Running Start

Young Women's Political Leadership Retreat 2009

2009-07-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

Everyone at Running Start is still reeling in the success of another Young Women’s Political Leadership Retreat. 2009 was our biggest year yet, and there was certainly never a dull moment.

52 girls from 24 states arrived all throughout the day Wednesday. Their excitement was contagious to all of the staff members, and the first night was full of enthusiastic chatter. The young women were immediately excited to connect with others their age in an intellectually and politically stimulating environment.

Thursday morning, the festivities began. The first item on the agenda was an early morning trip to the Capitol building to meet real members of Congress and to hear about their experiences running for and holding office. After hearing from amazing role models including Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (FL-20), Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Virginia Foxx (NC-5), Jared Polis (CO-2), and Chellie Pingree (ME-1), the participants of the Young Women’s Political Leadership Retreat had the opportunity to introduce themselves and ask questions. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz was a popular speaker with the girls as she described her experience running for office as a young mother. In response to a complaint that she used a crayon instead of a pen during her campaign, she quotes herself as saying, “I may not always have a pen in my purse, but I always have crayons.”

From there, the Young Women’s Political Leadership Retreat participants headed to the Motion Picture Association of America, where they were able to screen the movie, What’s Your Point Honey? in a professional screening theatre. What’s Your Point Honey? explores the possibility and likelihood of having a woman serve as U.S. President, including an introduction to potential future candidates as well as following varying age groups of girls in order to observe how society impacts their ideas about political leadership.

After the movie, the young women metro-ed back to American University, where they heard from one of the keynote speakers of the Retreat – Dee Dee Myers, former Clinton White House Press Secretary. Dee Dee’s electric enthusiasm was contagious and energized her audience as she described her experiences and career, following her book, Why Women Should Rule the World.

Following a busy, jam-packed day, the girls (and the staff!) of the Young Women’s Political Leadership Retreat enjoyed an introductory session to yoga, sponsored by Tranquil Space. They discussed what leadership and creativity mean, attempted a few basic yoga techniques, and learned about the importance of journaling and channeling your thoughts and energies. During a powerful cool down, participants had the opportunity to embrace their fears, and then to release them as strength.

Friday was another busy day for the young ladies of the Young Women’s Political Leadership Retreat. Brianne Nadeau, a locally elected official to her Neighborhood Advisory Commission, spoke about her career and experience. As a young women beginning at the local level, she explained politics as a career and running for office in ways to which participants can relate.

Following Ms. Nadeau’s presentation, Julianna Smoot, the second keynote speaker and Obama’s campaign financial advisor, arrived. She talked to the girls about one of the most important parts of running for office – fundraising. Her impact on the evolution of campaign fundraising that occurred during the 2008 Presidential race was inspiring to everyone in the room.

Next, Christie Garton, author and creator of UChic, a book and website for college girls, presented to the Young Women’s Political Leadership Retreat about her book, website, and the importance of using new media to spread your message. Her book was also made available to participants, and it was quickly popular.

After a lunch break, the girls immediately immersed into another session. This time, they heard from Kelly Trumpbour, Senior Director of Running Start and author of Working at Interest Groups and Nonprofits. She gave participants a crash course in public speaking. Immediately, the girls participated in a public speaking workshop where they were provided the opportunity to give each other feedback and to gain experience talking to a crowd.

That night, a charter bus picked up all the participants of the Young Women’s Political Leadership Retreat and gave a short tour of Embassy Row, the Smithsonian, the Washington Monument, the White House, and Capitol Hill. The girls enjoyed this opportunity to take pictures of some of the most beautiful views of the city and to learn a small amount of history in the nation’s capital.

The ladies were transported by bus to a Networking Reception on Constitution Avenue. From the ninth floor terrace, the Young Women’s Political Leadership Retreat and their guests had a breathtaking view of the Capitol building. After a brief introduction to the art of networking and receiving their very own business cards, participants were joined by various professionals from elite careers that live and work right here in Washington, DC.

Following the Networking Reception, participants took a walking tour from the National Mall to the White House. With some of the most famous locations in the city lit up at night, the girls were given numerous amazing photo opportunities.

On Saturday morning, it was back to business. The first speaker of the day was Kate Geyer, Grassroots Advocacy Manager for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network; she spoke about the fundamentals of campaigning in her presentation: Campaign 101. Between “hot seat” workshops and lectures, the participants of the Young Women’s Political Leadership Retreat learned about campaigns in a new and realistic way.

Next, the girls heard from Alyse Nelson, President and CEO of Vital Voices. Her presentation about human trafficking, women leadership on a global scale, and working to improve others’ quality of life around the world touched and inspired us all. She then spoke about internship and future career opportunities, which sparked interest in many of the young ladies in her audience.

After lunch, Marjorie Clifton, Director of Special Projects of America’s Voice, gave the girls some media training and tips before putting them in front of the camera. The girls were asked a variety of questions in an on-camera interview and then received feedback about their performance from media professionals.

From media to career counseling, participants then took their resumes to various DC professionals for critiques.

At the end of the day, the young women of the Retreat took part in a Fundraising Game. Splitting into two groups, half of the participants acted as donors and the other half acted as candidates and tried to convince the donors to give them money. Then, the two groups switched. The girls who raised the most money in each round both received copies of What’s Your Point Honey? on DVD.

That night, participants voted on superlatives amongst themselves – including Most Likely to be future U.S. President, Running Start Board Member, Congresswoman, Time Magazine’s Woman of the Year, and Supreme Court Justice. The winners of each superlative won not only a paper plate award announcing their title, but also either a copy of Dee Dee Myers’ book Why Women Should Rule the World or She’s Out There, a collection of essays by female future U.S. Presidential candidates.

Sunday was Graduation Day, where the girls and their families attended a ceremony in honor of the completion of the program. Each of the girls had the opportunity to display just a small sample of the skills they developed during the program by announcing a “soundbyte” or brief introduction of themselves, their accomplishments, and their future goals. Then there was a final reception before participants were shuttled off to their airports and homes.

The Young Women’s Political Leadership Retreat of 2009 was a success, packed full of political and leadership elites in Washington, DC, workshops, training sessions, lectures, and experiences that will benefit the participants extensively as they embark on the rest of their lives and careers.

This internship has been indescribably amazing, and so valuable. Thank you, Running Start!

Emma Nash (Prestbury, England)

Sarah Heeter (Phoenix, Arizona)

Jeannette Trejo (Silver Spring, Maryland)

Dominique Jenkins (Fairfax, Virginia)

Summer 2009 Interns

The Stoning of Soraya M.

