Rebuilding Voter Trust with Angie Gardner

Rebuilding Voter Trust with Angie Gardner

What does it take to transition from leading America’s oldest incorporated African-American municipality to representing nearly 200,000 residents at the county level? On this episode of the Organizing to Victory podcast, host Lee Perry sits down with legacy public servant Angie Gardner, the former mayor of Eatonville who is now stepping up to run for the newly redistricted Orange County Commission District 7. Angie pulls back the curtain on her time as mayor, sharing the unfiltered truth behind the headlines of the historic Hungerford property dispute, her defense of local home rule, and why her philosophy on true affordable housing centers on pure homeownership rather than perpetual rent. Tune in as we discuss her vision for District 7, including community-driven public safety measures, aggressive flooding infrastructure design for neighborhoods like Orlo Vista and Fairview Shores, and her grassroots approach to running an authentic campaign that puts people over corporate political action committees (PACs). Campaign Website: http://angiegardner.com Organizing to Victory Network: http://organizingtovvictory.com

Restoring our Faith in Central Florida (with Jorge Figueroa)

Following a massive political shift in Central Florida, how can Democrats genuinely connect with working families who feel abandoned by the establishment? The stakes just skyrocketed in Florida House District 47, encompassing St. Cloud, east Kissimmee, and parts of Orange County, as the exit of the Republican incumbent leaves the seat wide open for a Democratic pickup this August. On this episode of Organizing to Victory, host Lee Perry sits down with Jorge Figueroa, a lifelong "True Democrat," community advocate, and candidate for HD-47. Jorge breaks down his journey from growing up in the projects of Puerto Rico to founding student initiatives in Wisconsin, and ultimately finding his purpose as a public servant and small business champion in Central Florida. Lee and Jorge dive deep into the concrete economic issues driving the region: the soaring costs of property insurance, affordable housing, commercial rental taxes choking local small businesses, and a public school system catching the brunt of state culture wars. They tackle the painful community trauma left behind by aggressive immigration enforcement and lay out a clear, grassroots blueprint to organize, mobilize, and rebuild real trust across every doorstep in Osceola and Orange Counties. Support Jorge’s Campaign: jorgefigueroaforflorida.com Get Involved: Visit organizingtovictory.com to subscribe, share, and organize around the real world issues impacting our neighbors.

Saving Florida's Education System with Susanne Peña

Lee Perry interviews Susanne Peña, candidate for Orange County School Board District 3. From growing up on a military base in Puerto Rico to navigating NYC public schools as a teacher and district administrator, Suzanne brings a wealth of hands-on expertise to the table. They discuss the urgent need to expand AP/IB programs, the emotional toll of school closures on our Central Florida neighborhoods, and why local down-ballot elections matter immensely for our community's future. * Episode Timestamps * 0:00 - Intro * 1:12 - Growing up in Puerto Rico & Career Journey * 4:50 - Juggling a Campaign, teaching, and a PhD Dissertation * 8:26 - How Mom & Grandma Instilled the Value of Education * 11:06 - Navigating Florida's Culture Wars, Union Attacks, and Living Wages * 12:46 - What Led Suzanne to Run for School Board * 15:15 - Facing the New Wave of Defunding, Vouchers, and Book Censorship * 19:30 - Campaign Priorities: Expanding Access to AP, IB, STEM, and Multilingual Programs * 26:29 - The Disintegration of Federal Language Access and ESE Safety Nets * 31:57 - Why Local August Down-Ballot Elections Matter Just as Much as November * 37:09 - The Traumatic Impact of Immigration Raids and School Closures on Kids & Teachers * 50:12 - How to Volunteer and Support the Campaign Connect & Support Suzanne’s Campaign: * This is a true grassroots movement fueled by families, students, and community members. Help Suzanne cross the finish line: * Website, Newsletters & Volunteer: vote4pena.com Support the Podcast:If you liked what you heard today, please comment, subscribe, and share this episode to help spread the word! For more resources on how we're actively organizing around the issues that matter most this year, visit us at organizingvictory.com.

Protecting Our Right to Vote (with Tim Ayers)

Seniors are aging out of traditional political networks, and the modern electoral system is making it harder than ever for them to stay connected. How do we fight back? In this episode, host Lee Perry welcomes Tim Ayers, Florida Democratic Party State Committee Member and the new President of the Orange County Senior Caucus. Tim brings decades of generational knowledge to the table, tracing his roots from a young mayor in Ohio to a grassroots organizer in Orlando. Topics discussed include: How do we counter the demand for instant gratification in a slow-moving political system? What is the impact of rapid local redistricting ahead of 2026? Most importantly, they discuss concrete strategies for re-engaging marginalized and older communities left behind by typical "three-months-before-the-election" door knocking campaigns. Timecodes: 0:00 - Intro 0:54 - Tim’s political background 8:51 - Overcoming voter burnout 14:11 - Deconstructing populist messaging 17:42 - Organizing in marginalized communities 20:02 - Why seniors heavily rely on vote-by-mail 21:43 - Contested vs. competitive races in Orange County 25:46 - The local impact of redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections 31:16 - Replicating the latest Senior Caucus success using micro-targeting 33:03 - How different generations get their news 36:06 - Navigating strict new rules for signatures, licenses, and registration 38:56 - How the state-level party infrastructure must adapt to win 46:14 - Corporate PACs, union-busting, and shifting worker rights in Florida 53:33 - Re-framing the narrative on government spending and local impact 56:54 - How national immigration rhetoric directly impacts local economies 1:01:26 - Ageism in voter suppression 1:02:28 - Actionable steps for seniors

How to Fix Florida (with Antione Fields)

Antione Fields, candidate for Florida House District 21, joins us to talk about what drove him into politics: from the murder of Trayvon Martin to fighting the state takeover of Gainesville's municipal utility. They discuss Florida's affordability crisis, the push for universal healthcare at the state level, corporate influence in the legislature, gerrymandering, criminal justice reform, and why Antione believes bold progressive politics is the only answer to Florida's increasingly dark political climate. Learn more at https://www.fieldsforflorida.com/ Timecodes: * 00:00 Intro & Background * 07:10 Why Run for Office? * 10:32 Universal Healthcare at the State Level * 16:12 Gun Violence & the NRA's Influence * 18:27 How Trayvon Martin Shaped Antione's Path * 23:46 The District 21 Primary & Rejecting Corporate PAC Money * 26:08 The Fight to Restore Control of Gainesville's Utility GRU * 31:10 Florida's Property Insurance & Climate Crisis * 39:01 Housing, Smart Growth & Public Transit * 44:52 Gerrymandering & the Congressional Map Special Session * 49:04 Criminal Justice Reform & Free Prison Calls * 53:32 Closing Message & How to Get Involved