Education and Training

Campaign Trainings for Women

Political Institute for Women
The Political Institute for Women is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to training women to run for elected office and to pursue careers in politics. The institute offers educational courses and training on campaign communications, field work, finance, management, and marketing. In addition to campaign tactics and strategy, the Political Institute for Women offers courses covering the most important policy issues of the day. Finally, the institute sponsors conferences on women and politics, political leadership, and policy. Courses and events are held in Florida and/or Georgia and costs vary by event.

For more information:
Kimberly Mitchem-Rasmussen, Director/Trainer
The Political Institute for Women kimberly@politicalinstituteforwomen.org
(404) 797-8650

Ruth's List Florida
Ruth's List Florida is dedicated to building a progressive Florida by recruiting, supporting, and electing pro-choice, Democratic women to public office in Tallahassee, in county commissions, in city councils, and in other key positions around Florida. Ruth's List provides training, campaign assistance, early money, and a network of members giving their skills, time, and finances to help women win.

For more information:
Ellis Robinson
Ruth's List Florida
PO Box 66
Sanibel, Florida 33957
info@RuthsListFL.org
(239) 472-9159

The Tillie Fowler Series
The Tillie Fowler Series is an expansion program of the Richard C. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series, founded in 1989 to encourage, mentor and prepare selected Republican women leaders to seek new levels of involvement in government and politics. Selected applicants participate in five two- to three-day sessions throughout the year, where they are trained in leadership, mentored by and introduced to key government leaders and prepared to assume key roles in public service.

For more information:
Judy Arranz, Executive Director
The Tillie Fowler Series
1834 Spiceberry Circle E.
Jacksonville, FL 32246
info@fowlerseries.com
(904) 221-5253

Campaign Trainings (women and men)

Campaign Skills Seminars
Sponsored by the Miami-Dade County Ethics Commissoin
The Miami-Dade County Ethics Commission provides training sessions for declared candidates or those working on campaigns, addressing the Ethical Campaign Practices Ordinance, campaign contributions, post-election audits, prohibited uses of public funds, and other requirements related to expending public funds.

For more information:
Miami-Dade County Ethics Commissoin
19 West Flagler
Suite 820
Miami, FL 33130
ethics@miamidade.gov
(305) 579-2594

Frontline Leaders Academy
Sponsored by the Young Elected Officials Network
The Frontline Leaders Academy, sponsored by the Young Elected Officials Network, is an annual campaign leadership development program for prospective progressive candidates and campaign leaders. This eight-month program consists of four conferences on five topics: candidacy, campaign management, funding, communications, and field. Twenty applicants between the ages of 18-35 participate in the program each year.

For more information:
Ryan Hurst, YEO Network Team
Frontline Leaders Academy
Young Elected Officials Network
1550 Melvin Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
rhurst@pfaw.org
(850) 877-0307

Leadership Training Programs (women and men)

Leadership Florida
Founded in 1982, Leadership Florida is a non-partisan organization addressing statewide topics of concern and encouraging interaction among the state’s leadership. Each year, participants are chosen for an eight-month Annual Class Program, where they learn about the issues most important to Florida and develop skills to prepare them for leadership roles in the public and private sectors. Program sessions are held in six different Florida cities. Leadership Florida also offers leadership programs for young people, executives, and officeholders.

For more information:
Leadership Florida
201 E. Park Avenue
Tallahassee , FL 32301
(850) 521-1220

Emerge Tampa Bay
Sponsored by Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce
Emerge Tampa Bay  is a leadership program of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce designed for emerging leaders ages 21 to 35. The program concentrates on four main segments: voice, connect, grow, and interact. Members are educated about issues important to the region, participate in community service and non-profit leadership, and engage in professional development while learning from area leaders and receiving mentorship from them.

For more information:
Camille Cacioppo, Program Coordinator
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 420
Tampa , FL 33601
ccacioppo@tampachamber.com
info@tampachamber.com
(813) 276-9448

Leadership Jacksonville
Leadership Jacksonville is a year-long program that explores the dynamics of an urban society, analyzes major areas of community concern, facilitates the development of leadership capacities and promotes a network of community trustees. Approximately 50 leaders from throughout the community are selected to participate in nine day-long programs and two retreats throughout the year, coming from and contributing to public and private sectors in the Jacksonville community.    