2009-06-19T12:51:00.000-07:00

I think we forget, sometimes, the privilege that it is to live in a country as tolerant and secular as America. I’m not saying we don’t have our problems; every government, including ours, has its problems. As a young woman though, I feel privileged to live in this place at this time in history.

Wednesday night, I attended an advance screening of The Stoning of Soraya M. at the Georgetown movie theater. I can think of no better description for it than brutally haunting. And I say that in praise of the film – not in judgment.

The plot chronicles the revelation of a horrific story from a rural village in Iran in 1986. When a French-Iranian journalist is stranded in a village because of car troubles, an older woman tells him of an act the men in her village are hiding from the outside world. Her niece, Soraya, was falsely accused and convicted of infidelity and stoned to death by her village so that her husband could marry another woman and not be required by law to pay her support. Her neighbors and family partake in this plot; participate in the murder, and band together to cover it up.

It may be hard to see past the vicious murder of an innocent woman that is depicted on screen. I walked away from the film as distressed as anyone but inspired by the spirit of Zahra, Soraya’s aunt. In a country and culture that still, more than 20 years after the events took place, suppresses women in shockingly inhumane ways, she understood the power of a single human voice. She promised her niece, “I will tell your daughters the truth about you; I will tell the whole world.” And despite all odds, she managed to do so, telling the young reporter, “I want you to take my voice with you,” before she began her story.

The message that the voice of a woman will insight change and influence communities is one we understand here at Running Start. It is at the heart of our mission to encourage young women to run early for public office. Great change can be put in motion by speaking up every chance you get. How can anyone know that you want change, that you want to make a difference, if you sit in the corner and don’t speak up for yourself?

Have a voice ladies – and use it!

Path to Politics Networking Lunch

2009-04-27T17:24:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, April 15th, Running Start had another greatly successful Path to Politics lunch at the offices of Winston & Strawn, LLP. The subject was networking, and I’m so glad that I went. I picked up some new skills I hadn’t necessarily thought of before, met some great young women, and was wholly impressed by the conversation and passion of the women around me.

You know, there is a lot more that goes into successful networking than you might think. You’ve got to make an impression, hopefully positive, on the people you meet. You should try hard – and if you’re anything like me this may be the most challenging aspect of networking – to remember names and associations. Juggle the glass of wine you might be toting or the small plate, and for Heaven’s sake, please chew with your mouth closed!

Running Start did a great job of reminding me of some of the most fundamental points of networking. For instance, I’m great at the conversation, and I’m pretty good at remembering to jump in with my name before someone has to say “and you are?” But I almost always just say, “Hi, I’m Rachael.” Now how memorable am I if you don’t know my last name? It’s important to remember to always say your first and last name while making a good impression with a solid handshake and eye contact.

I get so much out of teaching moments like this luncheon, and I know that it is this characteristic that is one of the things that drew me to Running Start in the first place. The programs are all geared towards educating young women on politics, the world, and professional skills.

I don’t get to make it to Path to Politics lunches very often. I wish I could make it to more but I’m often chained to my desk through lunchtime. If you make it to these meetings with any regularity and want to write a little something about them here, let me know. We can always use new voices on our blog!

What Michelle Means to Us

2008-11-30T17:10:00.000-08:00

Last week’s Newsweek cover story is “What Michelle Means to Us,” and I was more than a little excited to read it. Swiping the magazine from a waiting table, I hunkered down expecting a hard-hitting article about the First Lady-Elect, what I got was so much more. Allison Samuels wrote an in-depth, deeply personal analysis of the striking beauty of Mrs. Obama and all that she will bring to the proverbial table as our First Lady come January 20, 2009. Her husband is not the only figure entering the White House next month bearing the weight of the hopes and dreams of a generation.

The idea of Michelle Obama evokes murmurs of a resurrected Camelot at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. She calls herself “First Mom” and is putting not only her own family first but, rumor has it, will be putting the families of our brave men and women overseas serving in Afghanistan and Iraq at the forefront of her projects once she is First Lady. Coupled with her young, inspiring husband and their two adorable children, it is not surprising that comparisons to JFK and Jackie abound in the press and on the web.

My favorite part of Allison Samuels’ article is not the reminder and hope for a return to times past. My favorite discussion is her dissection of our First Lady-Elect as everything she is in addition to mother and wife.

Her ever-present appearance at the side of her husband during the election alongside the coverage of her habitual return to Chicago and her children may make it easy for some to forget that this woman is educated, driven and incredibly intelligent. She has served on the PTA and 6 Boards of Directors across Chicago. She finished law school a year before her husband and, again rumor has it, put off his advances when he interned at the law firm were she was an associate her first year out of school because of her concern over the ethics of an associate dating an intern.

Michelle Obama is the kind of woman I am proud to say I admire. She has not been afraid to speak her mind and has stood tall as those decisions have sometimes been ripped apart by the press. I have read the stories that criticize her fashion choices even the morning after Election Day.

I look forward to the next four (hopefully eight) years. I am excited to see this First Lady in action alongside her husband, and I have serious hopes that she will not be judged as First Ladys present – and past – have for their pursuits both inside and outside the White House. I can’t wait to see what she does next. I hope she inspires a whole new generation of women to step up to the plate.

T-Minus 8 Days

2008-10-27T12:30:00.000-07:00

The election is a week away and frankly, I'm pretty ready for it to be
here and happening. There's one part of the news though that I will
not miss when it stops being a 24 hour coverage of Obama and McCain.
I'm sick of the sexist nature of the commentary. If women are voting
for McCain/Palin, they're doing it "because she's a woman" and
Democrats are ripping into them because they're voting the gender
card. If women are voting for Obama/Biden, they're accused of not
standing up for their gender and isn't it important to get a woman in
the White House, one way or another?

When did my gender become my only reason for voting? And when did it
become the only thing that politicians, pollsters and journalists
cared about? I'm almost 26 and gender is not my top priority this
November. Would I have voted for Clinton happily? Yes, but that's
because I agreed with her policies, not her gender. Next Tuesday, I
will be voting for my economic future and the economic future of my
friends and family. I will vote for national security and the shaky
reputation we have on the international stage - I follow Australian
blogs that are watching our presidential race avidly, half out of
interest and half out of fear. I will vote for health care and
infrastructure and the environment and my right to choose what happens
to my body.

