Political Training Group Seeks Women of Color

Deborah Bayliss | As of Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Pictured - Women of the 113th Congress
Pictured - Women of the 113th Congress

If you're a woman, and the recent Gubernatorial Primary Election inspired you to run for political office, you can sign up for Emily’s List Political Opportunity Program. A spokesperson for the Emily’s List group says more women of color representatives are needed at the Congressional level.

“Women are only 18% of Congress, and women of color only make up 4.5%. If we want leadership that looks like the country it represents, that needs to change. That’s why EMILY’s List is committed to recruiting and training more women to run across the country, and giving them the tools that they need to run and win,” said Priyanka Mantha.

The day long training, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 29, is designed to provide women with what they need to know to run, from putting together a budget and a media plan to how to talk to family members about dividing up responsibilities at home while campaigning.

“It’s really useful information for women at all levels of political experience. Whether you are currently serving on the school board, or in the State Assembly, or if you are just beginning to think about running for elective office, we are certain this training will provide you with the skills and inspiration you need,” Mantha said.

Called by its acronym, which stands for "Early Money Is Like Yeast," because it makes the dough rise, EMILY’s List, a national political action committee that works to elect pro-choice female Democrats, was founded in 1985 by Ellen Malcolm who felt that early money was one of the key ingredients to a successful campaign, but was missing for most women who wanted to run for elected office. So she brought together supporters who wanted to get more women into office and make history.

Designed to help women win campaigns for state and local elected offices, EMILY's List's Political Opportunity Program (POP), was created in 2001, and has held over 180 trainings in 36 states, training over 6,300 people.

Since its founding in 1985, according to information on its website, EMILY’s List claims to have helped elect 97% of the Democratic women of color in Congress, including those currently serving and during the 2011-2012 elections cycle, raised $52 million dollars.

For additional information visit emilyslist.org.

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