Bill Schmitt, a member of the New York chapter, said that the fund drive makes it "possible for the YS to be a self-financing organization, which means we can respond to the important political opportunities to build a communist youth organization in the Untied States today and collaborate with revolutionary fighters in other countries." Schmitt said that as the YS "recruits more members in new cities, and as we build the Second Cuba-U.S. Youth Exchange and the World Festival of Youth and Students in Algeria this summer, we will need to make more phone calls, travel more, and print more copies of the YS pamphlet."

Discussions during the evening fund-raiser where held in English, Spanish, and French. A young worker who has bought several Pathfinder titles in French and attends Militant Labor Forums in the Garment District Pathfinder Bookstore came to the social and brought two friends. At the social one person bought a copy of the French-language edition of The Working Class and the Transformation of Learning by Jack Barnes.

Also attending the event was a young student and worker who first met the communist movement on a literature table in a subway station. After attending a meeting in Manhattan to hear Cuban youth leaders Yanelis Martínez and Javier Dueñas he has decided to attend the Youth Exchange in Havana this summer. He has also been participating in political activity with the YS, such as attending the April 22 march for abortion rights in Washington.

Chapter organizer Jason Alessio explained that the event was built throughout the week by setting up literature tables in workers districts in Manhattan and Brooklyn. "YS members and members of the Socialist Workers Party also publicized the fund-raiser on several college campuses as part of working with students there to build the Youth Exchange," said Alessio.

Socialists reached out to students at Brooklyn College during the week by setting up a literature table. Four people bought subscriptions to the Militant at the college. "The Militant Labor Forums in Brooklyn, the Garment District, and Upper Manhattan the night before the social also gave a boost to attendance at the event," he said.

A total of $280 was raised at the social toward the chapter's $700 goal. If you are interested in making a contribution to the drive or in learning more about the Second Cuba-U.S. Youth Exchange July 22-30 and the 15th World Festival of Youth and Students August 8-16 in Algiers, you can contact the Young Socialists at Times Square Post Office, P.O. Box 33, New York, NY 10108, (212) 695-1809, or youngsocialists@attglobal.net.

Jason Alessio, a garment worker, contributed to this article.  
 
 
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