I guess, the purpose of this is to say that I'm sick of being told I
should be voting one way or another because of my gender. To me, the
strongest voices women can bring to the polls next week are those that
speak up and speak strong for what they believe in. Isn't that part of
what we've been fighting for all along? Feminism isn't just a numbers
game to me - whether or not we have a woman president, and I can't
wait for the day that we do, or a female Chief Justice, Speaker of the
House or President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Feminism is the belief
that women have a say in the policy and shaping of our Nation because
our voices are equal to our male partners. Just because we're not
sitting at the head of the table doesn't mean we don't have a deep
impact on the daily events in our great Nation's history.

It's part of what drew me to Running Start actually - that we
encourage women to take that step forward and run for office on every
level. The more women at the table, the more we can affect change in
the lives of our families, friends and neighbors.

Next Tuesday, when you go to pull the lever at your local voting
station, touch the screen, fill in the bubble or put the stamp on your
mail-in ballot, do your research and decide based on what believe and
what you want to see happen over the next four years - not on the
gender of the candidate. A win for a woman simply because she's a
woman is not a step forward for feminism in my mind - it's a step back
because she wins because she's being judged as a woman, not a person.

Obama-Clinton Dream Ticket No Longer a Reality

2008-08-26T15:11:00.000-07:00

After Hillary Clinton conceded the Democratic presidential nomination to Barack Obama, the concept of a dream ticket emerged in which Clinton would serve as Vice President. This idea seemed like a good way to appease the 18 million people, according to ABC News, who stood behind Clinton during her run for the presidential nomination. However, this dream is no longer a possibility as Obama announced his choice of Senator Joe Biden from Delaware as his vice president last night. As a result, several issues have been raised. Will Obama’s choice to not choose Clinton as his Vice President cost him votes? If he had chosen Clinton, would she have been satisfied as the vice president? Would Clinton have outshined Obama during his presidency if he was elected as Chris Lehane, a Democratic strategist and former campaign spokesperson for Al Gore, argued? More importantly, would Clinton and Obama have gotten along in the White House? It seems that there are a lot more questions than answers. Only time will tell if Obama made the right choice or not.

The Feminist Hammer Keeps on Tapping

2008-06-09T17:52:00.000-07:00

Rebecca Traister’s most recent blog on Salon.com certainly made me stop for a second. I nearly threw up my hands in dismay and prepared myself to write a loathing review of her words. In fact, I made that snap decision only about half way through the article itself. I’m glad I had the self control to finish what I’d started and that I didn’t run right off to vent through my keyboard. She actually had some (and I mean “some” literally) good points.

The first portion of her blog is rather inflammatory in my opinion, and I rather took umbrage at her opening paragraphs. They seemed unnecessarily harsh and they seemed to use the language that each and every single journalist I have loathed for their political coverage of the women taking part in the 2008 presidential campaign – candidates and candidates’ wives together. It was blunt; it was infuriating; I wanted to throw things at it. As I try not to regularly throw things at my computer, I settled for seething on my couch instead.

I kept reading. I tried to give Ms. Traister the benefit of the doubt. After all, we don’t all support the same candidate. But what I couldn’t understand was that this woman claimed to be a Hillary supporter – or at least claimed that she had voted for her and voted for her because of legitimate reasons, not just because she was a woman. And I’m glad I continued. Though her elucidation on the subject remained rather caustic in my opinion, she came back around towards the end and remembered that Sen. Clinton is a woman making history with every election-step she takes. Her speech on Saturday was moving and powerful, and while she amply took the opportunity to throw her support wholeheartedly behind Sen. Obama, she also remembered to pat not only herself on the back but all the women who have stood before her and behind her on this history changing campaign. She remembered the octogenarians who were born before women had the right to vote in America. She remembered the young women she inspired and the children whose parents brought them to rallies and were reminded that they could be anything they wanted to be when they grew up.

My personal favorite moments: the 18,000,000 cracks in the glass ceiling; and the story about the old woman who cast her absentee ballot from her hospice bed and passed away. Her vote couldn’t be counted because she was no longer living so her husband, who hadn’t voted in 40+ years, went to the primary and voted for Sen. Clinton in his wife’s memory.

There’s no way around the fact that Sen. Clinton has become a polarizing figure in American politics. To me, she will always be the first woman to successfully run a major, nationwide, campaign for the highest office in the land. She will always be the woman who was derided for standing by her husband in the face of national scrutiny of an affair. She will always be the woman who spoke her mind and relentlessly pursued her goals – traits men would be praised for, she was ridiculed and called a ball-buster or fake. Whether Sen. Obama or Sen. McCain win the White House in November, this has been a historical primary season and Sen. Clinton has been one of the pivotal pieces of making it historic.

That was the final point I decided to take from Rebecca Traister’s blog earlier tonight. I decided to stare past what I found offensive and ugly and see the over-arching message I desperately wanted to see in an article that claimed to see the feminist hammer knocking on the glass wall between women across the country and the Oval Office.

Women Under Forty PAC Summer BBQ Bash

2008-06-03T18:15:00.000-07:00

I am consistently inspired by the women I work with and interact everyday in Washington. Even more so, I am always awestruck by the number of women I see and meet at events in Washington who are giving their all to the cause of encouraging young women to strive for more but who are not actually from the District. They come from all over the country; they come for many reasons that aren't always central to that message; and they always make the effort to donate their time and resources to furthering the wonderful cause of Running Start and the Women Under 40 PAC(WUFPAC).

Last night, I was thrilled to join these women at the WUFPAC Summer BBQ event on Capitol Hill. There was great food, excellent conversation and only a little rain. Actually it rained a lot. So much so that we were running back and forth between the tent outside and the inside of the townhouse, throwing caution to the wind and not really caring how soaked we got. Everyone laughed about the weather and found themselves suddenly standing next to new people as they dashed in from the storm and back out again as the night cleared and rained repeatedly. I spoke with women from all walks of life - private industry, non-profit, staffers from both the House and Senate side - and they all were excited about the same message: We need more young women in elected offices. We need to see them running and winning earlier so that we can see things happen with them at a younger age. I want to see the changes that women working together, across political party lines, for the greater good of our country. And working together, organizations like Running Start and the WUFPAC are going to make these goals happen. They need all of our support.

I had a great time at this event. Everyone was so excited to be there and see the wonderful turn out, and everyone wanted to talk about how great it would be if we had more young women involved in politics. Given the fact that the only thing I seem to see covered on the news anymore is the presidential primaries, it was a relief to talk about something else - elections of the future when the young women who benefit from programs like Running Start's Path to Politics and Young Women's Political Leadership Retreat will succeed and accomplish things that politicians today ignore or brush under the rug as though problems will just go away if you don't see them or discuss them.

