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Add women, CHANGE everything.

PRESS RELEASE

July 30, 2009                                                                                                             Contact: Lara Cassell
For Immediate Release                                             917-715-2757 / lcassell@thewhitehouseproject.org

GEORGIA WOMEN HEAD TO BOOT CAMP

Innovative Training Teaches Women Candidates Essential Debate Skills

Atlanta– Next Saturday, August 8th, The White House Project will hold its second annual Debate Boot Camp in Georgia, equipping 25 women candidates and campaign spokeswomen with the necessary tools to effectively debate the issues this election season.  The participants will benefit from a full day of workshops and trainings that will help to advance women’s political leadership throughout the Peach State.

The innovative conference is part of The White House Project’s Vote, Run, Lead program, a national initiative which has been instrumental in propelling a diverse group of women into positions of political leadership. Since its creation in 2005, the program has trained more than 6,000 women to become political leaders, including 11 women who are currently running for office across Georgia.

“Women remain our country’s greatest untapped natural resource,” said Marie C. Wilson, President of The White House Project.  “Debate Boot Camp is an unparalleled opportunity for women to learn how to expertly discuss and defend the issues which matter most to them and their communities.”

During the training, Georgia Debate Boot Camp participants will work closely with communications experts to refine their stump speeches, mine for stories, and simulate actual debate forums.

Debate Boot Camp is an excellent vehicle for preparing candidates and campaign spokeswomen for the rigors of election season,” said Stacey Chavis, The White House Project’s Southern Regional Director.  “It is essential for women to be an integral part of the political arena – and these trainings allow women to articulate their visions to voters as viable political candidates and leaders on the campaign trail.”

Debate Boot Camp is one of several initiatives that The White House Project has brought to Georgia since launching their statewide program in 2005.  They have trained over 750 women through their Go Lead and Go Run trainings across the state. 

Georgia Debate Boot Camp will take place on August 8th, from 8AM – 6PM, at Emory University in Atlanta, and is co-presented by League of Women Voters Georgia.  The application and addition information is available online at http://www.thewhitehouseproject.org.

The White House Project, a national, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization, works to advance a richly diverse, critical mass of women into leadership positions, up to and including the U.S. Presidency. For more information, please visit: http://www.thewhitehouseproject.org.