Real Women Run announces its annual all-day winter training on Saturday, January 17th, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Miller Campus of Salt Lake Community College.
2015 is a year for municipal elections in Utah, and Real Women Run will encourage and train women to enter politics at the local level, while continuing to prepare candidates for 2016 races. Women continue to be seriously underrepresented in Utah political office. One woman joins Congress this year after an historic win; just 16 women (10 representatives, 6 senators – 15.4%) will be part of the Utah Legislature in 2015. (This is a drop from 17 women (16.3%) in 2014.)
The lively, informative training on January 17 will feature keynote speaker Dr. Susan Madsen, Orin R. Woodbury Professor of Leadership and Ethics in the Woodbury School of Business at Utah Valley University and founder of the Utah Women & Leadership Project. Dr. Madsen will talk about “Utah Women in Politics: Status, Challenges, and Opportunities.”
Four panels will focus on mayoral leadership; impact on families; faith and political leadership, and issue advocacy.
- The mayor’s panel includes Karen Cronin (Perry), Constance Robinson (Paragonah Town), RoJean Rowley (Duchesne), JoAnn Seghini (Midvale), and Neka Roundy (Former Kaysville Mayor)
- The panel on family impact includes Jenny Wilson, Morgan Lyon Cotti, and Heather Pehrson
- The women of faith panel features Utah Representatives Patrice Arent, Becky Edwards, and Rebecca Chavez-Houck
- The panel on issue-based advocacy includes Alicia Ridgway Connell, Jackie Biskupski, and Erin Mendenhall
Topics of the two break-out sessions are Campaigns and Volunteering 101 with Lindsay Zizumbo and Boards and Commissions (Ashlee Burt, Chris Bray, and Sheryl Ivey). Current and former elected officials will share their perspectives and experiences with attendees over lunch.
“Talented, educated women live in cities and towns throughout the state of Utah, and many of them may never have considered running for office, participating on a campaign, or serving on a board or commission. Local politics are a great place to begin, and we hope 2015 will be the year Utah women explore new ways to bring their capabilities and perspectives to political life and leadership. This is what Real Women Run is all about – offering encouragement and training to participate in political life at all levels,” said Anne Burkholder, CEO of the YWCA Utah, a founding member of Real Women Run.
WHAT: Real Women Run warmly welcomes all Utah women to attend a full-day of education and training designed to encourage them to consider running for political office, serving on boards and commissions, working on campaigns, and becoming more engaged in our political system.
WHEN: Saturday, January 17, 2015, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Salt Lake Community College, Miller Campus, 9750 South 300 West, Sandy
FEES: $15 regular; $10 if a student or current member of AAUW, League of Women Voters of Utah, or YWCA Utah
REGISTER: www.realwomenrun.orgor www.ywca.com