I had the chance to talk to the President of WUFPAC, Jessica Grounds. She is so inspiring and so excited to see young women get involved in politics and, true to any organization leader, she was amazingly everywhere at once, greeting former Member of Congress Pat Schroder (who was a woman under 40 when she was first elected!) and Representative Tim Ryan (OH-17) as they arrived, making sure everyone was taken care of and still making time to chat with young women interested in politics and running for office. In addition to Jessica, I got the chance to talk to Karen O'Connor and Barbara Palmer, both distinguished professors at American University who run the Women & Politics Institute there. Both were wonderful and kind and eager to answer my many questions about their careers and their dedication to the cause of bringing women to politics.

By the time I left I had consumed delicious BBQ, discussed important current events and future politics and met many men and women putting themselves out there to get more women involved in politics. I wish more fundraisers and political receptions left me with such a great feeling and bounce in my step despite the fact that the rain continued, and I was soaked to the skin by the time I got home.

CNN takes apart Vogue, Cindy McCain & Michelle Obama

2008-05-28T18:08:00.000-07:00

Today’s political atmosphere has birthed inspired passion and obsessed acolytes at a time of economic shakiness and international frisson. As with any multiparty election system, there will be a portion of our people sorely disappointed no matter what the outcome of the second Tuesday in November. They will rail against the rules and bylaws and claim they were cheated by a system that was created before cars, the Internet or cell phones. And this will be true whether a Democrat or a Republican wins the highest seat in the land that day.

In this winter of discontent, new leaders must emerge and champion the social issues of the day, see funding for important projects through increasingly hostile Beltway waters and do what people are essentially sent here to do, govern a vastly diverse and complexly at odds country. These leaders will be men and women chosen by their constituencies for beliefs personal and political and actions political and personal. They will be judged by what they do, what they say, who they are seen with and who they are seen without, and for the driven women who people their ranks, they will be judged by the most inconsequential of all rulers, their clothes, their hair and their packaged look.

I have again had this double standard thrust before my eyes this week in the coverage of the two prominent potential First Ladies who have taken oaths to stand by their husbands, in sickness and health, in election years and political downtime, as CNN choose to cover the fashion choices of potential First Ladies, Cindy McCain and Michelle Obama. Do you ever wonder if they kick their husbands out of bed in the morning because all they really want is to sleep in and make waffles, as even the most career-minded person, man or woman, is wont to do occasionally? Oh, to be a fly on the wall when they want to be anywhere but the campaign bus. Really, I want to be there when they voice an opinion in a meeting they’re attending that is not well received, because to me, that’s the woman I want to know is going to stand by our next President or be our next President.

As fascinating as understanding the reasoning behind Cindy McCain’s choice of blue jeans in a Vogue spread versus Michelle Obama’s choice of a black dress and pearls in hers, what I am most curious about is where these women stand on the issues that their husbands and Sen. Clinton are campaigning on – and I don’t just want their canned responses that they support and share their husbands’ beliefs and positions. I want to know what Michelle Obama says when her daughters ask her about gay marriage – if they ask her at all. I want to know what Cindy McCain says when her children express concern about their father’s age and the brutal pace of the presidential campaign and then term in the White House. Do they think of their daughters when the topic of choice comes up on the trail? Do they think of their sons or nephews when people question whether a draft should be reinstated?

I question this because I feel like these are questions I know or at least have a good idea of answers for when women themselves run for office. Sen. Clinton may or may not win the nomination. She may or may not answer every question with candor and honesty – she is a politician – I don’t expect pure black and white from her or any of her colleagues frankly. But these are questions I want to ask women who hold political office or hope to hold political office.

I’ve read and been told that this is a step in the wrong direction. People don’t question a man’s family unless scandal is associated with him. They don’t ask him how he’ll raise the child his wife is ready to have any day now, but you can be sure that a pregnant political candidate is going to be asked how she plans on raising that child and holding an office at the same time. It’s just not a question men get.

I want these questions to be asked of all our political candidates because we are a world and a country in desperate need of mothers right now. People say that “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world,” and with more than 4,000 dead in Afghanistan and Iraq, bombings happening everyday between Israel and Palestine and correction facilities filling to the brim every year with convicts who seem younger and younger as they move from juvenile detention directly into the criminal system, I want leaders who recognize that to nurture is a strength, not a weakness. Leaders must know that the bigger gun will not always win against a cunning enemy, and that creating a world where we lessen the need for bigger guns every year is a goal we should all strive for in honor of our children and their children after them.

When did asking these questions become a weakness? Why have they stayed sexist? Couldn’t we turn the tables if we started asking these questions of men and of women? Would that not even the playing field just a little, while still getting answers to vital questions?

If these are questions we continue to shy away from because they weaken women by reminding voters of our inate ability to create and carry life, what’s the point of questioning politicians at all? Why do we bother with elections and campaigns? They could fill out a survey, distribute it and we could choose based on those answers, blindly. I suppose the media circus of today will never let that happen but I deeply hope that I see fewer stories dissecting wardrobe choices in our political candidates. I could care less if someone spends $400 on a hair cut or wears blue jeans or a black dress for a fashion spread. I want to know what they will do when eight proverbial balls are in the air and the famed red phone rings as they all start to fall. And I want to know, straight up, what kind of world they will leave for the children I will have someday. Those are the stories that matter and the rest is merely filler in a book that could use fewer words to relay its point.

In the Center Ring: Issues

2008-05-25T19:00:00.000-07:00

I listen to Sens. Obama and Clinton talk of health care and the economy, global warming and the war in Iraq, and I notice that they only drop in the personal anecdote or campaign anecdote rarely. They are full of talk of big ideas and big policy. I expect more from my leaders. And frankly, I expect more from the mothers, sisters, daughters and granddaughters who run the country now, in our Congress, on local school boards and paving the way for a new generation of women to leap into politics with both feet.

I want to believe that the politics I experience as a young woman in America is built on the backs of people who remember that a system for all to have health care versus a system that lowers cost for health care need to accomplish the same thing in the end: my siblings need to be able to take their children to the doctor when they're sick, whether their health care is universal or lower cost. I want to believe that my stepmother and aunt and cousins will be able to retire because they've faithfully paid into Social Security every year they have worked. I'm tired of hearing people degrade the Speaker of my House of Representatives – and as a citizen of the U.S., it is mine – because she's a woman.

