A better world is possible.

We are the U.C. Berkeley chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America. Meetings every Monday @ 8pm pt. Fill out the signup form below to get involved!

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About Cal YDSA

For the many, not the few.

YDSA is the youth and student section of DSA––the largest socialist organization in the United States. As a YDSA chapter, our mission is twofold: 1) fight for the immediate needs of students and workers at U.C. Berkeley, and 2) provide our members with the political perspectives and organizational skills necessary to play a principled role in the movement for socialism. As socialist organizers, we believe that:

the economy should be run democratically by workers;
the liberation of all oppressed peoples requires the abolition of capitalism;
the U.S. imperial empire must be dismantled globally;
these goals can be achieved through a self-organized, multiracial working class movement!

Our Organizing

Cal YDSA organizes on a number of different fronts to build student and worker power at our university, including class struggle campaigns, rank-and-file labor organizing, political education, and 1:1 leadership development. See some highlights below.

Class Struggle Campaigns

Against reforms for reforms sake.

As YDSAers, we recognize that only a mass, militant working class movement, organized from below, can win socialism. In that vein, Cal YDSA runs campaigns that not only improve the material conditions of the working class, but also spread socialist consciousness, spur worker self-activity, and increase our levels of organization. We believe that every one of our campaigns must bring in new members, as well as move our existing members to greater levels of understanding, commitment, and action.

Rank-and-File Labor Organizing

The cause of labor is the hope of the world.

As YDSAers we understand the strategic importance of labor in winning socialism. Not only do we support labor unions (e.g. UAW 2865, AFSCME 3299), rank-and-file reform caucuses, and rank-and-file education networks (e.g. Labor Notes), we also prepare our members to be leaders on the shop floor. Nationally, we have committed to the rank-and-file strategy: currently, we are building a rank-and-file pipeline from our chapters to workplaces in strategic sectors of the economy.

Political Education

Political education informs collective action.

Political education is necessary to get us in the habit of thinking strategically about our organizing. It also teaches comrades how to engage in comradely debate; clearly and confidently articulate their political perspective; and connect their day-to-day organizing with a braoader vision.

1:1 Leadership Development

Training lifelong socialist organizers.

In order to provide our members with the political perspectives and organizational skills needed to become lifelong socialist organizers, we commit to systematic 1:1 relational organizing. Newer members who are especially curious and committed are paired with experienced organizers to have regularly occuring political discussions in which they do political education, learn new organizing skills, and debrief their own work.

Central Committee

Cal YDSA is led by a democratically elected Central Committee, which is responsible for organizing meetings, managing funds, and implementing priorities adopted by overall membership. The Central Committee is here to ensure the healthy growth and maintenance of the chapter.