A conversation with Dylan Whisman, Secretary of DSA Ventura County. Written by Caleb Rickett

Caleb Rickett is a surf instructor, clarity writer, and independent journalist exploring culture, consciousness, and the human relationship with the ocean. He is the founder of Conscious Surfing, a writing project focused on awareness, community, and lived experience. https://conscioussurfing.substack.com

On a clear day in Ventura, I met Dylan Whisman, Secretary of DSA Ventura County, in Plaza Park for the 10th Annual Women’s March — a fitting setting for a conversation centered on working people, public life, and political engagement outside elite spaces.

Dylan explained that the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is currently the largest socialist organization in the United States, approaching 100,000 members nationwide. The organization focuses on workers’ rights, union organizing, and electing candidates who represent working-class interests rather than corporate donors.

“Our goal,” Dylan said, “is to organize working people and help them build real power — not just during elections, but in their daily lives.”

Organizing Beyond Elections

Dylan emphasized that DSA’s work goes beyond campaign cycles. He pointed to recent labor movements — including organizing efforts at Starbucks and Amazon — as examples of workers reclaiming collective bargaining power in an economy that increasingly concentrates wealth at the top.

He also noted recent electoral wins, citing Zohran Mamdani, the first Muslim and socialist mayor of New York City, as a signal that political alternatives are gaining traction when messaging connects directly to people’s lived realities.

Socialism, Capitalism, and Clarity

When asked about the stigma surrounding the word socialism, Dylan was direct.

“Most people already support the ideas,” he said. “They just haven’t been told that those ideas fall under the label of democratic socialism — things like Medicare for All.”

He argued that modern political discourse often relies on fear-based messaging and media distortion, making it harder for people to understand policies on their actual merits. In his view, clarity — not ideology — is what’s missing.

An Invitation, Not a Demand

For those who feel disengaged or overwhelmed by politics, Dylan offered a grounded invitation rather than a directive.

“Start local. Talk to people. Get involved at a level that feels human,” he said. “Politics shouldn’t feel abstract or unreachable.”

DSA Ventura County, he explained, aims to create accessible entry points for participation — whether through meetings, mutual aid, or community conversations like this one.