Carlos Calzadilla

President

Carlos J. Calzadilla is an activist and community organizer who has worked on numerous progressive campaigns since 2016. He lives in Red Hook and is the Director of Community Relations for State Senator Julia Salazar, where he focuses on NYCHA public housing organizing and policy. During the pandemic he led relief efforts as the co-director for Red Hook Relief. He is also a Democratic County County Committee member and reformer. 

Carlos has worked on several electoral campaigns in Southern Brooklyn. He was the campaign manager of Jacqui Painter’s successful insurgent District Leader campaign, and of Julio Peña III’s re-election campaign. He was also the Campaign Adviser for State Senator Andrew Gounardes’ successful re-election campaign. He formerly worked as the Community Liaison for former Council Member Carlos Menchaca. Carlos has been a progressive Democratic activist fighting for social justice causes, and immigration reform is close to his heart. During the Trump administration, Carlos fought for immigrant rights and led several successful efforts to stop deportations. 

anya lehr

northern Regional Vice President

Anya Marshall Lehr is a born-and-raised New Yorker, a graduate of NYC’s public school system, and someone who’s favorite movies are those about which one could plausibly say “actually, New York City was the real protagonist.”

After a half-decade working in digital media, Anya pivoted to a career in politics, working for Beto O’Rourke, Elizabeth Warren & Joe Biden in 2020. She has worked as Deputy Director of Health & Safety for the presidential inauguration, helped launch multiple nonprofits, and served as campaign manager and senior advisor to Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, who has represented Bushwick, Williamsburg and Ridgewood since 2021.

sam vasquez martinez

Vice President of membership

Dennis Futoryan

Southern Regional Vice-President + Legal director

Born and raised in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn in ‘93, Dennis is a first-generation American born from a family of Jewish-Ukrainian refugees. After realizing his love for politics in James Madison High School, Dennis received his BA in Political Science in Brooklyn College and his JD at New York Law School.

Currently, you can find Dennis practicing law within the realm of civil litigation, teaching law and politics at Brooklyn College, or putting out weekly episodes of his NYC-based podcast, The 25th Hour.

kirby shultz

Secretary + Women’s caucus chair

Kirby lives in Crown Heights and enjoys exploring her neighborhood. Her favorite local spots include Lakou Cafe and Simple Syrup.

Kirby spent 10 years teaching in both public and charter schools before transitioning to an education nonprofit. She currently supports New York City school teachers and leaders in the implementation of their English Language Arts curriculum. She is passionate about policies impacting our youngest students and believes children of all ages should have access to an equitable, rigorous and joyful school experience.

In her free time, Kirby enjoys reading, visiting museums, and building community with other young New Yorkers.

Treasurer

Kevin Trimmer

Kevin is currently a 2L at Brooklyn Law School. He has worked in campaign finance roles on statewide, congressional, and local races and is excited for the chance to apply that experience in his first term as Treasurer of the Brooklyn Young Democrats. Kevin is an urban planning junkie, an Eagle Scout and a former PSAL City Champ in Track and Field.

Billy Richling

Communications Director

Billy is the Communications Director for BYD. He lives in Flatbush, and works at the National Association of City Transportation Officials, where he supports the fight for safer, more sustainable and more equitable cities.

He previously wrote about everything Brooklyn as a journalist for the community news site Bklyner, and helped manage the crossroads of the world at the Times Square Alliance. He also served on Brooklyn Community Board 14.

In his free time, Billy likes making music, seeing concerts and movies, and eating good food. His favorite dishes (at the moment) are the paneer makhani from Jalsa Grill & Gravy, the fattat lahma from al-Badawi, and literally anything from the Birria-Landia food truck.