BURLINGTON — 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 program members on Saturday, May 7, in Burlington. Graduates received comprehensive instruction from expert trainers in campaign strategy, ethics, public speaking and communication, fundraising and finance, media and messaging, networking, field organizing, and women’s political leadership.
The 17 graduates join 29 Vermont alumnae and a national network of over 1,500 Emerge alumnae in 16 states. The graduation celebration included Emerge Vermont founder and former Gov. Madeleine Kunin, and Emerge Vermont graduate and State Senate candidate Debbie Ingram of Williston as featured speakers. As many as 10 Emerge Vermont alumnae may be on the ballot for state office this year. In addition to Debbie Ingram, two other members of the class of 2016 plan to run for state office. Jessica Brumsted of Shelburne and Katherine Sims of Lowell have both announced their candidacy for the Vermont General Assembly.
The class of 2016 graduates are: Jessica Brumsted of Shelburne, Ana Cimino of Stowe, Signe Daly of Burlington, Debbie Ingram of Williston, Diane Kirson-Glitman of Jericho, Hannah Kretvix of Burlington, Kate Lapp of Bristol, Christine Moon of Essex Junction, Brittany Nevins of Winooski, Emily Nosse-Leirer of Burlington, Tierney O’Meara of Vergennes, Brandy Oswald of South Burlington, Corey Raynor of St. Johnsbury, Heidi Remick of Windsor, Elizabeth Seyler of Burlington, Katherine Sims of Lowell and Rebecca White of Wilder.
Executive Director Ruth Hardy said, “I congratulate these 17 dedicated graduates of our 5-month training program. These remarkable women join a growing network across Vermont who seek to strengthen our democracy by ensuring that qualified women are ready to run for office and change the face and voice of politics at every level of government.”
Gov. Kunin remarked: “I am thrilled with the Emerge graduates. Several of them will run for office in 2016 and will make a difference in Vermont.”
For more information about Emerge Vermont visit www.emergevt.org, or contact Executive Director Ruth Hardy at [email protected].