Training tomorrow’s female leaders today

More than half of the women now in the United States Congress ran for student government office.

This Wednesday, the Center for Women, Politics and Policy will seek to equalize the ratio of men to women in Congress by offering training on the nuts and bolts of running for office.

Portland State is one of two universities in Oregon to offer an Elect-Her: Campus Women Win training through the American Association of University Women, an organization that seeks to empower women and girls.

“We feel that it’s a big honor to have this training here,” said Sunny Petit, the director of the CWPP. “We think that the tools from this training will help women who are interested in all kinds of organizing and community work.”

The four-hour training will be held in room 238 of the Smith Memorial Student Union, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and will include a free dinner and door prizes for attendees.

Petit said that the women who attend the training should expect to take away skills that will help them to network with other women and also help them learn public speaking skills.

“Long-term, we know there’s a strong correlation between student body governments and women in Congress,” Petit said. She mentioned that one of CWPP’s proteges was a single mother who went on to run for student government at Portland State and then founded the Children’s Center in SMSU. This student, Petit said, demonstrated that women can use their own story to better their community.

Petit hopes that these widespread efforts through the AAUW and 38 other colleges and universities across the country will decrease the gap between men and women in Congress.

“We hope that this training will be a way for women to start getting involved in politics. Our hope is to offer this training every year,” Petit said.

The training is free, and dinner will be provided. To RSVP or nominate another person, go to cwpp.pdx.edu/electher.