In the coming years, whether our White House is Democrat or Republican, we need to come together to solve the problems of all Americans. I want to have health care and not just because I work for a company that offers it. I want to see green technology thrive because everyone sees that it's good and necessary. Most of all, I want to see people step back from the overabundance that flows from the internet, the network television, the capitalist-driven market place. I want to see stories on the news, not all as horrifying as 400+ children being removed from their home and families for certain, that reflect the actual people of the United States. I want to know what is going on in Iraq because those are friends of mine and friends of my friends over there. I'm tired of non-stop electioneering and policy. If I have to see politics in the news, I don't know about you, but I want it to be stories about the accomplishments of our politicians as we go forward into a twenty-first century that will have to see change, whether our leaders are black or white, male or female or Democrat or Republican.

A World That Women Will Build

2008-05-17T19:14:00.000-07:00

I consider myself a reader before anything else. I read posters and signs when there is nothing else to read. I am permanently doing damage to my shoulders and back with books that weigh down the single-strap purses I know are bad for my posture. I read when I'm tired; I read when I'm awake; I read when I'm hungry and am trying to hold off until the next scheduled meal.

And I am presently inspired by the books I see getting media coverage. Maybe it's the presence of our first competitive female candidate in the presidential election or maybe it's the fact that mothers and young women are among the highest spending consumers in the market. All I know is that I am inundated with books I want to read, and they all revolve around women, power and confidence.

In a previous post, I discussed attending a book signing by Dee Dee Myers that was to promote her new book, Why Women Should Rule the World. It still languishes on my bookshelf, waiting to be read. This morning, before I'd even had a chance to have coffee, I saw a feature on CNN about Seducing the Boys Club: Uncensored Tactics from a Woman at the Top by Nina Disesa, the first woman and first creative director named chairman at McCann Erickson New York, one of – if not the – largest advertising agencies in the world. Now obviously, as I just saw this feature this morning, I have not read the book yet. But I would imagine it is, as the subtitle suggests, everything from tips and anecdotes to glass ceilings and straightforward advice from a woman who has made it to the top of her profession.

As a young woman myself, I see in books like Ms. Myers's and Ms. Disesa's, the possibility for women to learn from each other and to take something back from what has for so many years been an "old boys club": politics. In a few years, I may be adding to my list books by women I respect and admire like Sen. Clinton and Michelle Obama. There may be new voices out there who have tackled Washington with a new excitement and a new energy who are ready to inspire the young women who look up to them. I just hope that I continue to see women who have broken through the proverbial glass ceiling reaching back through that barrier and holding out a helping hand to young women trying to make it themselves. I am encouraged daily by the women I see around me; the women who work in offices on Capitol Hill; the women who provide insight and commentary on the news and political events of the day; and the women who encourage me to make the most of my talents and to keep reaching for dreams I thought long dead and in the past.

All of these women who are my examples and who have been my examples for years are women who have, at some point or another, handed me a book. They are not all works of non-fiction. They are not all even books but sometimes are articles and magazines that they thought would inspire me or give me insight into the person they saw me becoming. I read because of them, and I read because I know that someday I want to be able to hand off a book to a young women in whose eyes and voice and excitement I can see a better future for her children and my own. I read on the Metro; I read on the bus; I read walking down the sidewalk – sometimes to the detriment of my toes and coffee – and I will keep reading because I see so much in what to some is just a pile of paper covered in scribbles.

Women to Watch Awards

2008-05-07T08:06:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, the next time you are searching for a little inspiration or you're feeling downtrodden and like nothing you do is good enough, Google-search a few of these women and be reminded that one person, one woman, can make miracles happen around the world. Last night, I was honored to attend Running Start's Second Annual Women to Watch Awards at the National Press Club. There, I got to witness history happen. And I don't care if you don't see it on the national news - it was history because I got to see women who will someday be on a much larger public stage than mine be recognized for the incredible work that they do.

This year's nominees included, Michelle Rhee, Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools, Chief of Police Cathy Lanier, Nicole Lee, Executive Direct of the TransAfrica Forum, Dana Perino, Press Secretary to President George W. Bush, and Linda Rottenberg, founder of the nonprofit Endeavor. Not only did these incredible women accept their awards and speak briefly on women in politics, the Women to Watch Awards brought together women and men from all walks of life and all manner of careers for an evening of conversation and recognition of the impact that women can and will have on the public arena in the coming years.

I was reminded last night, by a young woman who attended last year's Young Women's Political Leadership Retreat, of Mahatma Ghandi's truth, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world," and again wanted to be the change in the world as we in the audience listened to the stories of these female leaders who are everyday living a dream and breaking through glass ceilings that will help young women later.

During the reception before the awards were actually presented, I was lucky enough to meet some of the attendees and some of the award recipients. All everyone was talking about was how great Running Start is and how exciting they find the organization. There was no talk of the election among the groups among which I wandered. There was no talk of partisanship, although a friend much more versed in Washington "Who's Who" than I observed that Dems stuck with Dems and Republicans stuck with Republicans, as Running Start is a completely nonpartisan organization. It was awe-inspiring and so exciting to see this complete removal of the all-pervasive politics at a political gathering.

In the end, I walked away from a beautiful evening inspired to go out again and try my hardest to be the change I want to see in the world. Plus, I got to meet Dana Perino, which - as a writer and a young woman pursuing a career in communications and politics - was pretty awesome.

The Next President of the United States speaks at Millersville University

2008-03-20T10:58:00.000-07:00

"She is a woman who understands our children need the best education, who understands senior citizens need Social Security, who understands every American should be entitled to healthcare. Here she is, the next President of the United States, Hillary Clinton." This was Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell's introduction last night at Millersville University in Lancaster County where Hillary spoke to over 3,000 college students and local residents. Hillary came out with a big smile on her face and sporting a dark red suit jacket and tailored black pants, shaking hands with audience members. She thanked everyone for coming out and acknowledged the College's basketball team was competing in the NCAA tournament at the same time, which drew cheers from the crowd. She started her speech by stating "this is one of the most important elections because it will determine the direction of this country for the rest of the 21st century." The overall theme of the issues she addressed was "We need a President that's more concerned about Main Street than Wall Street." This statement appealed highly to the audience, the majority of which is middle and working class. She vowed that as President, she would give back to the communities and create new jobs. She would implement a plan to start bringing troops home within sixty days, as they have already done what they were asked to do: bring down Saddam Hussein. She would establish a healthcare tax credit, as it is morally unethical and financially unwise for 47 million Americans to live without health insurance. She would invest more money in our education programs and end No Child Left Behind because "children should not be turned into little test takers." She won the college students when she said she would make college more affordable by increasing the tax credit and eliminate the high interest rates of student loan companies. She stated she would also provide more job training and apprenticeship programs to young people that don't go to college. She concluded her speech, for which she got a standing ovation, by stating "we need to restore moral authority and leadership universally and we have a lot to do back home to accomplish this. We have got to put us first. We got to take control of our destiny."

