For Immediate Release 212-261-4497 / lcassell@thewhitehouseproject.org
WISCONSIN’S WOMEN GET DEPUTIZED IN FIRST-EVER “MILWAUKEE GO VOTE”
Milwaukee, WI– On Saturday, July 12th, The White House Project will bring its ground-breaking Go Vote trainingto the state of Wisconsin, giving women the inspiration, information, and necessary tools to get-out-the-vote this election season. All participants will be officially deputized to register voters, and will benefit from a full day of panels and workshops that will help to create a permanent, nonpartisan pipeline to women’s political leadership in the Badger State.
The innovative Go Vote day-long conference is part of The White House Project’s Vote, Run, Lead program, which has been instrumental in propelling a diverse group of women into positions of political leadership across the nation. Since its creation in 2005, the program has trained more than 5,000 women to become political leaders, including current Wisconsin State Treasurer Dawn Marie Sass, Milwaukee Alderwoman Milele Coggs, and Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Rebecca Dallet.
“Women remain our country’s greatest untapped natural resource,” said Marie C. Wilson, President of The White House Project. “Go Vote offers an unparalleled opportunity for women to gain the skills they need to increase civic engagement across Wisconsin. And at 51 percent of the population, increasing women’s civic participation leads to a stronger, more representative democracy.”
During the day long conference, Milwaukee Go Vote participants will hear from other women who are working on local civic engagement efforts in the community; learn about the difference women make in elections; visit with women elected officials; and be inspired to lead a political life. In addition to being deputized to register voters in the city of Milwaukee, participants will network with individuals and organizations as they create their own unique blueprints for Getting Out the Vote.
“Go Vote is an excellent model for engaging women in the political process,” said Vel Philips, legendary civil rights activist, Wisconsin’s first African American and first female Secretary of State, and a Milwaukee Go Vote speaker. “It is essential for women to be an integral part of the political arena.”
The training utilizes both local and national speakers to train participants; a full agenda and roster of speakers can be viewed here: http://www.thewhitehouseproject.org/voterunlead/govote/MilwaukeeGoVote.php.
In partnership with the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee and the Coalition of 100 Black Women, Milwaukee Go Vote is one of several initiatives that The White House Project is bringing to Wisconsin. This past winter the group trained 75 women to run for office through Milwaukee Go Run, and will hold a “Debate Boot Camp” within the year to equip women to expertly discuss the most important political issues of the day.
Milwaukee Go Vote will take place on Saturday, July 12th, at Cardinal Stritch University’s Kleibhan Conference Center, and is sponsored by the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee and the Brico Fund LLC.
The White House Project, a national, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization, works to advance a richly diverse, critical mass of women into leadership positions, up to and including the U.S. Presidency. For more information, please visit: http://www.thewhitehouseproject.org.
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