I’m damn proud to say I know a few of the amazing women who graduated from Emerge Wisconsin’s most recent class of women ready to become leaders in our state:
Madison – On Saturday, February 25th, Emerge Wisconsin graduated its sixth class of Democratic women who are ready to run for office. In April 2011, Emerge Wisconsin announced their intentions to move their program up four months to start in September 2011 instead of January 2012. This was done in order to capture the enthusiasm of women motivated to run for office by the shameful policies of the Scott Walker administration.
“Emerge Wisconsin is excited and proud to have graduated our sixth class of women ready to run and prepared with the resources to win. The graduation of the Class of 2012 increases the number of Emerge Wisconsin Alumnae to 100!” Wendy Strout, Executive Director.
Emerge Wisconsin is proud to welcome the following women into the Emerge Alumnae network:
Mary Arnold (Columbus), Susan Bailey (Madison), Dawn Berger (Milwaukee), Tammy Bockhorst (Shorewood), Tracey Corder (Milwaukee), La Crosse County Clerk (appointed) Ginny Dankmeyer (La Crosse), Lashell Drake (Brown Deer), Erika Hotchkiss (Verona), LaTonya Johnson (Milwaukee), Diana Lawrence (Appleton), Tanya Lohr (West Bend), Maureen May-Grimm (Mineral Point), Diane Odeen (River Falls), Kim Peterson (Burlington), Paula Reaves (Wisconsin Rapids), Dane County Board Supervisor Melissa Sargent (Madison), Angela Smillie (Janesville), Joanne Staudacher (Oshkosh), Nancy Stencil (Wausau), Mary Von Ruden (Sparta), Alderperson Anissa Welch (Milton), Jon Anne Willow (Wauwatosa), Mandy Wright (Wausau), Claire Zautke (Milwaukee)
Launched in 2007, Emerge is the only organization in Wisconsin that provides Democratic women with the comprehensive training they need to achieve their political aspirations. Emerge Wisconsin is part of Emerge America, a national movement and premier training program that addresses the under-representation of women in office at the local, state, and federal level. There are Emerge affiliates in ten states: Arizona, California, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, and Wisconsin. Emerge was founded to create a legion of Democratic women leaders for generations to come.
While I’ve never been a participant in Emerge Wisconsin’s training program (for obvious reasons), a good friend of mine is one of the recent graduates of the program, and she raves about not only what she’s learned, but how much she’s grown since joining the program.
If you know a woman who you think would be a great leader in your community or for our state, refer them to Emerge Wisconsin.
A great group. Thanks to all for your dedication to good government that’s responsive to We the People.
Great program. Women’s voices are so underrepresented at all levels of service, so hopefully this pays dividends.
This program gives women the opportunity to gain confidence, have questions answered, find their footing, gain incredible mentors, and establish a strong network. Currently there is legislation and proposed legislation specifically directed at women, related to our health, our bodies, the type of family we belong to and the amount of money we are paid to do our jobs. Most of us belong to more than one “group” under attack by the current administration. Emerge is a program that addresses the reasons why women are hesitant to run and illustrates why the same reasons we are hesitant to run for public office are the exact reasons why we SHOULD run for public office.
Zach, thanks for being a truly good man who not only encourages women to run for office, but truly understands why more women should do so.