So what did Hillary’s speech mean to me? First of all, let me establish I grew up in conservative home and am a registered Republican. However, I switched party affiliations to Democratic just so I can vote for Hillary in this election. That says a lot. If Hillary is elected, she would make history; she would be the first woman and the first First lady to become President. However, that is not important; I just find it cool. It is what she said at Millersville University that mattered. I agree with her that this is an important election that will determine the direction the country will take for the rest of the century. I agree that every American needs health insurance and that college needs to be more affordable, I worry about when I graduate in May about being able to afford health insurance and if Hillary is President, I know I can be covered at a reasonable rate. Although I do not have any college debt (I’m there in scholarship so I consider myself lucky), all of my friends are. Six months after they graduate in May, their student loan companies will hit them up for their money back. They will struggle to pay it back and it may even take years for them to become debt free. No one should have to deal with this. Finally, I agree that while it was necessary to send troops to Iraq, they did all they were asked to do: bring down Saddam Hussein. They did their job; its time to not drag out this war any longer, and bring our troops home! Go Hillary!!!

Dee Dee Myers

2008-03-20T10:57:00.000-07:00

So, I just saw Dee Dee Myers speak at Politics & Prose bookstore. For those of you who don't pay attention to politics (and I used to be one of you), Dee Dee Myers was President Clinton's Press Secretary at the beginning of his administration. She was the first woman to hold the post of Press Secretary of the White House. She was only 31. When she left that position she went on to collaborate with Aaron Sorkin as an adviser on The West Wing; she also worked with Vanity Fair; she contributed to political television shows as host and pundit; and she became a mother, writer and general all-around awesome example to women everywhere, but especially in politics.She was at Politics & Prose for a stop on her first book tour, stumping for her first book, Why Women Should Rule the World and she spoke for a half hour about the women and sociology and politics. It would be challenging to summarize her message mostly because I think it is one that many women can understand on some level, so I'm not going to just outline her main points. I felt that her thesis for her book which she described as an examination of women and what could be possible and challenging if women ruled the world. I realize that sounds a little brief and a little vague but it was a complex outline that I think requires I actually read the book before I try to lay down the main points coherently. (And it's a new book so I don't feel guilty about not reading it before I actually went to the talk.)Ms. Myers took questions at the end and I got to ask her if she had any advice or words of wisdom for young women entering the political arena now. She talked about the importance of mentorship and claiming our accomplishments which I think are both such important aspects of success inside and outside of politics. She talked about how many women she knew would talk about amazing mentors they had or that they didn't have a mentor and how important it is to remember to step up and say, especially to other women, "I'm really interested in this issue/policy/idea. Do you have any advice? Can you help me?" It's a question that I often find myself asking and one I get one of two reactions to. On the one hand, I meet people everyday who are incredibly helpful and often thrilled that I'm excited about something they are excited about and want to learn from them. On the other hand, I am told to "fake it 'til you make it" and to not ask that question because people will know that I don't know. It's particularly interesting to me because I get these answers from both men and women. In fact, I get the second answer more from women than from men but feel I get the first answer frequently from both. Did I mention that I ask a lot of questions - and I mean a lot? Because I do. I love to ask questions.I was inspired by her advice to own our successes. She talked about how there are often projects we complete and competitions we win that we quietly say thank you and go home to shelve our award. Women need to stand up and say, "Thank you! I really worked hard but I knew it was worth it and I knew I could do it." We need to remember to say that to other women and to praise the efforts of our friends and co-workers. Both are actions I know that I do not take often enough and wish I did more.So I walked away from this talk with renewed inspiration in the idea of politics and the power of women. And a really cool inscription in my freshly purchased copy of Why Women Should Rule the World.

Written by Rachael Berkley

More Clinton Controversy

2008-02-11T12:11:00.001-08:00

News anchor David Shuster of MSNBC has been temporarily suspended after making controversial remarks about Chelsea Clinton. Chelsea has been rallying for her mom on the campaign trail and has invited the media to interview her and youth nationwide on why Hillary Clinton should be the next president. Shuster stated this was not the Chelsea we knew when her father was President; the quiet, withdrawn girl is now a young woman making her voice heard on her mother’s behalf. He then proceeded to ask, "Doesn't it seem like Chelsea's sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way.” Afterwards, Clinton’s press secretary and Shuster exchanged e-mail messages in which Shuster initially defended his statement and got a mouthful. Shuster apologized for using inappropriate language and for offending the Clintons, the campaign, and anyone else.

At a press conference at the University of Maine, Senator Clinton addressed the issue by stating: “the comments were part of a troubling pattern of demeaning treatment. There has been a troubling pattern of comments and behaviors that has to be held accountable.”
Senator Clinton also wrote a letter to Steve Capus, president of NBC, which stated,
"I became Chelsea's mother long before I ran for any office, and I will always be a mom first and a public official second. Nothing justifies the kind of debasing language that David Shuster used, and no temporary suspension or half-hearted apology is sufficient."
It seems that the Clintons can’t seem to catch a break during the Presidential Campaign.
Chelsea should not have to be demoralized for growing into a mature, young woman capable of having a voice and bringing support to her mom’s campaign. This seems like another attack on the Clinton campaign just because Hillary Clinton is a woman. Therefore, Senator Clinton is right when she states these comments fit a pattern that need to be held accountable.

If Senator Clinton Is a Bitch Then So am I

2007-12-06T10:05:00.000-08:00

Why does the combination of being female and powerful and sucessful = bitch?

I am tired of people refering to Senator Clinton as a "bitch" for no other reason than the fact that she is a woman running for President of the United States of America and she is still in the lead in all of the key polls. If she was a man she would have twice as much support behind her and probably also have twice as much money in the bank. However, even with all the support that Senator Clinton does have, there is still a huge percentage of the population who like to use words such as "cold" and "calculating" to describe her, and my question for them is why?

