In this episode of Beyond the Hyphen, host Mark Li sits down with William He, the founder of Dream for America, a national youth-led organization mobilizing young people to participate meaningfully in democracy.

William reflects on building an institution from the ground up at 16, navigating youth leadership, scaling civic engagement without losing long-term vision, and what it takes to turn political interest into sustained action. The conversation spans grassroots organizing, national moments like Democracy Fest, political identity formation, and what young leaders should take from today’s emerging generation in public life—plus one unexpected hot take at the end.

In this episode of Beyond the Hyphen, host Mark Li speaks with Dr. Kevin Chin, an emergency room physician and Democratic candidate for the Howard County Council representing District 1. Drawing on his experience working at the front lines of public health, Dr. Chin discusses what motivated his transition from medicine into local government and how clinical decision-making has shaped his approach to accountability, resource allocation, and public service. The conversation explores the role of county government in shaping everyday life in Howard County, from education funding and school capacity planning to transparency in budgeting, procurement, and regulatory decisions.

In this episode of Beyond the Hyphen, host Mark Li sits down with Dan Schwartz, a consumer protection advocate and Democratic candidate for Congress in Maryland’s First District.

The conversation examines affordability, healthcare, and consumer protection through the lens of how Congress actually functions in practice. Schwartz discusses his background in regulatory enforcement, the gap between laws on the books and lived protections, and how internal power structures—particularly the influence of the Freedom Caucus—shape legislative outcomes.

The episode also explores federal issues affecting young voters, questions of accountability and representation in Maryland, and what effective leadership looks like at a moment of institutional strain.