MICHIGAN’S WOMEN TAKE THE POLITICAL LEAD
Innovative Political Leadership Program Comes to Michigan
Grand Rapids, MI– Today, The White House Project opens applications to its celebrated Go Run political training program for women, marking the official launch of the organization’s ground-breaking work in the Wolverine State.
The goal of Michigan Go Run 2008—a multi-day workshop led by state and national experts—is to create a permanent, nonpartisan pipeline to women’s political leadership throughout the state of Michigan. Across the U.S., the innovative Go Run program has already been instrumental in propelling a diverse group of women into positions of political leadership, having trained over 1,400 women to run for office since its creation in 2005.
“Women remain Michigan’s greatest untapped natural resource,” said Marie C. Wilson, President of The White House Project. “Go Run inspires, informs, and equips women with the tools to lead. When women sit fully at the tables of power, we create stronger governments, from the school board to the city council to the senate, and compelling solutions to our nation’s most pressing problems.”
Michigan Go Run 2008 couldn’t come at a more pivotal time, with women comprising just 19.6% of the Michigan state legislature – the lowest percentage since 1992. “Michigan voters clearly support women political leaders – two of our highest elected officials are women,” said Shannon Garrett, Michigan Field Director of The White House Project. “But we need more women to run. We know that from Detroit to Manistee, from Adrian to Marquette, and in every town in between, there are women ready to fill our political pipeline. Go Run’s job is to inspire them to run for office and to equip them to win.”
Earlier this year, The White House Project opened its Michigan Field Office as part of the national expansion of its signature Vote, Run, Lead program, with additional field offices operating out of Minnesota, Colorado, Georgia and New York. Much of the program’s popularity is due to its hands-on, practical approach, which demystifies the political process for women who are not traditionally tapped for positions of political leadership. Vote, Run, Lead participants include some of the most underrepresented women in our political system: 41% are women of color; 46% earn less than $35,000 a year; 20% live in rural communities; and 50% are under the age of 30.
Scheduled to take place May 30 through June 1, 2008 at the Radisson Hotel in Lansing, Michigan Go Run 2008 will train participants in the fundamentals of campaign strategy, fundraising and communications. Applications are now open and available on The White House Project’s website, http://www.thewhitehouseproject.org. Travel and childcare stipends, as well as tuition and housing scholarships, are available based on financial need. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
The White House Project, a national, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization, works to advance a richly diverse, critical mass of women into leadership positions, up to and including the U.S. Presidency. For more information, please visit: http://www.thewhitehouseproject.org.
