January Meeting Recap: A Powerful Start to the New Year

Our January meeting kicked off the new year with an outstanding turnout and two truly inspiring speakers. Members and guests arrived early for a lively networking session, catching up and sharing holiday stories before the meeting officially began.

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Club Updates & Democrat of the Year

Club President Amanda Knapp opened the meeting with important club updates and a review of recent local election results. She emphasized that the Club played a monumental role in the 2025 election, with members and volunteers making thousands of phone calls and text messages and knocking on doors across Miami Beach to help maintain a Democratic majority on the Commission.

Amanda expressed heartfelt gratitude to every volunteer whose time, energy, and commitment powered these efforts. She also congratulated Commissioners Laura Dominguez, Alex Fernandez, and Monica Matteo-Salinas on their victories, celebrating the success of Democratic leadership on the Commission.

While the mayoral race did not yield the outcome the Club had hoped for, Amanda underscored the significance of the campaign run by Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, who mounted a fierce and historic challenge against incumbent Stephen Meiner, falling short by just 350 votes. She reminded members that defeating an incumbent is often considered nearly impossible and praised Kristen for her courage, perseverance, and tireless dedication to the community.

In recognition of her extraordinary commitment to Democratic values and to the people of Miami Beach, Kristen Rosen Gonzalez was awarded the Club’s annual Democrat of the Year.

National Human Trafficking Prevention Month: A Powerful and Personal Presentation

The Club was honored to welcome Gloria Martinez, Executive Director of Tree of Life Parenting Center and a survivor of human trafficking. This marked the third consecutive year the Club has dedicated its January meeting to raising awareness in recognition of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

Gloria delivered a deeply moving and educational presentation, Human Trafficking 101, blending factual information with her own lived experience. She spoke candidly about how human trafficking often hides in plain sight and challenged many of the common myths surrounding who is affected and how trafficking occurs. Gloria emphasized that trafficking is not limited to international borders or dramatic scenarios portrayed in movies, but is happening in local communities, including right here in South Florida.

Through her story, Gloria highlighted the importance of survivor-led advocacy, trauma-informed care, and community education as tools for prevention. Her presentation sparked a robust, thoughtful discussion that ran longer than scheduled due to the high level of engagement from the audience. Members asked insightful questions about prevention, warning signs, and how everyday people can help identify and stop trafficking.

Gloria stressed that awareness saves lives and that education is one of the most powerful tools in combating exploitation. She encouraged everyone to continue learning, speaking up, and supporting organizations doing this critical work.

Democratic Candidate Spotlight: Ashley Litwin Diego

Following Gloria’s presentation, the Club heard from Ashley Litwin Diego, who is running in a Democratic primary for Florida House District 106. The winner of the primary will go on to challenge incumbent Fabian Basabe, whose nasty, divisive conduct and disregard for collaboration have made clear the need for a representative who leads with respect, integrity, and Democratic values. The Club is ready to win!

Ashley shared her journey into public service, noting that while she is new to running for office, she has spent years engaged in grassroots activism and community organizing. She spoke about what motivated her to step forward at this moment and the importance of bringing fresh energy, accountability, and lived community experience to Tallahassee.

Ashley outlined key priorities of her campaign, including protecting the environment, strengthening gun safety laws, and fully funding public education. She emphasized her belief that government should be accessible, responsive, and centered on people—not special interests—and expressed her commitment to listening to constituents and fighting for policies that improve quality of life across the district.

Committee Reports & What’s Ahead

The meeting concluded with committee updates:

• Voter Registration Chair Tim Johnson announced the next committee meeting on January 22nd at 7:00 PM, noting that the committee will be setting its agenda for the coming months. RSVP Here

• Communications Chair Laura Lopez shared updates on outreach efforts, including initiatives to send both paper and digital welcome cards to newly registered Democrats. She also announced that Day of Actions to sign Democrats up for Vote By Mail will resume on February 19th and continue every 2nd Sunday and 3rd Thursday of the month. Laura encouraged members to get involved, including opportunities to participate from home.

• Pride Chair Bill Warren spoke about the upcoming Pride Parade on April 12, stressing the importance of a strong Club presence—especially at a time when Governor DeSantis removed our Pride crosswalk and our mayor remained silent. More details about participation and volunteer opportunities will be shared in the coming weeks.

We’re off to an energizing and impactful start to 2026, and we look forward to continuing this momentum together. 💙