Below is a press release for the Rural Go Run program, which gives Iron Range area women the training and tools they’d need to run for political office. Though my gender renders me ineligible for this program, I heartily endorse any effort to increase the number of people involved in political leadership on the Iron Range. Our lack of depth and diversity in this department will cost us dearly if not rectified.
Virginia City Councilor Nevada Littlewolf recently gave a great interview on the KAXE Morning Show. She effectively sums up the program and the need for more involvement. More information is available in the links below.
IRON RANGE WOMEN TAKE THE POLITICAL LEAD
Innovative Political Leadership Training Program Comes to Rural Minnesota May 1-3Tower, MN–Today, The White House Project announced their second annual Rural Go Run political leadership training program for women in Northern Minnesota. This innovative three-day event, which runs May 1st – 3rd, aims to create a permanent, nonpartisan pipeline to women’s political leadership among women on the Iron Range and across the country.
“In rural Northern Minnesota, women have always been a part of our strong political history, but are not well represented in elected positions,” said Nevada Littlewolf, The White House Project’s Rural Leadership Field Organizer and Virginia City Councilmember. “It’s time for women to share equally in all seats of leadership – and our Rural Go Run training is making that happen.”
After a successful five-year track record in the state of Minnesota, The White House Project is continuing to develop a model training program that speaks to the needs of rural women that can be replicated nationwide. A study by the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota found that political participation by women was lowest in rural counties, noting that while women currently make up 34.8% of the Minnesota state legislature, at the local level, just 11.2% of county commissioners are women.
Go Run aims to change those statistics by starting at the grassroots level, training women of all political persuasions and backgrounds to run for political office. A recent study by The Humphrey Institute on the effectiveness of Go Run showed that 98% of women surveyed felt inspired to run for office as a result of the training; 94% reported an increased confidence in their ability to run; and 86% said that the training had improved the skills they need to run.
At the May training, women from all walks of life will come together to network with fellow trainees, learn from elected officials, and increase the necessary skills to lead in their communities and world. Women do not need to be running for office in order to attend; in fact, the communication, organizing, and fundraising skills offered in the training can be used to promote leadership in business and non-profit leadership roles as well as in politics.
“Many of the women who come to Go Run are already leading in the community” said Littlewolf. “We will encourage them to support each other and to take their leadership dreams to the next level.”
Go Run aims to demystify the political process for women—a group not traditionally tapped for positions of political leadership. Through regional offices based in Minnesota, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, and New York, Go Run has trained some of the most underrepresented women in our political system: 41% are women of color; 46% are low income; and 50% are under the age of 35.
Among the local, regional, and national speakers at this year’s Rural Go Run will be: Marie C. Wilson, President and Founder of The White House Project; Karen Diver, Fond du Lac Tribal Chair; Eveleth City Councilor and Go Run Alumna Liz Kuoppala; Organizer and Go Run Alumna, Ida Rukavina; Peggy Flanagan, Director, Native American Leadership Program, Wellstone Action; Itsaca County Commissioner Lori Dowling; St. Louis County Attorney; Melanie Ford; and Wright County Commissioner Rose Thelan, among others.
Rural Go Run will take place from May 1st – 3rd at The Fortune Bay Resort and Casino in Tower, MN. Applications can be submitted online at: http://thewhitehouseproject.org/voterunlead/gorun/2009/RuralGoRunApp2009.php
The White House Project is a national, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization that 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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