Our Founder
Meet William He
William He is the 18-year-old founder & CEO of Dream for America, a national youth movement dedicated to identifying, educating, & empowering students to promote liberal values.
Motivated to enter politics after the Parkland School Shootings in 2018, William grew up under a Trump presidency and came of age during a historic and unprecedented time of apathy, disillusionment, anger towards government, institutions, the media, & each other. As the son of Chinese immigrants, William was deeply offended by the anti-immigrant & anti-democratic rhetoric spewed by far-right conservatives.
At just 16-years-old, William founded Dream for America in July of 2023 as a matter of personal conviction and much encouragement from friends, family, and mentors.
William has also been a committed volunteer for various political campaigns, including Sen. Ed Markey’s 2020 Senate campaign and President Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign. In 2021, William launched Bread for America, an anti-hunger food-security nonprofit, raising over $40,000 to deliver 10,000 pounds of food to underserved communities in just 4 months.
William briefly served as a U.S. Senate Page for Sen. John Cornyn, representing his home state of Texas for a portion of his fall semester in 2023. William also chairs his hometown’s youth advisory council and serves on various advisory committees for the town discussing local economic development and parks projects.
Even as a teenager, William is a passionate leader with years of nonprofit and political experience. Inspired by figures like President Franklin Roosevelt & Secretary Hillary Clinton, William’s journey began early – influenced by his background as the son of Chinese immigrants & their pursuit of the American dream and opportunities for their children.
Having been interested in politics since the days of the 2016 election, William first got involved into politics at just age 11 by phone-banking for March for Our Lives after the Parkland school shooting in 2018. Like many other Gen-Zers, entering politics was no longer a choice, but rather a necessity. He soon became a seasoned organizer, supporting local Black Lives Matter events and advocating for universal basic income and stimulus checks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At just 18-years-old, William was the youngest organization leader at the 2024 Democratic National Convention (just 17 at the time). William has been interviewed by over four-dozen podcasts, newspapers, & cable shows – and often quoted in news outlets including the Associated Press & POLITICO. William was the subject of a documentary by DW News on youth in politics, representing DFA at the DNC.
Outside of politics, William is an ice cream connoisseur, aspiring dog owner, frequent traveler, & devoted model airplane collector. William is also a varsity rower, competes on the Model UN & Debate team, serves as his school’s senior class president, studies Latin, and is fluent in English and Mandarin. William enjoys an avid interest in cinema, travel, & books about history, religion, and philosophy.