PRESS RELEASE

July 20, 2009                                                                                                             Contact: Lara Cassell
For Immediate Release                                              212-261-4497 / lcassell@thewhitehouseproject.org

RANKING 1ST IN THE NATION FOR WOMEN IN POLITICS,
COLORADO’S WOMEN CONTINUE TO LEAD AT COLORADO GO RUN
Over 100 Diverse Women to Attend Award-Winning Political Leadership Training
July 24th – 25th in Denver

Denver – This Friday, over 100 diverse women from across Colorado will take the next step in their leadership by attending The White House Project’s award-winning Go Run political training program for women.  Since the 2008 election, Colorado has risen to first in the nation for women’s political representation – a rank that women in the Rocky Mountain State are intent to keep.

The goal of Colorado Go Run—a multi-day workshop led by state and national experts—is to create a permanent, nonpartisan pipeline to women’s political leadership throughout the state. Across the U.S., the innovative Go Run program has been instrumental in propelling a diverse group of women into positions of political leadership, having trained over 6,000 women since its creation in 2004.

“It is imperative that the women of Colorado step up into leadership at this moment in time,” said Faith Winter, Outreach and Training Director of The White House Project and Westminster City Councilmember.  “Their input is critical in order for us to solve Colorado’s pressing challenges, from the budget and economy to education and health care”

The participants of 2009 Colorado Go Run will join an impressive group of alumnae who have gone on to break barriers in the political arena, including Colorado State Representative Dianne Primavera, CU Regent Monisha Merchant, and Centennial Mayor Pro-Tem Rebecca McClellan.

Go Run utilizes the expertise of local and national leaders to provide the basic constructs of running for office – from campaign strategy to fundraising to communications. Through its regional offices across the country, The White House Project trains some of the most underrepresented women in our political system: 41% of its alumnae are women of color; 46% earn less than $30,000 a year; and 50% are under the age of 35.

The 2009 Colorado Go Run program will feature Founder and President of The White House Project Marie C. Wilson; Congresswoman Diana Degette, State Senator Morgan Carroll, Westminster Mayor Nancy McNally and other prominent women leaders from across the state.

Colorado Go Run will take place at the Denver Merchandise Mart from July 24th – 25th in Denver.