For more information:
Barbara Moulding, Adult Program Coordinator
Leadership Jacksonville
4040 Woodcock Drive
Suite 155
Jacksonville, FL 32207
barbara@leadershipjax.org

Leadership Miami
Sponsored by the Miami Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Miami is an annual program sponsored by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and several of Miami-Dade County's premier companies, local agencies and corporations. The program is targeted toward men and women interested in making Miami a better place to live. Applicants participate in once-monthly Saturday sessions where they meet Miami's leaders and learn about community issues and leadership skills in preparation for increased involvement in the public and private sectors of the Miami-Dade community.

For more information:
Karina Reyes
Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
1601 Biscayne Boulevard
Ballroom Level
Miami, FL 33132
kreyes@miamichamber.com
(305) 577-5425

Leadership St. Pete
Sponsored by the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce
Leadership St. Pete (LSP) is a six-month experience designed to promote and enhance community leadership through an in-depth introduction to social, economic, business and political issues in the St. Petersburg area. LSP class members interact with diverse, high-level community leaders and decision-makers by organizing and attending a series of seminars and retreats in fields including  business, government, education, media, social services, criminal justice, diversity, the arts and more. Participants will learn from leaders from all branches of state government during a two-day government seminar in Tallahassee.

For more information:
Leadership St. Pete
St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce
100 Second Avenue North
Suite 150
St. Petersburg, FL 33701-3351
(727) 821-4069

Leadership Tallahassee
Sponsored by Leadership Tallahassee, a Division of the
   Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce
Established in 1983, Leadership Tallahassee is a year-long educational program for adults designed to educate and engage community leaders. Thirty to 40 selected applicants meet in monthly day-long sessions to learn about key issues affecting political, business, human service and cultural activities in Tallahassee. The mission of Leadership Tallahassee is to cultivate a diverse network of emerging and experienced leaders committed to improving the community.

For more information:
Barbara Boone
Leadership Tallahassee
115 North Calhoun St.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
bboone@talchamber.com
(850) 224-8116

Leadership Tampa
Sponsored by the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce
Leadershipi Tampa is a nine-month program developing participants’ community awareness and leadership skills. Fifty to sixty class members are chosen annually to meet every other week for briefings, tours, seminars and hands-on learning. Topics covered include health sciences, law enforcement, education, redevelopment, tourism, government and other important community issues. Members of Leadership Tampa are business/professional people who hold mid-to-upper level management positions within their companies or organizations and have demonstrated a concern for community issues and volunteered their time with service organizations.

For more information:
Lorie Hero, Director of Leadership Programs
Leadership Tampa
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 420
Tampa , FL 33601
lhero@tampachamber.com
info@tampachamber.com
(813) 276-9445

Leadership Training Programs (women and men)

New Leaders Council Miami
New Leaders Council (NLC) was formed in 2005 to train and support the next generation of progressive political entrepreneurs—young professionals in their twenties and thirties who are leading industries, setting trends, and building institutions that support robust civic and political life in a global America. NLC accomplishes this mission primarily through the NLC Institute - a political entrepreneurship training program held 10 days over a five-month period that builds local teams of young professionals in 19 cities across the nation. NLC Fellows learn entrepreneurship, leadership, and political management skills from over volunteer faculty from relevant industries. Fellows are also paired with career mentors, join a national alumni network, and agree to fundraise to support the next class of Fellows.

For more information:
Miami@newleaderscouncil.org
 

Organizations Committed to Political Parity

Democratic Women’s Club of Florida, Inc.
The Democratic Women’s Club of Florida, Inc. (DWCF) was formed to bring together all Democratic Women’s Clubs in Florida to provide a forum for discussion of public matters, to support qualified candidates for public office and to encourage qualified Democratic women to seek elected office.

