah. Because The Kids Are All Right. And they're always online. So as we know, the election cycle is now 365, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, we've already geared up for 2024. So what are your plans moving forward in 2024, working as a disability advocate within the DPG and beyond?
Avi Dhyani:
So I'm going to be frank with you. I have not even thought about 2024 Because as much as 2024 is important, there's a election before that, and that is going to be 2023. Me Miss suppose working in a municipal election really gave me gratitude and I saw how to build up for 2024. We need to be able to highlight Democrats in local office. The fact is, when we know Democrats win locally, we know Democrats could win nationally. So I'm going to be working in my community of North Johns Creek this year to make sure are a we have a strong, diverse and aggressive slate of candidates running from in Milton, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Buckhead, Atlanta, but also that those candidates have the resources they need. Because one thing is, and again, this all comes from my personal experience these lower campaigns, sometimes it's just the candidate and maybe a family member door knocking, I know where my mom's case me and my mom, between the two of us don't knock 5000 doors by ourselves out of $6,000. So I really want to make sure that these candidates have the resources and money needed so they could win. And after they win, then we need to start building for 2024.
Meral Clarke:
My goodness, you are such an impressive young man. And I want to share with our listeners that you're actually a junior in high school, and even in college yet, thank you, and you're doing more than so many other adults ever even think about doing to make lives better, and the democratic community is very lucky to have you. Thank you. So you've also mentioned that you're working in politics, not just with a disability, but as a very young Gen Z activists has it helped or hindered you politically, you mentioned pre show that the democratic community in this is not surprising, at least that the democratic community has been very accepting of you and helpful toward you and your goals. Can you give us some specifics on that, and let's lift our spirits up together with the awesome work that you've been able to accomplish?
Avi Dhyani:
want to give a huge thank you to Sarah Todd, the county committee chair, she has been working with Georgia, high school Democrats. In fact, her son is a Georgia High School Democrat. And she has been working that whenever we need something, even if it's not possible that the ask makes it through every stage. I also want to thank Ernest Boston, he has also been a real great ally and so many others.
Meral Clarke:
Can you tell our listeners who Ernest Boston Is? and what he does?
Avi Dhyani:
So I'm not exactly sure his official title, but he worked with Chairwoman Kaman to make sure there's a efficiency in the Democratic Party.
Meral Clarke:
Oh, fantastic. Is he a strong disability advocate as well?
Avi Dhyani:
Yes, he's been amazing. Anything. I've needed from him he's been able to help me get.
Meral Clarke:
That's fantastic. I'm so happy to hear that. So tell us a little bit more about your personal plans, you know, going to college getting your degree. Are you thinking about going into political science making this your career?
Avi Dhyani:
Yeah, so one thing is, and I said this earlier, in the program, my first two months in the political space, I knew that this was going to define the rest of my life. So currently, as a junior, I'm looking at a lot of college options. Something I'm feeling really strongly about is getting a minor policy and either a major political science or some other type of political field, I've been so grateful to do what I've done mainly in school full time. So I'm super excited to see when I have a full time job in politics, what I'm able to complete and I'm hoping to get into one of the DC schools like George Washington, Georgetown, or American so I go work at the Capitol and get democratic legislation passed there.
Meral Clarke:
That is so exciting, and they would be so damn lucky to have you. I mean, anyone moving forward, and I think I'm jealous that you're planning on leaving Georgia. Hopefully, one day, you'll come home and help turn us into a blue state as well.
Avi Dhyani:
Actually, let me rephrase them because I forgot to add that only for college. After college, the fact that I do want to come back to Georgia, Georgia has proved time and time again to be the epicenter of the nation. I mean, no offense to Pennsylvania, Wisconsin or any other battleground state, but the fact that Georgia is the battleground state and after being in Georgia hold for so long. I don't think it's something I can permanently leave.
Meral Clarke:
That's wonderful. Well, the state is lucky to have you too. So we'll take it go off and get your education and put it to good work on the ground. That's so important. So is there anything else you wanted to add about your experience in politics beyond your disability and what you're doing now?
