Emerge Vermont, dedicated to increasing the number of Democratic women serving in elected and appointed office at all levels of government through a comprehensive 5-month campaign training program, graduated 17 inaugural program members on Saturday, July 12th in Rutland. Program members received in-depth instruction from expert trainers in: campaign strategy, public speaking and communication, fundraising, media and messaging, networking, field organizing, labor and endorsements, and technology.
The 17 graduates will become the first cohort of Emerge Vermont alumnae and they will join a national network of over 1,300 Emerge Alumnae in 14 states. A graduation celebration was held in Rutland with Emerge Vermont Founder Governor Madeleine Kunin as the featured speaker.
“Emerge Vermont has given the first graduating class of seventeen women the confidence and skills to prepare them to run for office,” said Governor Madeleine Kunin. “I am excited that four of them have already tossed their hats into the ring and are ready to run.”
Four of the inaugural program members are currently running for office in these districts:
Becca Balint (Brattleboro) running for Windham County Senate Seat
Dawn Ellis (Burlington) running for Chittenden County Senate Seat
Kiah Morris (Bennington) running for Bennington 2-2 House Seat
Julie Raboin (Newport) running for Orleans 2 House Seat
These four women leaders are among 206 Emerge Alumnae running for office across the country in 2014.
The Class of 2014 inaugural program graduates are:
Becca Balint (Brattleboro); Melody Burkins (Jericho); Dawn Ellis (Burlington); Barbarina Heyerdahl (Montpelier); Ashley Hill (Montpelier); Vanessa Kittell (E. Fairfield); Michelle Laperle (Duxbury); Nicole Mace (Winooski); Pam McCarthy (Saint Albans); Elizabeth McLoughlin (Brattleboro); Julie Moore (Middlesex); Kiah Morris (Bennington); Madeline Motta (Stowe); Molly O’Brien (Burlington); Julie Raboin (Newport); Korrine Rodrigue (Rutland); and Denise Smith (Saint Albans).
“This is an incredible milestone for our organization,” Executive Director Sarah McCall explained. “We are proud to add our 17 remarkable leaders from Vermont to a national network of over 1,300 Emerge Alumnae, who are part of a movement to change the face and voice of politics at every level of government.”
McCall finished by saying, “We have accomplished a tremendous goal in a very short amount of time. And this is just the beginning.”