Go Run - Demystifying the Political Process
For the political novice ready to throw herself into the fray and hit the ground running, Go Run gets women moving forward by providing concrete take-homes in the form of nuts-and-bolts advice on running a political campaign.
A non-partisan women's political leadership training program under the auspices of The White House Project (TWHP), Go Run is a short yet thorough crash course in running a political campaign and becoming a candidate. In the span of a single weekend, Go Run demystifies the political process by covering basic skills in the core areas of communications, fundraising and campaigning and addressing the unique barriers that women face in politics. The training is given annually in select cities across the US, and follow-up programs offer additional opportunities for women to broaden their knowledge and expertise.
A non-profit national organization, The White House Project seeks to advance women's leadership in all communities and sectors—up to the U.S. presidency— by assisting them in navigating a political pipeline that is 86% male and 81% white. TWHP was founded in 1998 by Marie Wilson who also co-founded Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.
She Should Run - Overcoming Reluctance
Perhaps the biggest stumbling block to channeling more women candidates into the political pipeline is an internal and personal one. Women don't self-nominate to the same degree men do, observes Mary Hughes. A woman who is reluctant to toot her own horn ends up being the proverbial "light under a bushel" -- concealing talents and abilities that would make her an excellent candidate.
That's where She Should Run comes in. SheShouldRun.org is an online nomination tool and resource center that not only invites women to consider running for public office but also enables viewers to nominate women they believe should run someday. A project of the Women's Campaign Forum, a non-partisan national network dedicated to achieving parity for women in public office, She Should Run believes that women will run for political office when asked and provides them with the encouragement, information, and connections they need to make that decision to run.
Those who register with the organization gain access to a "Companion Notebook: Making the Decision to Run," tip sheets with advice, and a newsletter that connects members to political/advocacy organizations in their area. She Should Run also provides a list of recommended campaign and candidate training programs from across the country.
Women who were nominated to She Should Run and won their respective political campaigns include Nebraska State Senator Brenda Council; Town Councilwoman Stephanie Hausner, Clarkstown, NY; Mayor Carolyn Committa, West Chester, PA; and Colorado State Senator Linda Newell. Encouraged to run for public office by people she knew and respected, each woman initially expressed reluctance but stepped forward at the urging of others. For women who want to "give back" but are unsure if they have what it takes to survive a politic race, Brenda Council stresses the service aspect: "[W]omen of all ages who believe they have a contribution to make should seriously consider seeking public office in their local communities."
Partisan / Issue Specific Groups
In addition to the above-mentioned non-partisan resources, there are a number of groups geared toward recruiting and assisting party- and/or issue-specific female candidates. These include Emily's List (which supports the election of pro-choice Democratic women), Susan B. Anthony List (a political action committee which helps elect pro-life women to Congress), Smart Girl Politics (geared toward recruiting and supporting conservative women), and NOW/PAC (a political action committee associated with the National Organization for Women geared toward electing feminists -- both women and men -- to political office at all levels.)
Sources:
"About the 2012 Project." CAWP.rutgers.edu. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
Anderson, Melissa J. "The White House Project's Go Run New York Kicks Off Friday." TheGlassHammer.com. 2 June 2010.
"Go Run: Women's Political Leadership Training." TheWhiteHouseProject.org. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
Kazakoff, Lois. "The 2012 project seeks Boomer women." SFgate.com. 15 March 2011.
"She Should Run Candidate Resources." sheshouldrun.org. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
"She Should Run Members Who Ran - And Won!" sheshouldrun.org. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
Walsh, Debbie and Kathy Kleeman. "For a woman to reach the White House, the 2012 elections will be key." Washingtonpost.com. 1 April 2011.