Avi Dhyani:
I think something that has been a core issue that I've been driving champion is I'm the one percenter most high schoolers, most college students don't have an interest in politics. Voting is not something that is old. Raghu, working on campaigns is not something that interests many people. So I see him because I think one thing we have to do is working on reaching out to those people who might be apprehensive at first, I'm working to bring them out into the fold.
Meral Clarke:
That would be wonderful. And we do need to get as many Gen Z individuals as possible engaged into the political process, because it's going to affect your generation for decades to come. So very, very important. So do you have any advice for individual county parties that are trying to grow their groups with younger members? How do we go about recruiting young people on the county level?
Avi Dhyani:
I think what it comes down to is we just need to give them a seat at the table. I know a lot of times people who have been this hurt them we can they feel like because of their age, nobody is listening. So if you're accounting party, just make it known that you're open and you want to work with high schoolers, that little thing can go a long way.
Meral Clarke:
Yes. How should we go about getting the young democrats club started?
Avi Dhyani:
Getting one started very simple. Reach out to us on Instagram and say, hey, I want to start a club. For our bylaws, a club needs five members before it can be officially started. So after you got it five members, we just do a little paperwork on our end, and we are able to incorporate you guys and we get you started on Instagram, Facebook, if you guys want and then any guidance that the potential club leader needs to be walking through. But at that point, we are really hands off. And we really want our club and Captain leaders to have the ability to do with the club how they see fit. So that's also one thing coming from my chapter before I wasn't saved leadership. And I love about Georgia has cooked them.
Meral Clarke:
Oh fantastic. So there are resources and support. So if there are any young people in high school at Fannin County High School, I hope you'll heed His words, take his advice, and we'll definitely have to work on that. So Avi, you are definitely an impressive young man. I hope I have the ability to meet you in person one day. You're always welcome up here in Blue Ridge, Same here. Yes, absolutely. And please thank your mother as well for all of her hard work and also for her running for office, which is just fantastic. And definitely more people need to step up and do that, especially in municipal and local elections. I agree with you. So if someone wants to learn more about you, if someone wants to learn more about the Georgia High School Democrats, where would you send them?
Avi Dhyani:
So first of all, let me give my personal Instagram Avi Diani that is Avi DHY, ami dot official. So anybody who's interested in anybody who wants to talk more, feel free to text me on Instagram. And let's get a conversation started. For any high schooler who was interested in Georgia High School, you could visit us on our website at GA HSD dems.org. Or you could also visit us on Instagram, Georgia High School. And we can do that very recently. I have it up on my Instagrams in a minute somebody sends a message I get notified and normally try to get back within the same day.
Meral Clarke:
Yes, and I can personally attest that you're highly responsive on Instagram. So yes, thank you for that since we've had discussions there. So finally, Avi and I ask all my guests this question, and you probably know this is coming. Tell us a fun fact about yourself something not necessarily related to all the fantastic work that you do till something fun interesting just about you.
Avi Dhyani:
Let me try to think of one one. I noticed that kind of boring but a lot of people I may get surprised by it as Wagner's. I was. I actually been in Georgia for only about four years now. Originally I was born and raised in the state of Arizona in Tucson.
Meral Clarke:
Oh, wow. So you've done all this work in a scant four years. That's incredible.
Avi Dhyani:
I actually two years I only got started in 2020.
Meral Clarke:
Oh, you are my hero. You really are
Avi Dhyani:
Thank you. That means a lot.
Meral Clarke:
Well, thank you, Avi, for joining us today and sharing more about your critical work to advance democratic goals and policy. I'm Meral Clarke and on behalf of our team, I'd like to thank everyone for listening to the North Georgia Blue Podcast. Join us next time when we chat with Don Kelly, CEO and President of New Disabled South, a nonprofit working to improve the lives of disabled people and cultivate strong disability rights and disability justice frameworks across 14 states in the southern United States. And you're the perfect segue to go into our next show. So thank you. To learn more about us and the work that we're doing. Visit us online at Fannin County, Georgia democrats.com. Share the North Georgia Blue Podcast with your friends and family. Be sure to subscribe and follow and if you enjoy our podcast be a founding patron and friend of the show at North Georgia blue podcast.com/patron with three different giving levels to choose from offering cool swag recognition on the show and website and valuable gift cards to help us continue getting into more good trouble.