I know this much, when I run for office, if I have the resources that she has I will not hesitate to use them to their fullest potential. Political campaigns are long, dirty affairs and someone always goes home hurt, so why not use every legal means of winning that there is? I know somewhere my grandmother is saying, Jennifer that isn't very lady like behavior, but that is my point. Politics is not a women's game. It is not a man's game either. It is just the dirties game out there today, and to go out there as a woman and play with there with those boys, who think that they are so tough, you have to be TWICE as loud, raise TWICE as much money, and proove to the world that you can save this country just as well as the OWMs (Old White Men).

So yes, if by playing by the political rules, Senator Clinton is deemed to be a "bitch" by a large part of society, I guess that just makes me one too and I am okay with that.

19 year old running for mayor

2007-12-03T12:40:00.000-08:00

I was very intrigued when I learned a local college student was running for mayor. Nineteen year old Nicole Burlew, a junior at Towson University majoring in Political Science, is running for mayor of Aberdeen, MD. Aberdeen is a city located in Hartford County with a population of approximately 13,842 according to the 2000 Census. Burlew is running against incumbent Mayor Fred Simmons, and Michael Bennett, a retired state trooper. She supports raises for the police officers in Aberdeen, advocating using revenue from Ripken Stadium for the city, and giving tax breaks to senior citizens.
Although she has never voted and her only leadership position has been as Vice President of the Spanish club, Burlew is very serious about becoming mayor. She feels that her age does not matter. She wants to make a difference and her passion should outweigh her age. A teenager running for office is not that all unusual, and it is possible for one to win. Kyle Corbin, 18, and Michael Sessions, 20, are living proof of this; Corbin is the mayor of Union, Oregon and Sessions is the mayor of Hillsdale, Michigan.
Her choice to run has already impressed Brian Young, president of the Harford County Young Republicans and Paul McCartney, professor of Political Science at Towson University. Brian Young commends Burlew for identifying the issues that prompted her candidacy and her ability to discuss those issues with intelligence and passion. He thinks her willingness to discuss how to improve Aberdeen with anyone who has ideas that could benefit the city would make her a mayor that could serve the citizens well. Young also said he would like to see more young people take the initiative and play a role in their community's government. He thinks Nicole is leading the effort to bring common sense to government. McCartney feels that if Burlew succeeds in her bid for mayor, then it will send a powerful message to other people her age that they can make a difference as well. He states that current government policies are tilted in favor of older people and if more young people started becoming actively involved in politics, then it would start to balance the policies.
I can’t wait to hear the outcome of the election. If Burlew is elected, she will become the first teenage female mayor. What an exciting accomplishment!
PLEASE leave comments!!

How do we beat the bitch?

2007-11-20T11:27:00.000-08:00

With two months until the 2008 Presidential primaries kicks off, the race is more controversial than ever. There was two planted questions at a Hillary Clinton campaign: Clinton campaign workers approached two audience members and told them to ask Hillary about her plan to fight global warming and how she was standing up to President Bush on the question of funding the Iraq war and a troop withdrawal timeline. Another instance was the arrest of Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu for committing fraud 12 years ago. The newest controversy happened last week and has outraged me the most. On the campaign trail last week, an outspoken woman in the audience asked Senator John McCain, “How do we beat the bitch?” It was obvious to everyone that she was referring to Senator Hillary Clinton. Without hesitation, McCain responded by laughing and remarked “that is a good question.” He then proceeded to answer the question! While this story has been plastered all over the news because of the poor way McCain handled the situation, the important question to ask is: Why is it okay to call a woman candidate a bitch, but if any of the minority candidates, such as Barack Obama, was called a racial slur there would be hell to pay? We as a nation have come a long way in regards to racism. However, we seem to be lagging in the gender equality department. I’m sure society would even be up in arms if someone asked Hillary “how do you beat the bastards?” It is my opinion that a woman candidate should be treated like the other candidates; the use of derogatory terms is unacceptable. It seems while our society has embraced diversity of the 2008 Presidential election and rejected gender equality. Why is this? It is because people believe the Iron Lady myth, which states that women politicians are cold and aggressive. Senator Clinton does not act any differently from any of the male candidates, but maybe that is the problem. Society expects her to be different because she’s a woman. Try spending a half hour with her rather than watching her on TV for a half hour, you will see differently. Until then, it seems the 2008 Presidential race will be a crusade to “beat the bitch.”

The Myth of the Iron Lady

2007-11-13T12:15:00.000-08:00

Attila the Hen, the Old Witch, the Iron Frau. No, these are not fairytale characters. These are actual nicknames of some of the first female leaders around the world. Women leaders are perceived as masculine by both men and women because of the misconception that the only way a woman could last in the political arena was by being tough. Experiments have shown that women are not more ruthless than men who rise to the top, but women leaders are perceived as being more ruthless because of society’s stereotypes about women and leadership. They are either seen as friendly and incompetent or cold and competent. The women who are friendly and incompetent could not possibly be leaders. However, those with leadership potential must be stripped of all their personable traits because it is a man’s world. While both men and women are aggressive, this term is associated with women leaders simply because they are women. This is the argument made by New York Time’s writer Shankar Vedantam in his article “The Myth of the Iron Lady”.

Reading this article made me question my own perceptions about women leaders. While I am all for “girl power”, I realized I have made statements about women leaders, such as Hillary Clinton, in the past that invoke these stereotypes. I remember losing my cool when I had learned that Hillary Clinton had been elected Senator. I thought to myself. “what’s the next step in her quest for world domination, the Presidency?” I also remember my college professor made a joke when my classmates and I were taking our Recent U.S. History final last semester. He said, “whoever comes up with the best nickname for Hillary Clinton will get extra credit. Write it on the last page of your blue books.” It gave us a good laugh and some of us even came up with some witty nicknames (let your imagination run wild) even though we knew we would not be getting the extra credit. I now ask myself “how can I be for girl power yet uphold society’s stereotypes of women?” “I can’t,” I answered myself.

So the next time I see Hillary on TV campaigning for the Presidency, I will think to myself “ I am sure she is a friendly woman; she just appears so cold on TV because she has to prove to the American people that she’s not incompetent and she cannot have her male running mates thinking she is weak. She’s not trying to take over the world. She’s trying to make history. Girl Power!”

Hillary Clinton: First Female President?

2007-10-23T06:43:00.000-07:00

Hillary Clinton: First Female President?

