Name: Chloe Chik
School: Gallatin with Concentrations in Politics, Public Policy and Communications
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
From her journey serving as Secretary, Campaign Director, and finally, President of NYU College Democrats, Chloe has undeniably worn many hats while ceaselessly fighting for political change. Aside from her unshakable character and contagious exuberance, Chloe is also widely known as that girl who was featured in Hillary Clinton’s (yes, you read right) campaign video. Continue to read on to learn more about Chloe’s awe-inspiring journey and vision for America.
HC NYU: Was there a defining moment when you decided you wanted to pursue politics and public policy seriously? If so, what was it?
CC: There were two defining moments happening at the same time. I never thought I would be in politics; I wanted to be an artist. I spent hours painting, drawing, dancing and figure skating. When I was thirteen, I got in a bad figure skating accident and spent the summer recovering and reading. My stepdad gave me then-Senator Barack Obama’s Audacity of Hope. That same summer, California was embroiled in this heated debate over gay marriage, Proposition Eight was to define marriage as between a man and a woman. To me, that was the strangest political reality. My high school teachers are gay, my godfather is gay, my friend’s parents are gay and every day I walked past and interacted with LGBTQ* people and couples. Yet starting that summer, my neighbors had lawn signs supporting Prop 8; my strictly Christian grandparents were vehemently against gay marriage. One of my best friends came out that summer to his former Navy father and that did not go over well. Rather than just allowing the rolling tide of homophobia, I wanted to do something because I valued the everyday human experience of wanting to hold and cherish someone just as anyone else would want. I firmly believe in equal treatment amongst those around me. So I stood outside of grocery stores with friends holding up signs and petitions, went to meetings held by “No on Prop 8” in San Francisco, and really understood what it meant to stand up for change.
To end with a quote from Audacity of Hope:
“We hang on to our values, even if they seem at times tarnished and worn… What else is there to guide us? Those values are our inheritance, what makes us who we are as a people… We can make claims on their behalf, so long as we understand that our values must be tested against fact and experience, so long as we recall that they demand deeds and not just words.”
HC NYU: What is the most central reason that you identify with the Democratic Party?
CC: I fundamentally value the equality of all and that one freedom cannot necessarily be valued over another’s. Legal scholar Zechariah Chafee said, “The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins.” To me I cannot take comfort in my rights nor my freedoms if it is at the expense of or valued over others. I could never advocate for my own advancement in life without helping other women advance too; I could never support the unrestricted right to bear arms over the possible liberty of someone’s life. My mother always taught me to be grateful for the life and privileges that I have and to always help those who do not. A community or a society should extend privileges to all, not take away or devalue them. To me the Democratic Party promotes these forms of equality and freedoms by supporting certain platforms and policies hoping to extend rights and freedoms not at the expense of others.
HC NYU: You’ve been actively involved in NYU College Democrats ever since your first year at NYU and are currently serving as President. Can you tell us more about this journey?
CC: Just like any NYU freshmen seeking out a community on campus, I went to ClubFest. I wanted to find a group of like-minded people who cared about what I believe in. I saw the College Democrats with American flags, Obama posters and meetings on policies or rallies on issues. I found my people (who also happened to have free food every Thursday.) From there, the Executive Board asked me to help organize on Obama’s campaign, debate the College Republicans on Immigration and the Keystone Pipeline, and more importantly, all the members of the club became my closest friends (who I affectionately call fam). My sophomore year, I decided to run for Secretary and won; my junior year, I was the Campaign Director; and I was elected President my senior year. Throughout my time, I revamped our social media, lead campaign initiatives and connected us to College Democrats chapters in the area and around the state. While I have had campaign heartbreaks and long nights planning events, I have also come across some of the most amazing people. This journey would not be nearly as fantastic as it would have been without the wonderful work of the executive boards before and present, so thanks fam.
HC NYU: You’re also a freelance graphic designer for various political and non-profit organizations. How did you get started and how do you merge these two fields?
CC: I mentioned earlier that I love all forms of art and I picked up photography in high school, then I learned how to use Photoshop. I became Photo Editor then Editor-in-Chief on my high school yearbook learning a lot about design along the way. The summer after my freshman year, I was interning on Reshma Saujuan for Public Advocate here in New York City, and last minute they needed someone with design skills to create some press and social media graphics, so I volunteered myself. Over time, I have refined my ability (I actually took the photos, edited, then designed the graphics below) to merge my love and my unique background in art and design into conveying political messages.
HC NYU: You had the incredible opportunity to be featured in Hillary Clinton’s Presidential Campaign Announcement Video. How did this happen?
