_edited.png)
The ACR is meant to be the Alamo-Capital Region. Even though that is the name of the region, I feel as if we have severely dismissed one major city, Austin. Austin is the capital of Texas and the host of our very first convention every single JSA year, it is truly filled with potential with many major schools that are sure to be interested in social activism as well as politics. As mayor I want to tap into that potential, I will work directly with the expansion department in order to find contacts and expand into the Austin region. Austin is a very politically active city and expanding to Austin will flourish the ACR and Texas JSA as a whole. I believe that when we look at the ACR right now, it is heavily dominated by San Antonio schools, and while this is a very good thing, we must at least try and engage the Austin region in order to make the Alamo-Capital Region genuinely the Alamo-Capital Region.
​
Expansion in Austin is a major goal for me, but expanding in San Antonio cannot be forgotten. I will work closely with my fellow senators as well as expansion agents in my region in order to increase chapter size and also increase the mere amount of chapters in all regions. I have the connections to do so, and I will make sure to capitalize on that to expand the ACR to its full potential. Expansion is crucial to the development and the growth of JSA, and as mayor, I will work very diligently in order to maximize the growth of our region.
​
In order for any form of success or efficiency, there needs to be a method of cooperation. I believe in the past years we have not seen the ACR live up to its maximum capabilities due to the lack of cooperation and help. This does not just mean a chapter con, this extends to much more like cooperation projects like co chapter events and activism events between chapters will help aid expansion as well as helping out the community. Expansion and cooperation will facilitate the ACR's ability in giving back to the community and furthering JSAs ability to connect with people.
Activism
Communication has been lacking in the ACR. This lack of communication has caused our region to become behind compared to other regions. As mayor, I will increase the communication between chapters and communication between the higher-ups of JSA to presidents. One of my policies will include making a president group chat between schools. This will allow chapters to communicate with each other as well as a way the ACR mayor can communicate with chapters.
​
To ensure that communication occurs, I as mayor will implement a plan where it is not just one CP that is representing the chapter, it will be the CP’s as well as another chapter member or official to act as a supplemental medium of communication. This is really important because communication always has its gaps, sometimes people are busy or preoccupied and are unable to respond in a sufficient amount of time. This can be solved very easily however if we can act to increase the number of people that act to represent a chapter and moreover decrease the likelihood of unresponsiveness and lack of information. Communication always comes first, and I as mayor will ensure that it will always occur effectively and thoroughly.
I will check on chapter progress, as well as checking if they have issues or problems regarding JSA information. One of the major problems in the ACR is the lack of communication, and with expanding communication, we can lead the ACR in a whole new direction. Communication will allow for a chapter con, joint activism projects, and expanding to new schools.
Being an activism agent, activism has to be a key part of my campaign. As a chapter president, I have led numerous large scale activism initiatives making great relationships with large scale organizations, making hundreds of dollars in fundraisers, as well as arranging major events. As a region, I would like to create a year-long goal, in which we can contact organizations or assemble fundraisers in which we can interact cooperatively as chapters and act to actually go in and create change in our communities.
​
Having the year-long goal is the best way to engage in activism efforts because it prevents us from spreading ourselves too thin. What I mean by this is that having experience working with specific, local causes like for example what I did this past year with the Justice for Erin organization that focuses combatting teen dating violence. Being able to work directly with them and raise money in order for them to facilitate greater success for their organization in the future was truly a great experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything. The massive amount of support and relationships that we can build and foster with working with either one organization or one general cause is the best way to go about helping and aiding our communities. A little side note, I’ll link the website for the Justice for Erin cause HERE, please reach out to them or donate if you could, truly an eye-opening story and genuine cause.
Accountability
The position of mayor is a relatively high position of power, and it should be ensured that the power that the mayor holds must be put to good use. I would work with the senators in my region in order to pass legislation that would create a process in which a mayor would be held accountable for certain actions that are possible during his term. For example, in a year in which conventions are possible (no external factors that prevent it), a mayor should hold a chapter convention for his/her region, as a mayoral responsibility. My plan for ensuring accountability is that I will work with my fellow senators to increase accountability for elected officials. I plan to expand the powers of the FEC to be able to regulate and monitor campaign promises and to ensure that they are reasonable and kept.
With such a high-level oversight on the mayor, efficiency and implementation will be ensured because the consequences of becoming inactive and careless will result in punishment (suspension of duties) that would of course not be favorable. I have numerous senators and representatives that are in favor of this idea, and I would work with them to ensure that the regional JSA is continuously kept up to standard and making strides of improvement with an active and strong leader in charge.
Chapter Con
One of the major problems with the ACR has been the absence of a chapter convention. Chapter conventions allow JSA to expand to new areas as well as an alternative to a state convention for people who can't attend. As mayor, I will make it my top priority to have a chapter convention and it's going to be good.
​
I will one hundred and ten percent, no doubt, have a regional convention. Having spent two whole years in the ACR and not experiencing a chapter con has made me feel a bit of FOMO, I believe it is my responsibility as mayor to guarantee that we have a smooth and successful chapter con. If you allow me to be mayor I would do everything in my power which includes engaging in all of my direct platform points that address communication and cooperation to have a chapter con. If there would be no contest from external pressure, i.e. how corona canceled spring state, we would ensure the most enjoyable region-wide convention possible. I can ensure great and engaging guest speakers along with well-run debates and thought talks and finally a major sense of uniqueness.
​
As mayor, the speakers of the convention will be governmental officials, political activists, and local representatives. The debates will be structured off of the state conventions, with a normal resolution, satirical debates, and much more!! As mayor, I will lead the whole convention with an efficiently similar to a state convention and make it enjoyable.
Publicity
How people view JSA is a really important aspect of the organization as a whole. When I become the mayor of the ACR, I will make sure to not fall behind in that aspect. My plan for increasing and mobilizing publicity is contingent on one major thing: Instagram. I will use Instagram in two ways. First, I will make sure to still actively post and make updates on my mayoral campaign account. The @ will shift from @ansh4mayor to @anshACRmayor, and I will make routine posts that either may be JSA updates or even successful policy implementation. The main point of this account is to allow for transparency within the region and show my progress as mayor to keep myself reliable.
Second, I will make use of the ACR Instagram account. We already have one, but it has zero activity :( .This account will be centered around the chapters. On this account, I will post mainly chapter related accomplishments and progress, like for example if an ACR chapter were to be awarded activism chapter of the month at Fall State they would be given a congratulatory post on the account. This would be really helpful in upping chapter morale and incentivizing success and development for our region.
