Education and Training

Campaign Trainings for Women

Candidate Schools
Sponsored by The Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy
Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee (ERLC) Candidate Schools help women develop the skills they need to win elections. These day-long intensive training experiences across New York State enable potential candidates to formulate a campaign strategy specific to their race and individual goals. Candidate Schools are open to all pro-choice Democratic women currently running for office or planning a future run.

For more information:
Brette McSweeney, Executive Director
The Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy
P.O. Box 20293
Greeley Square Station
New York, NY 10001
mail@eleanorslegacy.com
(646) 430-9067

WomenElect
WomenElect is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that helps women who support reproductive rights build their financial and volunteer networks and fully understand the process of running for elected office. WomenElect offers extended, in-depth training and coaching process that focuses on teaching the unique skills required of candidates for elected office, including, but not limited to, fundraising, public speaking, image development, press/media relations, and leadership development. WomenElect has a network of chapters across New York State.

For more information:
Diana Cihak
Founder/Program Director
70 Niagara Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
diana@womenelect.org
(716) 597-9815

Campaign Trainings (women and men)

Master's Program in Elections and Campaign Management
Sponsored by Fordham University
Fordham University offers a master’s degree in elections and campaign management. The program is designed as a comprehensive, one-year introduction to both theoretical and practical tools necessary to manage political campaigns. Rigorous multidisciplinary instruction in voting behavior, candidate strategy, analysis of survey data, and media management is provided by academics and industry professionals. The program requires completion of 30 credits, including a professional-level internship in a political consulting firm or a campaign organization.

For more information:
Costas Panagopoulos, Ph.D.
Masters' Program in Elections and Campaign Management
Fordham University Department of Political Science
Faber Hall 667, 441 East Fordham Road
Bronx, NY 10458
campaigns@fordham.edu
(718) 817-3967

Leadership Training Programs for Women

NEW Leadership™ New York
Sponsored by the Center for Women in Government and Civil Society
The NEW Leadership™ summer institute is an intensive residential program that educates college women about politics and policy making and inspires them to get involved in the political process. During the six-day program, selected students meet with women in a variety of roles in the public sphere, learn about women’s political participation, explore ideas about leadership and politics, and participate in hands-on skills building exercises. NEW Leadership™ New York is part of the NEW Leadership™ Development Network of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University (NJ).

For more information:
Cara Long
Center for Women in Government and Civil Society
University at Albany
clong@uamail.albany.edu
(518) 442-3887

WomenElect
WomenElect is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that helps women who support reproductive rights build their financial and volunteer networks and fully understand the process of running for elected office. WomenElect offers extended, in-depth training and coaching process that focuses on teaching the unique skills required of candidates for elected office, including, but not limited to, fundraising, public speaking, image development, press/media relations, and leadership development. WomenElect has a network of chapters across New York State.

For more information:
Diana Cihak
Founder/Program Director
70 Niagara Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
diana@womenelect.org
(716) 597-9815

Leadership Training Programs (women and men)

Leadership Buffalo
Leadership Buffalo is a leadership development organization dedicated to training and educating individuals on issues and skills important to the community. Each year, participants chosen based upon their community service and leadership potential attend once-monthly sessions that explore the challenge, concept and practice of leadership along with topics including

• economic development,
• criminal justice,
• aging in the community,
• regional partnerships,
• human services,
• education,
• race relations,
• health care,
• poverty,
• community logic,
• and the arts.

In addition to the Class Experience, Leadership Buffalo offers leadership programs for youth, executives, and community facilitators.

For more information:
Althea Luehrsen, Executive Director
Leadership Buffalo
237 Main Street
Suite 1500
Buffalo, NY 14203-2720
Althea@leadershipbuffalo.org
(716) 849-2626 ext. 12

Leadership New York-New York
Sponsored by Coro
Leadership New York (LNY) is a civic leadership development program run by Coro for mid-career professionals from diverse backgrounds, sectors and perspectives. During monthly weekday sessions, known as issue days, participants explore New York City’s current policy challenges through site visits, small group interviews, panel discussions, and other activities across the five boroughs. Topics include:

• arts and culture
• criminal justice and public safety
• economic development and housing
• education
• public finance
• international and city media; and
• public health and social services.

