MICHIGAN WOMEN HEAD TO BOOT CAMP
Innovative Training Teaches Women Candidates Essential Debate Skills
East Lansing– This Friday, The White House Project will hold its first annual Debate Boot Camp in Michigan, equipping 15 women candidates, and ballot measure and candidate campaign spokeswomen, with the necessary tools to effectively debate the issues this election season. The participants will benefit from a full day of workshops and trainings that will help to advance women’s political leadership throughout the Great Lakes State.
The innovative conference is part of The White House Project’s Vote, Run, Lead program, a national initiative which has been instrumental in propelling a diverse group of women into positions of political leadership. Since its creation in 2005, the program has trained more than 5,000 women to become political leaders, including 12 women who are currently running for office across Michigan.
“Women remain our country’s greatest untapped natural resource,” said Marie C. Wilson, President of The White House Project. “Debate Boot Camp is an unparalleled opportunity for women to learn how to expertly discuss and defend the issues which matter most to them and their communities.”
During the training, Michigan Debate Boot Camp participants will work closely with communications experts to refine their stump speeches, mine for stories, and simulate actual debate forums.
“Debate Boot Camp is an excellent vehicle for preparing candidates and campaign spokeswomen for the rigors of election season,” said Shannon Garrett, The White House Project’s Michigan Field Director. “It is essential for women to be an integral part of the political arena – and these trainings allow women to articulate their visions to voters as viable political candidates and leaders on ballot measure issues.”
Debate Boot Camp is one of several initiatives that The White House Project has brought to Michigan since launching their statewide program in 2008. They have trained over 180 women through their Go Lead and Go Run trainings across the state.
Michigan Debate Boot Camp will take place on September 5th, from 8AM – 7PM, in East Lansing. Participation is limited to women selected from applications received on or before Wednesday, September 3. The application and addition information is available online at http://www.thewhitehouseproject.org.
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.
