Introduction

This interactive workshop is designed to give young women in high school and college the opportunity to explore public service as a career. During the session, participants will meet with state and local women office holders and explore their own leadership abilities.

We believe that one way to reach greater representational parity for women is to develop leadership potential in our young women.

Program Description

The Running & Winning Workshop is non-partisan and will bring together young women from several high schools in Wake County for an active political experience. Working in small groups with students from other schools, they will interview state and local women elected officials, learning about their experiences in seeking and holding public office. Afterwards, each small group will plan a mock campaign by analyzing issues, designing publicity, and writing and delivering a campaign speech. Trained facilitators will guide the small groups in interviewing the politicians and in role-playing and cooperative learning to plan the mock campaign. This program is designed for young women early in their leadership development in order to give a transforming experience that allows them to do things they haven’t thought they were capable of doing before.

Goals

Our short-term goal is to change young women’s attitudes about politics and their leadership capabilities. Our long-term goal is to increase the number of women running for, and winning, political office.

Objectives

• Encourage young women to consider political involvement as a possible arena for their talents and to see themselves as leaders.
• Introduce the concept of networking and provide the opportunity to network with women officeholders and young women from other backgrounds.
• Use interactive role-playing and team learning to reinforce abilities and self-worth.