| September 30, 2009 | Contact: Kristina Goodman |
| For Immediate Release | 212-261-4346 / kgoodman@thewhitehouseproject.org |
OVER 100 WOMEN TRANSFORM POLITICS ACROSS NEW YORK
Award-Winning Leadership Program Aims to Increase the Number of Diverse Women Running for Office, October 9th-10th
Panelists Include NY State Senator Liz Krueger, NY State Representative Nita Lowey, NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and Brooklyn Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham
New York– Next Friday, The White House Project will bring its ground-breaking and award-winning Go Run political training program to New York, allowing over 100 diverse women from across the state to take the next step in their political leadership. New Yorkers have ushered the innovative two-day training into the region as a proactive solution to the Empire State's bleak rating for women's political leadership – 23rd in the nation.
Currently, not a single woman holds an executive position in New York, nor has the state ever elected a female governor; and just eleven of New York's 62 State Senators are women. The lack of women serving in the upper echelons of public office mirrors the dearth of women who are ready to fill the political pipeline at the local and regional levels of political leadership. NY Go Run will address this shortfall by training women to run for office at all levels of government.
As they prepare to launch their political campaigns, NY Go Run will teach participants the nuts and bolts of how to run for elected office. Representing a range of political affiliations, these women will emerge from their training ready to embark on a spirited political journey to bring positive changes to their home state. Among this weekend's dynamic participants are:
- Kimberly Garruto, a nurse practitioner and healthcare advocate: “In the field of public health, I am expected to know the ins and outs of politics as a step towards lobbying for nurses' rights at this critical time in our nation's history – so I’m thrilled to increase my knowledge at NY Go Run. My profession is still primarily comprised of women, so I am also interested in empowering those I work with to come together, ‘fight the fight’ in Washington, and further our profession. In doing so, we will make our healthcare system stronger and more efficient.”
- Courtney Correnti, a 26 year old Teach For America alum: "My time as an educator proved that our life experiences, especially those we cannot control, distinctly shape who we are and the prospects we're given. Through NY Go Run, I hope to come away prepared for a future in the political arena, so I can help to shape education policy and empower New York’s students. My dream is to see all schools, especially in high-need areas, have the resources to accommodate all levels of learners so that students' special needs are no longer burdensome, but intervened upon swiftly and efficiently."
- Reshma Saujani, a Legal Research Fellow: “My parents came to America as political refugees from Uganda, escaping a dictatorship that used violence and fear to repress our community. This country gave them the opportunity to experience the American dream and create a better life for them and their children. I want to run for elected office because my parents’ experience taught me about the importance of one’s voice in the political process. It is my obligation to give back and make other people’s lives better. Elected officials can and should tap into power of the people to tackle our most challenging problems. I am going to NY Go Run because I believe it is time for the people to collectively choose our future and lead a new way forward.”
- Zanade Mann, a 26 year old entrepreneur: “One day, after attending a meeting at City Hall, I realized that there was a huge need for change within NYC - but like many residents I believed there was no way for me to make a difference. That is, until I found The White House Project, and they educated me on how a common citizen can run for office. The White House Project gives you the confidence you need to go out, Vote, Run, and Lead, and make a difference - and to top it off they give you the resources too!”
- Dianne Baumert-Moyik, a defense industry public relations executive and former municipal and county government public affairs officer: "NY Go Run is the next evolution for me as a woman who deeply cares about my community and our nation. For over two decades, I have seen the many sides of government, both what works and what does not. I'm honored to have been selected to participate in The White House Project's leadership program. It will be great to learn more about what it takes to be an effective voice in government and politics from some of the best in the business of public service - because we need more women to lead!"
Participants will join an impressive group of alumnae who have gone on to run and win elected office across New York and the nation. The program has trained over 8,000 women to run for office since its creation in 2005.
The White House Project currently operates field offices out of Michigan, 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. 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.
New York Go Run will be held October 9th – 10th at The White House Project's New York City Headquarters, 434 West 33rd St., NYC.
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.
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QUEENS Shirley Jusino, a Special Education Itinerant Teacher from Glendale: "As an Independent Contractor in the Education Field, I have witnessed many women who have had positively impacted the lives of children and families, and I'm proud to be one of them. As a participant in NY Go Run, it will be a honor to surround myself and be driven by passionate, like-minded, future leaders who will not only conquer America, but the world."
QUEENS Milagros Dueno, a Clinical Social Worker/Psychotherapist from East Meadow: "I've have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you make them feel. I am willing to go the extra mile and advocate for those in need, and am dedicated to getting people where they need to be to become self-determined and be at peace, in a culturally sensitive matter. I look forward to obtaining the skills to take the next step in this work by joining the NY Go Run political leadership training program for women!”
QUEENS Karen Abdul from Jamaica: “Women have always been the backbone of family and community but have not always been a part of the discussion and policies that affect us. Now more than ever, women are realizing that we have a voice and with that voice we can enact changes within our communities, our local, state and federal government - but we have to get involved and understand the politics in order to do so. That is why programs like NY Go Run are so critical. American philosopher Morris Cohen once said, ‘When you educate a man, you educate an individual, but when you educate a woman, you educate a nation.’"
QUEENS Cassandra St. Vil, a staff member of YMCA of Greater New York from Long Island City: "As a youthworker with a passion for teen leadership development, I've learned that in order to better serve my rising youth leaders, I also have to understand and respond to the many issues which most impact them. Therefore, I am also passionate about education, housing, healthcare, community and family restoration, transportation, economics and workforce development. I am excited to attend NY Go Run as I prepare to think larger than I ever have before as a committed public advocate for youth."
