Events

Past Event

Women Running for Office Conference

Women Running for Office Conference · Hosted by Columbia Law Women's Association
April 6, 2018
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
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Jerome Greene Hall, Columbia Law School

Columbia University's inaugural Women Running for Office Conference is an exciting bi-partisan event that will provide women with information, inspiration, and tools to run for office, whether that be one year or twenty years from now. Our goal for this afternoon of learning & connecting is to encourage women of all backgrounds to consider running for office either in the US or abroad.

1:30 - 3:30pm: Ready to Run Workshop
Led by Patricia Russo, the Executive Director of Yale's Women Campaign School, a non partisan, issue neutral political campaign training program for women interested in running for public office, as well as for women interested in campaign management. Notable alumni of the WCS include Representative Gabrielle Giffords and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

3:45 - 4:30pm: My Journey: Stories from Women Who Have Run for Office 
Panelists include: 

  • Diana Ayala (New York City Council (8th))
  • Carmen De La Rosa (New York State Assembly (72; Manhattan))
  • Inez Dickens ( New York State Assembly (70; Manhattan))
  • Jessica Ramos (First-time candidate running for New York state senate in Queens. Former Director of Latino Media for the City of New York)
  • Rebecca Seawright (New York State Assembly (76; Manhattan))


4:45 - 5:30pm: What it Takes: Hear from the Organizations Getting Women Elected 
Panelists include: 

  • Amanda Farias (NY State Coordinator of New American Leaders)
  • Cristina Gonzalez (President & Founding Member of Women of Color for Progress)
  • Brette McSweeney (Executive Director of Eleanor's Legacy)
  • Lia Minkoff (Lawyer/Activist)
  • Kimberly Peeler-Allen (Co-founder ofHigher Heights)


5:30pm: Reception Meet the Panelists

*Refreshments will be provided during breaks between panels and during the recepton* 

I'm not sure if I actually want to run for office / I'm thinking about running 10 (or more!) years from now. Is this event still for me?

Yes! Women of all backgrounds are welcome.



I don't go to Columbia Law School, can I still attend this event?

Yes, all women are welcome! The conference is also being co-sponsored by student orgs from a variety of Columbia's other colleges.



What if I can't stay the entire time?

While we believe there is a lot of value in attending all of the sessions, its not a problem to attend only part of the event.


How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Email Taylor Wood at [email protected] or Elizabeth Cheung at [email protected]

Columbia Law Women's Organization has highly subsidized the cost of this conference. However, if the participant fee is a burden, please just send an email to [email protected] and we'll be happy to send you a fee waiver code.