I’m thrilled to announce the launch of Cheers to Change: A Happy Hour with Arkansas Times. This will be a lively ongoing series celebrating young activists, influencers, and leaders who are shaking things up in our state.
On August 24, I will be leading a discussion among delegates and attendees of the 2024 Democratic National Convention as they chronicle convention events, the wild election cycle we’re in, and their individual impacts on our community. I’ll be joined by Brady Shiers, Aliah Rowe, and Micah Wallace.
You will be getting an exclusive first hand account of the convention the day after they return from Chicago. There’ll be drinks and laughs, hard truths and fresh perspectives, and then we’ll set you free to enjoy your spirited Saturday night.
Tickets to this event are $25, and 100% of funds raised will go to the Arkansas Times Investigative Journalism Project. Wine, beer, and small bites will be available for purchase at the venue’s bar.
When: August 24, 5:00 – 6:30 PM
Where: The Studio Theatre
The bar will open at 4:45, and the panel will start promptly at 5:15. Opportunities for questions and networking will follow.
As the Director of Digital Marketing for Arkansas Times, I have the opportunity to help fuel our mission through philanthropy and deliver our team’s fearless journalistic efforts in digitally accessible ways. This job is the greatest honor of my life. I get to meet so many influencers of our community through events and partnerships, and, more importantly, I get to connect with our readers every day. My spare time is dedicated to my duties as National Committeewoman and the Membership Director of the Young Democrats of Arkansas.
To my core, I believe in our state. And I believe you can be the change you want to see. I do hope you’ll join us as we Cheers to Change.
Madeline Chosich
Arkansas Times
Meet the Speakers
Micah Wallace, President Emeritus of the Young Democrats of Arkansas (YDAR) and a Democratic Strategist, has spent nearly a decade in Natural State politics as a community organizer, advocate, and leader. She focuses on engaging young people, particularly women, to drive effective change. As a small-business owner and consultant for the Democratic Party of Arkansas, she advises elected officials and party officers.
Elected as Executive President of YDAR in 2021 and a nominee for the 2021 Arkansas Times Best Liberal Award, Micah led record fundraising, chapter growth, and a pioneering GOTV campaign. This effort significantly contributed to Arkansas being one of only four states to increase youth voter turnout in 2022. Before graduating college in 2021, Micah was hired as the Digital Content Manager for the Democratic Party of Arkansas. She currently provides strategy and communications support to various candidates and entities across Arkansas.
He’s been called a “data crunching phenom” and a “data maestro” by the Arkansas Times. Brady Shiers is one of four young democrats who was elected to represent Arkansas at large at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Brady currently serves as the Political Director for the Young Democrats of Arkansas where he works on expanding chapters and getting Democrats elected across the state.
For his day job, he works as the Database Administrator for the Arkansas Public Policy Panel and played an integral part in the Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment campaign.
Aliah Rowe has been an advocate for human rights and reproductive justice since she was 18. She got her start in politics in college when she was President of the Arkansas State Young Democrats. From there, she started to get more involved and even served in national roles as the Vice President and President of the College Democrats of America. Currently in law school, she serves as the Chair of the College Democrats of Arkansas and the Vice President of the Bowen Law School Young Democrats. She is a two time “Young Democrat of the Year” award winner and has previously been a Fisher-Shackleford honoree for the Arkansas Democratic Party. After she graduates, she plans to practice law in Arkansas and fight for the human rights of everyday Arkansans.