Ready to Run® New Jersey
March 10-11, 2017
Online registration is now closed. If you have any questions, please contact Nisa Sheikh at nisa.sheikh@eagleton.rutgers.edu or 848.932.8566.
R2R 2018

Schedule-at-a-Glance
Check back regularly for updates!
Friday, March 9, 2018
Diversity Initiative |
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11:00 am | Registration opens |
Noon - 1:30 pm |
Welcome and Opening Keynote Lunch
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1:45 - 4:00 pm |
Diversity Initiative Programs |
Ready to Run®
|
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4:15 pm |
Welcome and Opening Remarks: Why Not You? Why Not Now?
![]() Special Invited Guest
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman
US House of Representatives |
4:30 - 6:15 pm
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Plenary Session:
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6:15 pm | Networking Reception |
Saturday, March 10, 2018
7:30 am | Registration opens |
8:30 - 9:45 am |
Plenary: What Women Candidates Need to Know
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Track 1: I’m Ready to Run, Now What? |
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10:00 am - Noon
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Track 1: Launching Your Campaign
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10:00 am - Noon |
Track 2: Finding Your Political Voice and Influence
Moderator
Celia King, Chief Executive Officer, Leadership Newark
Part 1: Nuts and Bolts of New Jersey Government and Political Parties
Presenters
Lizette Delgado-Polanco, Vice Chair, New Jersey State Democratic Committee
Amanda De Palma, Former Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of Governor Chris Christie
Lauren Skowronski, Democratic Committeeperson, Plainsboro Township
Part 2: Strategies for Getting Started
Presenters
Gail Gordon, Of Counsel, Florio, Perrucci Steinhardt & Fader
Andrea Martinez-Mejia, Chief of Staff, New Jersey Department of Health
Freeholder Shanti Narra, Middlesex County
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Noon - 2:15 pm
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Plenary Session: Conquering the Camera – An Interactive Media Training
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2:30 - 3:45 pm |
Track 1: Navigating New Jersey’s Political Parties As a Potential Candidate
Moderator
Jean Sinzdak, Associate Director, Center for American Women and Politics
Panelists
Christine Hanlon, Monmouth County Clerk
Arlene Quiñones Perez, Chair, Hunterdon County Democratic Committee
Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, New Jersey Legislature
Candace L. Straight, Former Co-Chair, New Jersey Republican State Committee
Senator Loretta Weinberg, Majority Leader, New Jersey Senate
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2:30 - 3:45 pm |
Track 2: Legislative Advocacy
Moderator
Debbie Walsh, Director, Center for American Women and Politics
Presenters
Jeanette Hoffman, President, Marathon Public Affairs
Jeannine LaRue, Senior Vice President, Kaufman Zita Group
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4:00 - 5:30 pm |
Plenary: Fundraising for Success
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A “How-To” Training for Public Life
Ready to Run® is a bipartisan program for women who want to run for office, work on campaigns, get appointed to office, or learn more about the political system. You will learn:
- Practical "how-tos" for candidates
- Real world advice and best practices from the experts
- Strategies for positioning yourself for public leadership
- The ins and outs of New Jersey politics
- Campaigning in a digital age
Two Tracks to Meet Your Needs
- Track 1: I’m Ready to Run, Now What? for women planning to run for office immediately.
- Track 2: I’m Not Ready to Run Yet, But…for women who want to learn more about different ways to get involved in politics or position themselves for public leadership.
Diversity Initiative
The Ready to Run® Diversity Initiative programs aim to increase the participation of women of color in New Jersey Politics. Diversity Initiative programs are held on Friday, March 9th, immediately prior to the opening Ready to Run® session.
Rising Stars: Educating Asian American Women for Politics
Run Sister Run: Women of the African Diaspora Changing the Political Landscape
Elección Latina
Directions to the Douglass Campus Center can be found here.
Nearby Accommodations: Please note that this list is provided for informational purposes only. All participants are responsible for their own lodging reservations. Please check with the hotel for current rates.
Rutgers University Inn, New Brunswick
The Heldrich, New Brunswick
Hyatt Regency, New Brunswick
Hampton Inn, North Brunswick
Holiday Inn Express, East Brunswick
Interested in becoming an exhibitor? Download the form here.
We rely solely on grants and donations to provide scholarship funding to program participants. At this time, a small number of scholarships are available. To apply, please complete the registration form (answer the question about scholarship funding), and we will follow up with you.
For more information, contact Nisa Sheikh at 848-932-8566 or by email at nisa.sheikh@eagleton.rutgers.edu.