WCS Women's Campaign School at Yale University

Celebrating 21 years of inspiring and training women to lead...

President's Message

The  Women's Campaign School at Yale University is a non-partisan, issue-neutral leadership program, with the mission to increase the number and influence of women in elected and appointed office in the United States and around the world. Our mission is what motivates our board members to continue to provide a program teaching women everything they need to know to become better leaders. 

Having celebrated our 20th Anniversary, the Board of Directors would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your ongoing support of this important program inspiring and training women to lead.  As we plan for the upcoming year, the 2015 WCS at Yale has been scheduled for the week of June 8 - 12.  The online application period will begin on February 9th and close on May 1, 2015. 

We could not celebrate this special anniversary without thanking the Yale Law School for hosting our Summer Session each year. Their partnership has continually allowed our program to grow and be successful.  

Our very best wishes for a happy holiday season!

Mary A. Johnson
President
Women's Campaign School at Yale

Love & Thanks from the Executive Director... 

Dear Friends,

In June 2014, seventy-three women from across our country and around the globe--our 20th class!--joined us to be trained by our sharp and vibrant bi-partisan team of faculty.

Not only do we provide premiere political campaign training for women at our School, we also change the political climate in the way we deliver our training.  I like to say that we're a role model for Congress.  We foster collaborative leadership among our students.  Many students admit to us that prior to their arrival at the WCS,  they have never spoken with a member of another political party--horrifying but true.  In order to get our country and our world moving forward, we need more exceptional women in the pipeline: those who want to run for public office, as well as those interested in running political campaigns.  An important part of that pipeline is to provide women the opportunity to explore and have respect for how others think...in a nonjudgmental and respectful way.   Soon, Congress will welcome its 100th woman to take her seat.  Clearly, a milestone.  However, it is simply not good enough.

At the Women's Campaign School at Yale, our goal is to achieve political parity on the local, state, and federal levels.  Women comprise over 50% of our population in the United States, yet  just 20% of Congress is made up of women.  Yes, we have far to go.  However, I am heartened and inspired by the women we train and send out into the world.  Ready...and raring to go!

From Our 20th Session!

You can read more about some of our graduates in this newsletter.  Win or lose (and those who lost will be back!), congratulations to all of our graduates who ran such fierce, brave, and bold campaigns.  This is how we move our country forward, by jumping in...with cool heads and warm hearts.

We are grateful for your partnership and support.  Many thanks to each and every one of you for helping us to achieve our dream of political parity in our country and our world.  We thrive and grow because of your unwavering support! 

With heartfelt thanks and love,

Patricia Russo 
Executive Director, Women's Campaign School at Yale (203) 734-7385, prusso@wcsyale.org

WCSYale put on a workshop in New York City on November 13th.

Cornerstone Capital Group and their founder and CEO, Erika Karp,

graciously shared their exquisite office space with us.  We were thrilled to partner with Cornerstone because it is a woman-owned firm whose mission is to apply the principles of sustainable finance across the capital markets, enhancing transparency and collaboration.

Erika Karp
Cornerstone Capital Group

We had over 30 women join us for an inspiring evening of training by our very own, Patti Russo, Executive Director of WCSYale, and Emily Donahoe, President and Founder of WOMENSPEAK Training, who gave participants a practical toolbox of public communication skills to drive perceptions of credibility, authenticity, and charisma.

Emily Donahoe
WOMENSPEAK
Training

The workshop was for women interested in running for public office or in campaign management, those wishing to develop confident and authentic speaking skills, and anyone who wanted to learn more about our school.  We had a lengthy waitlist and are planning additional workshops in the New Year.

Thank you Emily Donahoe, Erika Karp, and Cornerstone Capital!