EXETER�� The Rockingham County Democrats are sponsoring a meet and greet with Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang on Friday, Feb. 8.

The event will take place at 5 p.m. at the Rockingham County Democrats office at 104 Epping Road. Yang will also appear at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 at Teatotaller in Somersworth for a meet and greet with Tri-City Young Democrats.

�We look forward to hearing Andrew Yang�s views on the key issues of the day,� said Larry Drake, chairman of the Rockingham County Democrats. �I am sure the discussion will be very thought-provoking. I encourage everyone interested in our country�s future to turn out.�

Yang is an entrepreneur who founded the nonprofit, Venture for America, which created thousands of jobs across the country. In doing this work, Yang learned that artificial intelligence and technology threaten one-third of all American jobs and that current politicians have no plans to address these seismic labor force changes. His presidential platform, therefore, seeks to alleviate the growing pains associated with the greatest technological and economic shift of our time.

Yang�s platform includes supporting the Freedom Dividend, a $1,000 per month basic income provided to all Americans over age 18, no strings attached, paid for by a tax on the companies that profit most from AI and new technology.

He also supports Medicare for all, ending the fear of medical bankruptcy while removing one of the largest costs associated with starting a small business.

He is also a proponent of human-centered capitalism, changing the focus of economic measurement from gross domestic product to numbers that reflect the well-being of the average American.

Born in Schenectady, New York, Yang graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, Brown University and Columbia Law School.

A question-and-answer session will follow his remarks. The event is free and open to the public.