Podcast
Organizing to Victory
Hosted by Lee-Alyse Perry · EN
Welcome to the Organizing to Victory Podcast with Lee-Alyse Perry, a climate activist and community organizer based in Orlando, FL.
27episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Flipping North Florida and Supporting Small Farmers with Amanda Marie Green
6d ago00:33:29Tap to summarizeOn this episode of Organizing to Victory, host Lee Perry sits down for the show's very first Zoom podcast with Amanda Marie Green, who is running in the primary for Florida’s 2nd Congressional District. Encompassing 16 massive counties across North Florida and the Panhandle, CD-2 is a heavily rural district grappling with severe, everyday economic challenges.Amanda joins the show to discuss her unique background specializing in global food security and humanitarian aid with USAID, and how witnessing federal programs get gutted fueled her decision to step up and run. At 32 years old, this new mom breaks down what it means to run a "back-to-basics" campaign that centers on small family farms, lowering the skyrocketing cost of property insurance, expanding VA healthcare, and fully funding SNAP to ensure no child goes hungry.https://www.amgforcongress.com
Transcribe →What Florida Can Learn from Orange County (with Wes Hodge)
2w ago01:26:27Tap to summarizeLee Perry interviews Wes Hodge: a longtime Central Florida organizer, former Orange County DEC Chair, LGBTQ advocate, and current Treasurer for the Florida Democratic Party.Wes shares the story that pushed him into politics and how Orange County managed to flip local power. We also talk transit, sprawl, tourism “economic leakage,” voter suppression, and why 2026 could be the year Florida voters finally say "enough!"Visit https://www.weshodgeoc.com/
Transcribe →Rebuilding Voter Trust with Angie Gardner
3w ago01:30:27Tap to summarizeWhat 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.comOrganizing to Victory Network: http://organizingtovvictory.com
Transcribe →Restoring our Faith in Central Florida (with Jorge Figueroa)
Jun 2401:13:10Tap to summarizeFollowing 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.comGet Involved: Visit organizingtovictory.com to subscribe, share, and organize around the real world issues impacting our neighbors.
Transcribe →Saving Florida's Education System with Susanne Peña
Jun 1200:53:17Tap to summarizeLee 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 Timestamps0:00 - Intro1:12 - Growing up in Puerto Rico & Career Journey4:50 - Juggling a Campaign, teaching, and a PhD Dissertation8:26 - How Mom & Grandma Instilled the Value of Education11:06 - Navigating Florida's Culture Wars, Union Attacks, and Living Wages12:46 - What Led Suzanne to Run for School Board15:15 - Facing the New Wave of Defunding, Vouchers, and Book Censorship19:30 - Campaign Priorities: Expanding Access to AP, IB, STEM, and Multilingual Programs26:29 - The Disintegration of Federal Language Access and ESE Safety Nets31:57 - Why Local August Down-Ballot Elections Matter Just as Much as November37:09 - The Traumatic Impact of Immigration Raids and School Closures on Kids & Teachers50:12 - How to Volunteer and Support the CampaignConnect & 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.comSupport 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.
Transcribe →Protecting Our Right to Vote (with Tim Ayers)
Jun 101:06:36Tap to summarizeSeniors 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 - Intro0:54 - Tim’s political background8:51 - Overcoming voter burnout 14:11 - Deconstructing populist messaging17:42 - Organizing in marginalized communities20:02 - Why seniors heavily rely on vote-by-mail21:43 - Contested vs. competitive races in Orange County25:46 - The local impact of redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections31:16 - Replicating the latest Senior Caucus success using micro-targeting33:03 - How different generations get their news36:06 - Navigating strict new rules for signatures, licenses, and registration38:56 - How the state-level party infrastructure must adapt to win46:14 - Corporate PACs, union-busting, and shifting worker rights in Florida53:33 - Re-framing the narrative on government spending and local impact56:54 - How national immigration rhetoric directly impacts local economies1:01:26 - Ageism in voter suppression1:02:28 - Actionable steps for seniors
Transcribe →How to Fix Florida (with Antione Fields)
May 2500:56:43Tap to summarizeAntione 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 & Background07:10 Why Run for Office?10:32 Universal Healthcare at the State Level16:12 Gun Violence & the NRA's Influence18:27 How Trayvon Martin Shaped Antione's Path23:46 The District 21 Primary & Rejecting Corporate PAC Money26:08 The Fight to Restore Control of Gainesville's Utility GRU31:10 Florida's Property Insurance & Climate Crisis39:01 Housing, Smart Growth & Public Transit44:52 Gerrymandering & the Congressional Map Special Session49:04 Criminal Justice Reform & Free Prison Calls53:32 Closing Message & How to Get Involved
Transcribe →Criminal Justice Reform (with Janet Buford-Johnson)
May 1701:03:03Tap to summarizeLee Perry sits down with Janet Buford-Johnson, a grassroots candidate running for the Florida House of Representatives in District 41. Janet shares her 32-year journey from the hospitality and food industry, to facing unimaginable personal tragedies. She opens up about loss, survival, and the fight for justice for her son. She also talks about how Hurricane Ian completely destroyed her home, stripped away a lifetime of irreplaceable memories, and has left her locked in a battle with insurance companies to rebuild what was lost. Learn more at https://janetforoffice.com
Transcribe →Fire Randy Fine! (with Ronnie Murchinson-Rivera)
May 1001:10:32Tap to summarizeLee Perry sits down with Ronnie Murchinson-Rivera, a grassroots Democrat challenging Randy Fine for Florida's 6th Congressional District. Born and raised in New York City and now a Lake County homeowner, Ronnie brings the perspective of a former EMT, law enforcement officer, husband, and father of five to a race the national party has all but written off.In this conversation, Ronnie shares the moment that pushed him to run, what it's like to lose your home to back-to-back hurricanes and fight FEMA and your insurance company for years, and why the DNC told him Florida wasn't worth the investment. He and Lee dig into the issues hitting families in District 6 hardest: skyrocketing property insurance, unaffordable healthcare, underpaid teachers and nurses, gerrymandered maps, and a state government that keeps choosing billionaires and Alligator Alcatraz over working people.Ronnie talks about getting money out of politics, refusing corporate and AIPAC dollars, supporting term limits, expanding the Supreme Court, and why he believes the path to flipping Florida runs through honest conversations with Republicans and independents. He also opens up about raising five kids in a country that feels less safe for them every day, and how his family keeps him grounded through it all.Learn more or get involved at ron4congress.com or firerandyfine.com.
Transcribe →Challenging the Status Quo (with Eric Yonce)
May 101:29:51Tap to summarizeWe sit down with our first-ever congressional candidate guest: Eric Yonce. Eric is running for Florida’s 6th Congressional District, a diverse area spanning from Daytona and Palm Coast to the Ocala National Forest. Eric isn't your typical career politician. With over 20 years in retail management, Eric brings a "worker-first" perspective to a race currently dominated by the divisive rhetoric of incumbent Randy Fine.In this wide-ranging conversation, Lee and Eric dive deep into:- How a local land swap in St. Augustine and the "Trump effect" on political discourse forced Eric to move from the sidelines to the ballot.- The urgent need for infrastructure that respects Florida’s unique environment and protects the state's dwindling aquifer.- Why Eric supports banning congressional stock trading and overturning Citizens United to return power to everyday Floridians.And much more! Join us as we explore what it means to organize for a Florida that prioritizes people over developers.Learn more about the campaign: yonceforcongress.comGet involved with the movement: organizingtovictory.com
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