Technology and passion. We don’t usually think of those together, but you experience their synergy in DCDC’s bi-monthly DC Resisters Zooms. When facilitator Alan Haley brings them together, the result is new, unexpected relationships.
Alan grew up in Mississippi, where he developed a curiosity about politics. After college, he got work in New York City providing tech support service to some of our country’s major firms. He and his wife also purchased a second place in Delaware County, which felt more like home.
Things changed in 2016 when Haley’s interest in politics exploded into profound disbelief at Trump’s election. It made no sense. Driven to understand, he started observing MAGA Social Media.
This is where the tech and passion start to come together. Alan was able to use his extensive tech skill set to start a long, stealthy, deep dive into MAGA. It wasn’t fun, but over time he learned how this affinity group thinks.
When Trump started his 2024 Presidential campaign, Alan went from observer to alarmed volunteer, doing whatever was needed—phone banking, data entry, letters to the editor, dcDIGEST articles—you name it and he said yes. While Democratic efforts to win NY19 for Josh Riley succeeded, Haley was horrified to see Trump re-elected.
Disbelief swelled into anger, then to rage but then transmuted it into constructive action. Alan’s compassion for victims of sexual assault, his belief in justice, and disbelief that in America a convicted criminal and sexual predator could avoid repercussions and instead be rewarded the highest office in the land drove him to a higher level of passion. “I went into a superhero-nerd sense of personal obligation. I don’t like bullies.”
Haley’s volunteer work for DCDC showed him a gap where he was uniquely suited to make a difference. “Despite many attempts at social media outreach, DCDC was failing to connect with younger voters.” He volunteered to take another deep dive – this time into the world of young progressives. He set out to learn TikTok, to listen, understand and attempt to make connections.
Alan succeeded. He created a DelCoDems TikTok identity, quickly developed over 1,000 followers, reached out and started conversations with rising young influencers—fellow blue dots in red seas—and convinced many to be guests on DC Resisters. With Alan’s skillful facilitation, these Zoom discussions have been enlightening, revealing, inspiring—and fun.
Alan encourages all of us not to shy away from learning something difficult if that’s what’s needed. “What I’m doing is painful” he said about learning TikTok, but indicated it is also gratifying to be making a difference and developing relationships with DCDC and many young activists around the country.
Subscribers to dcDIGEST read this in the June 2nd, 2026 issue. The Secret Sauce series looks at what sparks concerned bystanders to taking action. These volunteer stories are inspiring. They often bring special skills (their “Secret Sauce”) that add in ways we Dems didn’t know we needed!