We all want to make a difference. More and more of us are rising up and speaking out. And so often, those of us who are taking action are told, “You should run for office.”
Yet, this well-meaning compliment is loaded with challenges. Few of us were raised to claim our power - let alone taught how to fundraise, leverage our network, or even file the necessary paperwork to get our name on the ballot.
These, along with a host of other barriers, too often stop women before they even start.
But the folks at Emerge know it doesn’t have to be this way.
Harnessing the unstoppable power of grassroots democracy, Emerge recruits, trains, and provides a dynamic network to women who want to run for office. From their entry-level free program, Step Forward, to their comprehensive Signature Program and candidate Boot Camps to specialty programs like Gavel In for women seeking a seat on the bench and Seated Together for Black elected officials ready to take the next step, Emerge’s programs address every level and branch of government.
With 1,200 elected alums and over 6,000 women ready to run, their work has been transformative. And, Emerge is just getting started.
Under the leadership of my guest today, Emerge President and CEO A’shanti Gholar, Emerge has grown its affiliate network to half the country. It has significantly expanded its program offerings to meet the needs of more women seeking office. And now, along with PERSIST. and FEMINIST, Emerge recently launched Opposition Playbook, a historic campaign to increase the number of women running for office.
Like the waves of a groundswell gathering energy in the ocean, the waves of Emerge women ready to reshape democracy are about to reach the shore in the upcoming special and midterm elections.
And let me tell you something: It’s going to be a sight to see.
Here on The Female Body Politic, we wanted to document this sea-change in the making and give our listeners a behind-the-scenes look at how Emerge is poised to help bring gender parity and good governance to every legislative body, criminal justice office, and right on into the Oval Office.
In the coming weeks, I’ll be speaking with current Emerge program members and alums running for office. Together, these episodes are building a guide for anyone curious about what it takes to run for office, especially for the first time.
If it inspires you to run for office, with Emerge, you’ll have the tools, knowledge, and network you need to win.
In this first episode of the series, I talk with Emerge President and CEO A’shanti Gholar, about her incredible clarity of vision and capacity to map out the long game that has helped guide the organization since she co-founded Emerge Nevada in 2006. Now, she’s looking well past the current moment to Emerge 2035, which aims to lift the New American Majority of Black, Brown, and Indigenous women, women of color, LGBTQ+, young, and unmarried women to become the leaders of our country and in so doing, create a truly representational democracy.
Far from pie-in-the-sky, Emerge has a meticulous ground game that’s been decades in the making that A’shanti maps out in compelling detail throughout our conversation.
But we keep it honest about the barriers and obstacles that confront women office seekers, from rampant misogyny to subtle patriarchal cues that teach women to accept what they have rather than reaching for the stars. Then she breaks out the schematics for a sledgehammer that will smash all that to bits with the knowledge, wisdom, and power of sisterhood.
We also look back to discuss A'shanti's rock star career in Democratic politics and why, despite every path being open to her, she chose to continue walking with Emerge.
I, for one, am grateful she did.
Be sure to subscribe and follow to never miss an exciting episode of this special Female Body Politic series with Emerge.
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