Post-Election Day, 100+ Women Contacted Emerge Pennsylvania about Running for Office. 25 Diverse Women from Across PA Fill the 2017 Class.
December 22, 2017 – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – The Board of Emerge Pennsylvania today announced the second class of women to participate in Emerge’s intensive training. After the November 8th election, interest in the program surged with more than 100 women reaching out to apply and state interest in running for office across Pennsylvania. The applicants were narrowed down to the 25 diverse women from across the state who will be the next cohort. The training commences in January, and the cohort will meet one weekend a month for more than 70 hours of training on how to run successful campaigns for office at any level in the state.
“We were overwhelmed by the response we got post-Election,” said State Rep. Tina Davis, Co-Chair and Co-Founder of Emerge Pennsylvania. “Women in Pennsylvania are clearly sick and tired of not having their voices heard in government and they’re fighting back. The 2017 cohort is a mix of women, new to politics, inspired by Secretary Clinton and this year’s election and women who have been paving their political paths for a while, former candidates and operatives.”
“This cohort is full of outstanding women, all of whom are leaders in their communities and deeply passionate about making Pennsylvania a better place for all of it’s citizens,” said State Rep. Mary Jo Daley, Co-Chair and Co-Founder of Emerge Pennsylvania. “These women come from diverse backgrounds and walks of life but the one thing they have in common is a drive to do good for the people in their communities. We’re proud of the class we’ve put together and are excited to be part of their political journeys.”
Emerge Pennsylvania is proud to announce the following women have been accepted into the 2017 Cohort:
Jenné Ayers – Philadelphia
Katie Blume – Millheim
Janet Diaz Temin – Lancaster
Jennifer Halaszynski – McKeesport
Susan Henderson-Utis – Media
Rachel Hendricks – Schwenksville
Keontay Hodge – Steelton
Meagan Ingerson – Philadelphia
Sara Johnson Rothman – Ambler
Ashley Lively – Pittsburgh
Dominque Miller – Philadelphia
Judy Moore – Philadelphia
Katherine Moyer – Harrisburg
Carin O’Donnell – Newtown
Rhea Powell – Philadelphia
Melissa Robbins – Philadelphia
Jessica Rothchild – Scranton
Amy Sanchez-Hamilton – Warminster
Kristin Seale – Media
Paige Strasbaugh – Swissvale
Katie Stringent – Pittsburgh
Natasha Taylor-Smith – Elkins Park
Erica Vanstone – Philadelphia
Jessica Way – Wyncote
Deborah Yonick – Glen Rock
Since the first Emerge state was launched in 2002 Emerge has trained more than 2,000 Democratic women to run for office to date. Fifty-two percent of Emerge alumnae have run for office or been appointed to local boards or commissions. Of those who have run for office, 70 percent won. Additionally, Emerge has a strong record of diversity – forty percent of alumnae are women of color. Emerge Pennsylvania started in 2015 and graduated its first class of women in 2016. Follow Emerge Pennsylvania on Facebook for more updates on the program.