State Representatives Cristin McCarthy Vahey, Laura Devlin, Brenda Kupchick, and more will share political expertise during the 2018 women’s leadership conference.
From winning legislative seats to engaging in community activism, our presenters have decades of experience... and are dedicated to helping women succeed...
— — Gayle Alberda, PhD, politics professor and Ready to Run CT program coordinator
From campaign strategists and media specialists, to a diverse roster of elected officials spanning political parties and legislative positions, the list of presenters at ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ University’s second annual Ready to Run Connecticut women’s campaign training program on June 16, reads like a "Who's Who” in state and local politics.
A reduced early bird registration rate for the nationally affiliated women’s leadership program ends on May 31, 2018, with regular registration available until June 15 at .
Each of the program’s six workshops employ the expertise, advice, and proven track record of state, local, and regional experts to advance registrants’ political aspirations and equip them with the necessary tools to effectively run for office, work on a political campaign, or become more involved in their local legislation.
“Women attending will learn from industry experts on both sides of the aisle and will walk away with insider knowledge and successful strategies to make a difference in their communities and local governments,” explained program coordinator and politics professor Gayle Alberda, PhD. “From winning legislative seats to engaging in community activism, our presenters have decades of experience under their belts and are dedicated to helping women succeed in the political arena.”
Leading the list of this year’s prestigious panel members are State Representatives Laura Devlin (R-134) , Brenda Kupchick (R-132) , Cristin McCarthy Vahey (D-¼â½ÐÊÓƵ) , and Terrie Wood (R-141) , who will impart their wisdom to future candidates on the topics of “Laying the Groundwork for Public Life” in addition to providing a nuts and bolts introduction to Connecticut politics and advocacy.
Other presenters include political advocate and former local chair of the National Political Congress of Black Women, Carolyn Vermont ; former CT Democratic Party Chair Nancy DiNardo ; political analyst Liz Kurantowicz from The Drury Group, who will lead a strategic session on developing and launching a campaign; Randall Thompson , president of Pulse Communication LLC, who will instruct participants on how to use social media and voter data to micro-target audiences; and Visionary Campaign Group LLC politics and advocacy consultant Tara Cook-Littman , who will deliver a keynote address titled “Women Can Change the World: Amplyfying Your Voice, Empowering Grass Roots."
Ready to Run Connecticut is part of the Ready to Run national network of non-partisan political leadership and campaign training programs committed to electing women to public office. Developed by Rutgers University’s Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) in 1998, the program offers women an annual workshop series that equips them with the necessary strategies, knowledge, and networking tools to effectively pursue leadership positions in state and local government. In locations where Ready to Run is currently offered, 70% of all program participants who chose to run for office following their training have successfully won their political races.
Ready to Run Connecticut is made possible by Kristine and Peter Holland ’88, P’19, and is presented in partnership with the College of Arts and Sciencs, Politics Department, Master in Public Administration program, and the Black Studies program.
For additional program details or to register, visit fairfield.edu/R2RCT .
