After a historic presidential election featured a woman Democratic nominee, representatives from the Associated Students of Madison are forming a new student organization to train more women to run and take office.
Rise to Run is an up-and-coming national organization with four pilot locations: North Carolina, Colorado,
UW-Madison sophomore and ASM Rep. Kat Kerwin explained the foundation of the organization.
“A lot of times candidate training programs for women have been mostly for older white women,” Kerwin said. “What we need is a younger, more diverse platform for young women to run for office immediately after college.”
The organization will teach these women many different political skills such as fundraising, canvassing, communicating with voters and operating online programs.
Rise to Run will strive to make many necessary changes to governmental representation on all levels.
“Government at every level, whether that be local, state or federal, is not diverse enough,” ASM Rep. Katrina Morrison said. “Rise to Run can and will help bring the next generation of candidates into office who are more diverse and progressive.”
Rise to Run is not strictly aligned with Democratic ideals, but Kerwin said training will be “progressive-based and focused on combating issues such as police brutality, unequal pay and limited access to affordable healthcare.”
The group will meet monthly for general member meetings and biweekly for executive board members. Applications for the executive board will be sent out within the next week.
Club members will be tabling around campus on May 8 in order to spread awareness for a Fall 2017 club launch.
