Episode 250: Building Up Women to Run
It’s time for class! To start, L. Joy shares positive news, celebrating a legal victory by the Brooklyn NAACP, which successfully challenged New York's line-warming ban on constitutional grounds. She emphasizes the importance of staying engaged despite negative polls or disillusionment, highlighting her commitment to boosting voter turnout in New York, battleground state Pennsylvania, and beyond. L. Joy also calls out the hypocrisy of some politicians who claim to support Black families while failing to back policies that actually benefit them. She gives us our Do Now, then brings Patti Russo, Executive Director of The Campaign School at Yale to the front of the class to discuss how the organization prepares women to run for office.
L. Joy brings Patti Russo, a veteran in training women for political leadership to the front of the class. Patti shares her #FirstCivicAction as well as her invaluable insights on what drives women to enter politics and the structural barriers they must overcome.
Their conversation touched on the importance of structural changes, such as affordable childcare, and the need for more inclusive political systems that support women balancing family responsibilities with leadership roles. Patti’s message is clear: we need to rethink how we support women in politics to ensure that society benefits from their leadership at all stages of life.
L. Joy moved the discussion to the shift in demographics among women entering politics. Patti noted that while the first class at The Campaign School in 1994 was predominantly white and composed of women in their late forties and early fifties. Today's TCS cohorts are younger and more diverse. The "Obama phenomenon," as Patti describes it, inspired many women of color to engage in political campaigns, leading to a significant increase in their participation in the school. In 2017 after the March, Patti noted the surge in women wanting to run for office.
Patti broke down how the political arena is far from a level playing field. Women are often confronted with challenges that their male counterparts rarely face, such as questions about childcare or the safety risks associated with campaigning. To address these challenges, The Campaign School not only provides comprehensive training but also ongoing mentoring and support, helping women build resilience and navigate the often-hostile environment of political campaigns.
One of the most profound takeaways from the conversation was Patti's advice to aspiring female leaders: "Not every woman was born to run, but every woman was born to lead." She encourages women to find their path, whether it's running for office or contributing in another capacity, and to be unapologetic about their ambitions.
They concluded that the future of women in politics looks promising, but it requires deliberate efforts to break down barriers and create an environment where women can thrive. For those interested in making a difference, The Campaign School at Yale offers the training, support, and community needed to succeed in this challenging yet rewarding field.
Do Now:
Prompt: Create a "vote squad"—a group of friends, family, or colleagues who will support each other in staying informed, motivated, and accountable throughout the election season. Your vote squad is about more than just voting—it's about building a community that encourages each other to stay engaged, informed, and active in the democratic process.
Action Items:
Identify Your Squad Members
Reach Out To Your Squad
Set Up a Communication Channel
Plan and Discuss Your Strategy, Keep It Fun and Engaging
Patricia (Patti) Russo
Executive Director of The Campaign School at Yale, Patricia Russo is a nationally recognized leader focused on improving the quality of life for women in Connecticut and the United States. For over thirty-five years, she has held leadership positions in public, private, and nonprofit organizations centered on women’s equity. She has also held strategic positions on federal, state, and local political campaigns for both Democratic and Republican candidates. For over twenty-five years, Patricia served on Connecticut’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, including eight years as Chair. She is also a member of the national leadership team of Political Parity, a bipartisan initiative dedicated to increasing the number of women in elected office, and the Advisory Board for Republican Women for Progress.