Organizing to Victory

Lee-Alyse Perry

Welcome to the Organizing to Victory Podcast with Lee-Alyse Perry, a climate activist and community organizer based in Orlando, FL.

  1. Jun 24

    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.

    1h 13m

  2. Jun 12

    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 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 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.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.

    53 min

  3. Jun 1

    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

    1h 7m

  4. May 25

    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 & 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

    57 min

  5. May 17

    Criminal Justice Reform (with Janet Buford-Johnson)

    Lee 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

    1h 3m

  6. May 10

    Fire Randy Fine! (with Ronnie Murchinson-Rivera)

    Lee 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.

    1h 11m

  7. May 1

    Challenging the Status Quo (with Eric Yonce)

    We 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.com Get involved with the movement: organizingtovictory.com

    1h 30m

  8. Apr 24

    Inspired to Do Something (with Lindsay Snyder)

    Lee Perry sits down with Lindsay Synder, the newly elected chair of the Orange County Democratic Progressive Caucus to discuss the distance between winning elections and saving lives. Lindsay shares her raw, personal journey through homelessness and arrest, explaining how those unfortunate events fueled her mission to provide mutual aid where the system failed. We explore why the future of the Democratic party is found in the community.

    1h 9m
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About

Welcome to the Organizing to Victory Podcast with Lee-Alyse Perry, a climate activist and community organizer based in Orlando, FL.

Information

  • Creator
    Lee-Alyse Perry
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Lee-Alyse Perry
  • Show Website
    Organizing to Victory

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