CC: In fall 2012, I actively volunteered at Obama’s New York headquarters and even now, people will occasionally message me saying, “Hey I was on Obama’s campaign in [name the place]!” So I had an email in my inbox that started off similarly and ended with “I would love to have a quick phone call and chat.” So I called that person who said she had been on Obama’s video team in 2012 and is working on Hillary’s team. She asked if I would support Hillary Clinton for president. Of course I did and still do, so within this phone call, she and I decided that I would shoot some footage. I honestly had no idea how much of my face would be in that video until its release.
HC NYU: What do you think is the key component to networking and maintaining connections?
CC: To quote Hamilton: An American Musical, “I want to be in the room where it happens.” While Aaron Burr was over-the-top, sleezy ambitious, it never hurts to try to be in the room where things happen. If you want to be in politics or in campaigns or in any work setting, be there. I find ways to volunteer for candidates I admire all the time; I go to fundraisers and events. I hate big crowds of people for I am a tiny person and a little introverted, but I always pluck up the courage to talk to someone one-on-one even for a brief moment and hope I can get a contact. If so, following up is key. I might be attached to my phone more than the average twenty-something, but finding ways to keep in some constant contact is great, even if it’s a simple “how are you?”
HC NYU: As Vice President of CDNY (College Democrats of New York), you recently helped organize their annual convention. What were some of your responsibilities?
CC: Having been Vice President of CDNY pretty much entails helping the President, Jamie Zieno, coordinate our state-wide team to organize initiatives and events, especially our three-day convention. Our goal is to make the convention widely attended, well-stocked with exciting programming and as inexpensive as possible. Mostly, I wrote a lot of Facebook messages, a few dozen emails a day, and numerous phone calls encouraging various College Democrats chapters to attend, inviting politicians and policy makers to be guest speakers, or asking various donors for funds to run convention and support the students who wish to attend. Over the past four years, I have learned that political people are extremely busy and can easily glaze over the most standard of emails. If you just take the time to remind them and inject a little humor, you can go a long way. I have a new way of advertising events: persistence and puns.
HC NYU: Out of the endless internships you’ve held in the past, which was the most memorable and why?
CC: I think each internship and job I have held has given me memorable and learnable moments. And while it may not have been my favorite (I really don’t have one), my most memorable will probably be Reshma Saujani’s Public Advocate campaign. I gained a lot of experience from petitioning for a candidate and pitching, graphic designing for campaigns (it was the first campaign I had been on where I had been given graphic design work), to working with amazing people. I absolutely love Reshma as a person and I have been so proud of her achievements with Girls Who Code. Her campaign manager Michael Blake is now an Assemblyman for the 79th district in South Bronx and is still a mentor to me. I also became close friends with other interns like Samantha Sanchez, who encouraged me to join NYU Greek Life, and Tahia Islam, who is now one of the freshmen in NYU College Democrats. I have kept in contact with so many of the other staff and volunteers ever since, and it really has been the people who made the experience so worth it.
HC NYU: How do you see yourself changing the world after graduation?
CC: In the long run, I hope to stress the Democratic party’s progressive ideals to align with progressive technology, broadcasting a unified message that will encourage millennial voters to stand behind them. I want to ensure that the Democratic Party is both an organization of lofty patriotic ideals and progressive policy fueled by their commitment to equality. From within the Democratic Party, I could reframe how politics should be represented to the younger generations of Americans. I want politicians to know that young people will turn out to vote because they approve of and are encouraged by political action, not because they are frustrated by it. I would lead strategic communication initiatives that could further public discourse and make sure that Democratic politics would make an inclusive impact for future generations.
HC NYU: Why are you Ready for Hillary? In other words, what aspects of Hillary’s campaign and ideas appeal most to you?
CC: I believe in strong leadership and pragmatic progressivism. She has always been a role model to me as an activist First Lady, Senator, then Secretary of State. She’s an advocate of women’s rights, children’s rights, healthcare and a myriad of topics that truly mean a lot to me. Unlike her 2008 campaign, she has truly made this campaign about fighting for all Americans–women, children, incarcerated, PoC, LGBTQ*, etc. Regardless of the criticism that has been thrown her way, she has made this campaign about helping those in need succeed. Unlike other candidates, she is not just pointing out the problems of the disenfranchised, but has taken the time to evaluate the problems facing our country and how to truly tackle them. To me, her campaign exudes her values as a leader and this is why #ImWithHer.
And in conclusion…
President Crush: Can it be a three-way toss up between Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Barack Obama?
One Word to Describe Politics: Life-Changing
Favorite Brunch Spot: San Marzano on 7th and 2nd or Sweet Chick on Bedford & N. 8th. It really depends if I want bottomless mimosas or chicken & waffles.
Follow Chloe on social media!
Facebook: Chloe Chik
Instagram: @chloechik614
Twitter: @chloechik614