Ready to Run

The first Ready to Run Minnesota training — scheduled for May 5, 2020 — was canceled due to COVID. We participated in virtual trainings through the Ready to Run/Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.

In 2021-2022, Ready to Run Minnesota led our own series of five monthly virtual trainings, focusing on engaging with the media, fundraising, and running as a Black woman or a young woman. Events included:

• Theme: Every Year is the Year of the Woman
• Speaker: Rebecca Sive
• Summary: A practical and inspirational kickoff to our Ready to Run Minnesota virtual campaign training series
• Resource: Six Easy Rules You Never Want to Forget
• Resource: Make Herstory Your Story
• Resource: View a short excerpt from the presentation about the importance of winning with and for women

Friday, Nov. 5, 2021

• Theme: Engaging with the Media
• Speaker: Vineeta Sawkar
• Summary: An insider’s perspective on how candidates can successfully navigate working with the media
• Resource: Vineeta Sawkar talks about defining your message
• Resource: Vineeta Sawkar talks about the importance of staying on message

Friday, Dec. 10, 2021

• Theme: Fundraising 101
• Speaker: Lauren Beecham Henry
• Summary: An experienced fundraiser shares insights into developing a fundraising plan, setting fundraising goals, and tips for making the ask
• Resource: Lauren Beecham Henry shares great tips on "making the ask"

Friday, Jan. 21, 2022

• Theme: Strategies for Black Women Candidates
• Speaker: Kimberly Peeler-Allen
• Summary: A national expert addresses particular challenges that Black women candidates face and strategies for how to address them
• Resource: Kimberly Peeler-Allen describes particular challenges that Black and BIPOC women candidates face
• Resource: Kimberly Peeler-Allen shares the single best piece of advice she gives potential women candidates

Friday, Feb. 11, 2022

• Theme: Running as a Young Woman
• Speakers: Carly Johnson and Halla Henderson
• Summary: Two recent St. Thomas grads who are active in local politics participate in a Q&A moderated by current student leaders from the St. Thomas IGNITE chapter
• Resource: Program director Angela High-Pippert asks panelists Carly Johnson and Halla Henderson about challenges they faced when running for office

We hosted our first on-campus Ready to Run Minnesota training on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Sessions included:

• Running and Governing at the local level
• Running and Governing at the state level
• Fundraising 101
• Media Strategies/Media Training for Candidates
• Launching Your Campaign

In 2023-2024, Ready to Run Minnesota focused on community building within the University of St. Thomas community, with a dinner and presentation by St. Paul City Council member Rebecca Noecker and a tour of the Minnesota State Capitol.