My name is Rianna, and I’m part of Her Campus at Carleton’s events team. As a student double majoring in journalism and political science, I’m constantly searching for opportunities in which I can take what I’ve learned from my studies beyond the classroom– which is why I was honoured to be selected as 1 of 100 college-aged women across North America to participate in the ‘2020 Her Campus Elect Her Training Day‘, organized by Running Start. I learned a lot from this political training day, and I’m more than happy to share some of my insights.
Running Start is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that seeks to promote women in office and positions of power. The event was hosted by Stephanie Kaplan Lewis, CEO and co-founder of Her Campus, who introduced and held discussions with various guest speakers. I was thrilled to hear from many remarkable women: Lauren Underwood, the youngest Black woman elected to Congress, Sarah McBride, who made history as the highest-ranking transgender woman to be elected into office, Bushra Amiwala, the youngest Muslim elected official, celebrity special guest Bellamy Young, who plays Mellie in Scandal, and several other notable congresswomen and state representatives.
All of the guest speakers had meaningful advice about running for office and gave unique perspectives on their experiences, including their challenges, successes, and downfalls. They discussed societal expectations, breaking barriers, and the promotion of feminism in everyday interactions. For instance, Jennifer Carroll Foy, a Delegate and Candidate for Governor of Virginia, told us about her journey of being the first Black woman at a historically male military college to become an elected official, all while proving wrong those who doubted her abilities. She pointed out that it’s not enough to simply have laws written for women but to also have laws written by women. The other speakers echoed similar experiences and themes, all discussing the value of women in office. One thing I took away is how important it is to have a female voice in any situation in which citizens face impact– like Ruth Bader Ginsburg once said, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.”
Throughout the event, there was a chat function where participants could talk to one another in real-time. I met so many like-minded women from all over the United States and even some from other corners of the globe. It was really awesome to connect with so many people who share the same passions and goals as I do!
For the second portion of the event, all one hundred of us were put into a Zoom call then separated into break-out groups. From there, we were coached by the Running Start staff on how to identify your network and outreach, shape your campaign goals, and communicate with others as a team. We had an interactive portion in which we each had to fill out questionnaires about political issues we are passionate about solving, and I chose the reformation of university equity policies while others in my group chose issues such as affordable housing, criminal justice, and racial equality on campus. It was eye-opening to hear from other young women about their perspectives on current issues and how they impact our demographic.
Finally came the most nerve-wracking part– the elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is essentially a minute-long introduction of who you are, what you’re running for, and what your goals are as a candidate. We each had five minutes to write our mini-speech, then present it to the rest of the group. From there, the group voted for the best speech, and the person selected then presented it to all of the participants as a whole for a chance to win a huge prize. While unfortunately I wasn’t selected, I learned how to concisely word my goals and the issues I care about into a short blurb that I could be ready to give at any time. It made me feel confident in my ability to convey a message that is meaningful to me.
Overall, my experience at the ‘Her Campus Elect Her Training Day’ was extremely rewarding. I got to know prominent women in politics on a personal level, and I learned about the challenges and benefits of running for office. I also learned skills on how to form my own campaign, all while speaking with other women who are just as passionate and motivated as I am, some of whom I am still in close contact with today. I highly recommend this experience for any young woman looking to get ahead, whether that’s in elected office, or in your personal growth.