As a Republican, it is assumed that I will vote the Republican ticket in the 2008 Presidential election. However, as a woman, I was interested in learning more about Hillary Clinton. Here is what I have found. Hillary Clinton has accomplished a lot in her lifetime:

the first commencement speaker ever at her Wellesley College graduation
served on the House Judiciary Committee which had to decide whether or not to impeach President Nixon
founder of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
appointed by President Carter to serve on the U.S. Legal Services Corporation
leader of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession which pioneered national awareness for issues such as sexual harassment and equal pay
named one of the Top 100 influential lawyers of America (twice)
First Lady who used her power to champion for women’s rights and universal health care
wrote two bestselling books
a United States Senator representing New York and the only First Lady that has been elected to public office.

She is the twelfth woman to run for the Presidency and if elected, she will make history by becoming the first woman President. Currently, Hillary is ahead of her Democratic forerunners in the primary polls, including Senator Barack Obama who has Oprah’s vote. There are two primary reasons for Hillary’s lead. Women across the nation, especially those who belong to the “baby boom” generation who have seen a woman’s role in society change substantially in their lifetime, want a woman president because it would be a source of pride and historic milestone.* She has been praised on her campaign website by and shaken hands with all types of women, working, stay at home moms, and elderly who were born before women could vote, who are pleased of her forerunner status. Another reason is because everybody knows her name; her husband is former President Clinton, an excellent president and highly respected even to this day by the American people. If elected President, the issues Hillary will address include:

strengthening the middle class
providing affordable and accessible health care
ending the war in Iraq
promoting energy independence and ending global warming
implementing proper treatment of war veterans
advocating for children’s and their parents’ rights
restoring America’s reputation as a preeminent leader of peace and freedom championing for women’s rights
initiating comprehensive government reform
strengthening democracy.**

Some of or all of these issues are important to the American people, some of who (like me) think “its about time something was done about this.” Only the outcome of the Presidential primary after the New Year will tell whether or not Hilary will make it once step closer to the Presidency.

*From Eugene Robinson’s article “The Power of Madam President” in the Washington Post

** From Hillary Clinton’s Campaign Website: HillaryClinton.com

Why Should I Vote?

2007-10-09T12:22:00.000-07:00

With the 2008 Presidental Election approaching, you are either excited to vote because you are passionate about politics and/or the possibility of having a woman President, or you are not sure about whether you are going to vote or have decided that you are not going to vote because politics is of no interest to you. When I was in high school, my mindset was the latter. Sure, there were political issues I was passionate about, but I never acted on that passion by getting involved in politics. However, once I was 18, that all slowly changed.

I was 18 just in time for the 2004 Presidental election and like most people my age, I registered to vote. Now the question became, would I vote? I made the decision to vote because after working for the local Re-elect George Bush campaign to earn some money, for which I called constituents asking for their vote and canvassed the neighborhood dropping off Bush propoganda, I felt that my vote did matter. I voted by absentee ballot on election day to re-elect Bush, who obviously won.

You are probably now wondering why I decided to vote to re-elect Bush. I did my research in which I discovered Bush was an advocate of the issues I cared about and working for the Re-Elect George Bush Campaign influenced me. I just did not want to go to the polls and play eenie meenie minnie moe to decide who I was going to vote for; I wanted to go in knowing I voted for someone because I did the research and made an informed decision based on that research.

Since Bushs' re-election, I have voted in a Pennsylvania government election in which my vote helped put both Ed Rendell in office for PA governor and Bob Casey to replace the incumbent Rick Santorum for PA Senator, and in a primary county election for my neighbor Mary Lou Readinger for Plymouth Township Council, who won the primary and will or will not be elected in November. I intend to continue voting.

For those of you eligible to vote in the 2008 election, I highly reccomend that you not only register to vote, but vote in the primaries and election as well. I also encourage you to do research on all the possible costintuents before deciding who you are going to vote for. It is so important that when you go to the polls or vote by absentee ballot, and you press the button or check off the box that corresponds with the candidate you choose, you realize this person is going to be representing you for the next year, two years, four years, etc.

Your vote in the primaries will help decide which Democratic or Republican candidate, depending on which party you register for, will run in November for the presidency. If you are a Democrat and want to see the Republicans out of office, a Republican who wants the Republicans to stay in office, or a woman for Hillary because you realize it is time for a woman president and/or she represents what you stand for, voting in the primary is crucial.

When the primary is over and it is time to vote for the next President, the process starts over again because now you have to choose between the candidate for your party, the candidate for the opposing party, and a ton of independent candidates. After seeing who wins the primaries and doing even more research, you might even decide to change your vote. Either way, your vote will mater.

To find out the date of your state's primary, go to: http://uspolitics.about.com/od/2008elections/a/prez_primary.htm

To register to vote, go to: www.rockthevote.com

Please Comment!

Getting Past the Popularity Contest

2007-09-24T11:19:00.000-07:00

Let’s do a little free association. What words come to mind when you hear the words “student council election?” Hmmm . . . how ‘bout “popularity contest?”

Studies have shown that young women are more likely to pursue politics later in life if they get involved in student government. It’s good training for later campaigns and it can actually be fun. But who wouldn’t cringe when your opponent might be the captain of the football team, has flunked U.S. History, and runs with a slogan like “Vote for Todd, He Rocks!” It makes your civic minded, way-more-mature brain cells want to just scream.

But hold on! You can still win!! The key to every political victory is knowing your target demographic. If you wouldn’t characterize yourself as one of the “popular people,” fear not! You just have to do some grassroots work. The best thing about not being one of the popular people is that you are actually in the majority. This means more votes for you if you know where to find them. You may not hang out with the band kids, the jocks, the art crowd or whatever other species exists in your high school’s ecosystem, but you all probably share one thing in common: you can’t stand people who assume superiority based on nothing more than their physical and behavioral “cuteness.” So unite with your peers and convince them that they have everything to gain by your representation.

One final thought about the whole popularity thing. Why shouldn’t a smart, articulate, responsible young woman be popular? You might not be giving yourself enough credit and you may be more popular than you think.

If anyone has had some student government election success, let’s hear about it! Post your experience!

Welcome

2007-09-07T09:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Running Start Blog. We invite young women everywhere to share their views on politics with us. As an organization, our mission is to educate girls and young women about the importance of being politically active.

Please feel free to share your views on politics. Left, Right, or Center we are open to all political opinions, provided that they are presented respectfully. To participate on the blog you can either respond to posts or request to be a blogger.

-Jennifer