1. Welcome to
The 2012 Project Webinar

2. Connie Morella Sharon Weston Broome Debbie Walsh
Former Congresswoman (MD) State Senator (LA) Director, CAWP

3. AWC MISSION:
To champion the advancement of women
across all communications disciplines by
recognizing excellence, promoting
leadership and positioning its members at
the forefront of the evolving
communications era.

4. Co-Sponsors
The Association for Women in Communications
American Medical Women’s Association MANA - A National Latina Organization
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum  National Coalition of 100 Black Women
National Hispaña Leadership Institute  Professional Women of Color Network
Rachel’s Network  Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education Victory Fund
Women Impacting Public Policy  Women’s Action for New Directions

5. Debbie Walsh is the director of the Center for
American Women and Politics (CAWP), a unit of
the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers
University. CAWP is nationally recognized as the
leading source of scholarly research and current
data about American women’s political
participation. Its mission is to promote greater
knowledge and understanding about women's
participation in politics and government and to
enhance women's influence and leadership in
Center for American public life.
Women and Politics
Director The 2012 Project is CAWP’s newest initiative.

6. A Campaign to Increase the
Number of Women in Congress
and State Legislatures
Don’t get mad. Get elected.

7. We know the marquee names
and faces of women in politics.

8. But these women obscure the norm.
Freshman class of the U.S. House of Representatives, 112th Congress (2011-2012)

9. Though51% of the population is
female…..
Congress
State Legislature
Governors
Mayors

10. Numbers for women of
color, even more dismal…..
Congress
State Legislature
Governors

11. The 2010 Election:
Year of the Woman? Not so much.
 For the first time since 1979, women lost
ground in Congress
 Largest percentage decline for women in state
legislatures since the 1970s
 No increase in number of female governors (6)
and loss of women in executive leadership
 One positive – first 2 women of color governors
elected

12. Why don’t
women run? REASONS
Family Privacy
Negativity Incumbency
Lack of a “Nobody
roadmap asked me!”
DIY

13. Why do
women run? REASONS
Solve a Change
Problem Agent
Desire to Asked to
be Involved run!

14. Women make a
difference.

15. The Solution:
The 2012 Project
The 2012 Project is a national, non-
partisan campaign to increase the
number of women elected to
Congress and state legislatures by
taking advantage of the unique
opportunities of 2012.

16. Women poised to be
successful candidates
• Women leaders in the public
and private sector with a track
record or interest in community
and civic involvement, with
specific outreach to women
leaders of color
• Women from fields currently
underrepresented in
government

17. Why not you?
And why not now?
You can make a difference on important
issues of the day.
• Economic Policy
• Health Care
• Civil Rights
• Pay Equity
• The Environment

18. Connie Morella
Former Congresswoman (MD)
Sharon Weston Broome
State Senator (LA)

19. Connie Morella
Constance A. Morella served as Ambassador to the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) from 2003 until 2007.
From 1987 until 2003, she represented Maryland’s 8th Congressional
District in the U.S. House of Representatives where she developed a
national reputation as a leading advocate for women, children, and
families. Previously, she served in the Maryland House of Delegates and is
the only woman member of the Maryland General Assembly to be elected
to the U.S. Congress.
In Congress, Ambassador Morella was a leader in efforts to promote
economic growth through science and technology, serving as a member of
the House Committee on Science and chairing the subcommittee on
Technology. She was a member of the Committee on Government Reform
and chaired the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia. She chaired the
Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, advancing efforts to promote
access to micro-enterprise capital among women in developing countries
and was Co-Chair of the Congressional Delegation to the U.N. Women’s
Conference in Beijing.
Ambassador Morella has received numerous awards and recognitions
including induction into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame, outstanding
public service awards from the American Medical Association, the
The 2012 Project American Bar Association, and the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award
from the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. She was appointed by the
Faculty President in 2010 to the American Battle Monuments Commission.
In 2009, she was appointed Ambassador in Residence at American
University School of Public Affairs where she teaches “Women, Politics,
and Public Policy.”

20. Sharon Weston Broome
Sharon Weston Broome's role as a public servant has spanned over two
decades. She was re-elected to her third term to the Louisiana State
Senate without opposition in 2011. Broome is the President Pro Tempore
of the Louisiana State Senate. Senator Broome served in the Louisiana
House of Representatives for 12 years and was the first female elected as
Speaker Pro Tempore.
Senator Broome has been a vocal advocate for issues surrounding
children and families. Broome is the national president of the National
Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women (NOBEL-Women). She is
a recipient of the Morehouse College's Gandhi, King, Ikeda Community
Builder's Award.
With two degrees in communications, Sharon has established herself as a
nationally recognized speaker and communications consultant. As
president of Sharon Broome Communications, Inc., she has made various
national television appearances including Court's TV's Your Turn, PBS'
Debates Debatesand the Montel Williams Show. She served for five years
The 2012 Project as the 2 On Your Side reporter for WBRZ-TV (ABC-Baton Rouge).
Faculty

21. What you can do:
 Sign up to run – in 2012, 2014, or 2016
 Fill out the candidate questionnaire
 Get connected
Leadership Institutes
Campaign Training
Fundraising Networks
 Not running in 2012? Help a woman
who is.

22. Every time a
woman runs,
women win.
Geraldine Ferraro
www.The2012project.us

23. Why Not You? Why Not Now?
CONSIDER THIS YOUR INVITATION!