For more information:
Julia Heckendorn, Second Vice President
Democratic Women’s Club of Florida, Inc. 105 Loyola Road St. Augustine, FL 32086
juliadwc@yahoo.com
(904) 797-7509

Florida Federation of Republican Women
The Florida Federation of Republican Women (FFRW) is a chapter of the National Federation of Republican Women, committed to political education and grassroots involvement to promote the Republican Party and its candidates. The FFRW’s state and county leadership teams have developed grassroots, fundraising, and leadership training efforts to support Republican candidates, in addition to promoting women candidates for office and fostering local and state leaders.

For more information:
Cindy Graves, President
Florida Federation of Republican Women
cindyfgraves@gmail.com
(904) 228-6048

Florida National Organization for Women (NOW)
Founded in 1966, the National Organization for Women (NOW) is multi-issue, multi-strategy organization that takes a holistic approach to women's rights. The organization's official priorities are winning economic equality and securing it with an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that will guarantee equal rights for women; championing abortion rights, reproductive freedom and other women's health issues; opposing racism and fighting bigotry against lesbians and gays; and ending violence against women. NOW has over 550 chapters in all 50 states that participate in education and advocacy activities. Information on state and local chapters of NOW is available on the national NOW website and through state chapters.

For more information:
Donna Slutiak,  President
Florida NOW
6825 NW 43 Place
Gainesville, FL 32606
president@flnow.org  
(800) 299-1710

Florida Women's Political Caucus
Sponsored by the National Women's Political Caucus
The Florida Women's Political Caucus, a chapter of the National Women's Political Caucus, recruits, trains and supports women candidates for elected and appointed office.

For more information:
Barbara Williamson, President
Florida Women’s Political Caucus
tedwmsn@bellsouth.net
(954) 583-4167

Florida Women's Political Network
The Florida Women's Political Network is an affiliate of the National Republican Women's Network that works to educate women on local, state and national issues; raise the level of debate on issues to include the voice of Republican women; promote the election of qualified Republican women candidates to positions of leadership; and advocate for the passage of legislation. They support the Tillie Fowler Series training for women's leadership.

For more information:
Dolores Clark, President
1854 NW 11 Road
Gainesville, FL 32605-5247
deefwn1@cox.net
(352) 378-5247

Ruth's List Florida
Ruth's List Florida is dedicated to building a progressive Florida by recruiting, supporting, and electing pro-choice, Democratic women to public office in Tallahassee, in county commissions, in city councils, and in other key positions around Florida. Ruth's List provides training, campaign assistance, early money, and a network of members giving their skills, time, and finances to help women win.

For more information:
Ellis Robinson
Ruth's List Florida
PO Box 66
Sanibel, Florida 33957
info@RuthsListFL.org
(239) 472-9159

Women’s Political Action Committees (PACs)

Florida Women's Political Caucus PAC
Sponsored by the National Women's Political Caucus
The Florida Women's Political Caucus, a chapter of the National Women's Political Caucus, recruits, trains and supports women candidates for elected and appointed office.

For more information:
Barbara Williamson, President
Florida Women’s Political Caucus
tedwmsn@bellsouth.net
(954) 583-4167

Maggie's List
Maggie’s List is a Federal Political Action Committee created to increase the number of elected women committed to promoting the values of fiscal conservatism, less government, more personal responsibility and strong national security. It provides programs and financial support to women candidates who meet these criteria, enabling them to run competitive and successful campaigns at the federal level.

For more information:
Sandy Mortham, Chairman
6675 Weeping Willow Way
Tallahassee, FL 32311
info@maggieslist.org

Ruth's List Florida
Ruth's List Florida is dedicated to building a progressive Florida by recruiting, supporting, and electing pro-choice, Democratic women to public office in Tallahassee, in county commissions, in city councils, and in other key positions around Florida. Ruth's List provides training, campaign assistance, early money, and a network of members giving their skills, time, and finances to help women win.

For more information:
Ellis Robinson
Ruth's List Florida
PO Box 66
Sanibel, Florida 33957
info@RuthsListFL.org
(239) 472-9159

Women’s Legislative Caucuses

Florida Women’s Legislative Caucus
The Florida Women's Legislative Caucus is a formal, bipartisan, bicameral caucus of women legislators.

For more information:
Florida Women’s Legislative Caucus
(386) 238-3180