Spending the past three years in the McConnell program has given me the opportunity to meet a wide and impressive array of people, from Hilary Clinton to John Boehner. However, it is not these speakers that have most impacted my life but instead Elizabeth Sawyer, an alumna of the program I met at a dinner in the fall. Upon meeting, Elizabeth told me about the organization she is the director of, Emerge Kentucky.
Kentucky ranks 39th in the number of women in elected offices across the United States. The mission of Emerge is to change that by providing training to women that want to run for political offices. The classes teach the women skills in public speaking, how to file for election, and how to successfully fundraise, among others.
Currently, as Emerge Kentucky’s intern I have the opportunity to be involved in everything happening at Emerge, from planning the classes to last months roast of Crit Luallen. I am also working on a personal research project in Eastern Kentucky. The women in the Emerge classes are largely from Lexington and Louisville, not the far ends of the state. Through my research, I hope to better understand the political environment in the Appalachian region and help to recruit women from the area for next years Emerge class.
Kentucky ranks 39th in the number of women in elected offices across the United States. The mission of Emerge is to change that by providing training to women that want to run for political offices. The classes teach the women skills in public speaking, how to file for election, and how to successfully fundraise, among others.
Currently, as Emerge Kentucky’s intern I have the opportunity to be involved in everything happening at Emerge, from planning the classes to last months roast of Crit Luallen. I am also working on a personal research project in Eastern Kentucky. The women in the Emerge classes are largely from Lexington and Louisville, not the far ends of the state. Through my research, I hope to better understand the political environment in the Appalachian region and help to recruit women from the area for next years Emerge class.