Katherine E. Kleeman is the senior communications officer for the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
Fifty Black women listen attentively as each reveals her personal storyand her political ambitions. After every vignette, the group shouts in unison, “Run, Sister, Run!” For many, it’s the encouragement they need to push them toward the world of politics.
This is one of three half-day leadership-development programs created for women from traditionally underrepresented groups by the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Run Sister Run (for Black women), Eleccin Latina (for Latinas) and Rising Stars (for Asian-American women) have attracted businesswomen, attorneys, educators, heads of nonprofits and others who want to make a change through public service. The bi-partisan programs precede CAWP’s day-long Ready to Run training, which since 1998 has equipped 1,200 women with the skills, knowledge and networks to pursue their political aspirations.