In addition to LNY, Coro provides annual leadership programs for New York City high school students, early and mid-career professionals, and individuals working with immigrant communities in New York City.

For more information:
Aditi Chakravarty
Coro New York Leadership Center
42 Broadway, Suite 1827-35
New York, NY 10004
achakravarty@coronewyork.org
(212) 248-2935 ext. 303

Leadership Rochester
Founded in 1990, Leadership Rochester is a nine-month program to provide established and emerging leaders with knowledge and access to resources, enabling them to understand and respond to the quality of life challenges facing the Greater Rochester region. Participants are chosen annually to pattend an opening retreat in September and once-montly sessions through May where class members dissect a topic integral to the community at large. Topics range from education, healthcare, criminal justice to economic development.

For more information:
Josanne Reaves, Executive Director
Leadership Rochester
875 East Main Street
Suite 140
Rochester , NY 14605
lr@leadershiprochester.org
(585) 325-7701

New Leaders Council New York
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:
Heather Grantham, Chapter Director
hgrantham@newleaderscouncil.org

Organizations Committed to Political Parity

New York Federation of Republican Women
Through affiliate chapters in nearly every state, the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) promotes the principles, objectives and policies of the Republican Party; elects Republican candidates; informs the public through political education and activity; and increases the effectiveness of women in the cause of good government. In working toward these objectives, the NFRW concentrates its efforts in the areas of educating, communicating, recruiting, campaigning, fundraising, training and legislative action.

For more information:
Mary Therese Reilly
New York Federation of Republican Women
119 Clarke Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10306
siyankeefan@aol.com
(718) 979-3123

New York NOW
Sponsored by the National Organization for Women
Founded in 1966, the National Organization for Women (NOW) is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States whose goal is to take action to bring about equality for all women. NOW is a 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:
Zenaida Mendez, President
New York NOW
1500 Central Avenue
Albany, NY 12205
info@nownys.org
(518) 452-3944

New York Women's Political Caucus
Sponsored by the National Women's Political Caucus
The New York 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:
Donna Lent, President
New York Women's Political Caucus
donnalent@aol.com

The Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee
The Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee is building a new generation of Democratic women candidates, informed voters, and political activists throughout New York State. Eleanor's Legacy takes action to increase women's participation in New York Democratic politics by raising funds to help elect women to state and local offices, providing political training and leadership development, and establishing a growing statewide network of women community leaders, elected officials, and grassroots activists.

For more information:
Brette McSweeney, Executive Director
The Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee
P.O. Box 20293
Greeley Square Station
New York, NY 10001
mail@eleanorslegacy.com
(646) 430-9067

Women’s Political Action Committees (PACs)

New York Women's Political Caucus PAC
Sponsored by the National Women's Political Caucus
The New York 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:
Donna Lent, President
New York Women's Political Caucus PAC
donnalent@aol.com

The Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee
The Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee supports pro-choice Democratic women candidates at the state or local level in New York State.

For more information:
Brette McSweeney, Executive Director
The Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee
P.O. Box 20293
Greeley Square Station
New York, NY 10001
mail@eleanorslegacy.com
(646) 430-9067

Women's Taking Action in Politics (TAP) Fund
The Women's TAP (Taking Action in Politics) Fund is a non-partisan PAC operating in western New York whose goal is to elect qualified, pro-choice, pro-ERA, pro-child care women to local and state office.

For more information:
Jane F. Griffin, Chair
Women's Taking Action in Politics (TAP) Fund
P.O. Box 54
Buffalo, NY 14201-0054
griffin@hwi.buffalo.edu
info@tapfund.com
(716) 856-9600 ext. 363

Women’s Legislative Caucuses

New York State Legislative Women's Caucus
The bi-partisan, bicameral New York State Legislative Women's Caucus focuses on a shared legislative agenda. Through the Caucus, women state legislators work to:

• improve the participation of women in all areas of government
• support issues that affect and benefit women in New York State,
• provide a network of support for women in the state legislature.

For more information:
Shirley Tranholm, Executive Director
New York State Legislative Women's Caucus
Room 639-A, Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12248
LWC@assembly.state.ny.us
(518) 455-4347