Running Start

I will use this prize to give tens of thousands of young women the tools to run, win, and lead in politics. Running Start is a nonpartisan nonprofit that trains young women to run for office. I run our largest Program, Elect Her, which is a one day workshop that trains young women how to run for student government and prepare for future political office. Since 2009, 435+ Elect Hers have been held with 169 partners, in 43 states/territories, and 9 countries, for 15,000 college students.

This grant will allow us to expand by training our alums and other young leaders to facilitate the workshop. In three years, we expect to reach 22,500 women by recruiting hundreds of paid facilitators and collaborating with partner groups already working with underserved communities. We will train young women to bring this program to their own communities--expanding the program’s reach and providing the trainers with advanced leadership opportunities. Of all Running Start programs, Elect Her has the potential for the greatest impact and we are seeking support to make that happen. The financial and professional resources from MIT Elevate Prize will help me bring this program to the next level.

Growing up, my self doubt made me turn away so many opportunities. Critical advantages (educated parents, living with them for an unpaid internship) helped me past some systemic barriers. But my natural shyness was amplified by insidious messages: “you’re bossy,” “does anyone but Sara know the answer,” “you are too much,” “you aren’t ‘attractive’ enough to matter,” “leaders don’t look like you,” and, “women aren’t smart, they’re ‘know-it-alls’”.

I’m proud of the path I’ve ended up on. But many paths felt closed off to me--or I didn’t know they existed. Of course a Latina daughter of an immigrant from a low-income household can lead in politics, but I never got that message. My goal is to make sure young women recognize that same truth about themselves. Directing programs as part of Running Start’s leadership team enables me to make that impact. Teaching capabilities, fostering confidence, and facilitating connections form the foundation of every training, and they’re exactly what I could've used growing up. Our mission--my mission--is to redesign how we deploy our programs so that we’re always there when a young woman might need resources and encouragement to pursue their political leadership potential.

Only 1 of 4 elected leaders in the US are women. We want to change that. Barriers for women in politics include imposter syndrome and reduced access to traditional networks of power. By working to change the culture keeping women from political power, we lay the groundwork for stronger democracy, better systems and a more equitable world.

After 15 years, we are experts with our demographic: how to reach them, how to inspire them, and what kind of support they need to do big things. Running Start builds young women’s confidence by connecting them to peer and mentor networks, and by giving them real-world practice in campaign and leadership skills. Research from Lawless & Fox (Girls Just Wanna Not Run, 2013) shows that young women are less likely than young men to consider running for office, or to consider politics a desirable profession. This is because they are less likely to receive encouragement to run and less likely to feel qualified. We are building the pipeline of women political leaders by making sure young women’s confidence increases, rather than decreases, in adolescence. We have trained 20,000+ women, and this prize will help us scale up in a big way.

Founded in 2007, Running Start is a pioneering organization in women’s political leadership, with a unique approach: we prepare women in high school and college with the confidence, capabilities, and connections they need to run and win. We create tomorrow’s leaders by empowering today’s motivated young women who just need the right support. We are ensuring that high-potential young women stay on the path to run and are encouraged by a supportive network and hands-on experience. We help them build confidence by helping them practice key skills in a supportive environment. When it comes time for them to run for office, they are resilient. They know that they can run even if they aren’t perfect, because we have given them a place to try, fail, and try again. And all Running Start alums are connected to our large network of peers, elected officials, and campaign operatives who are ready to mentor and encourage them. This network is unique because nonpartisanship is one of our most important values. By working with trainers, speakers, mentors, and participants from both sides of the aisle, we provide a rare environment for people to learn how to work collaboratively with people of differing political ideologies.

Our country needs diverse elected officials. The challenges we are facing are made worse by homogenous leadership. When more perspectives are represented where decisions are made, better solutions will be found that work for more communities. We have an innovative strategy to solve this problem, and its effects are long-lasting. The young women we work with are determined and knowledgeable about what their communities need. We know that our programs are helping them channel their potential into real-world impact. Our alums are already leading: they include Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, the youngest Black woman in Congress, Avery Bourne, the youngest State Legislator in Illinois, and Rana Abdelhamid, candidate for New York's 12th Congressional district. If elected, Rana would be one of the youngest members to ever serve in Congress and the third Muslim woman ever elected. Many other alums are running for student and local office, building the pipeline of women who will lead our country in the near future. As they are preparing to run, our alums are also becoming more active citizens. 94% of our alums have participated in volunteer activity and 53% have volunteered for a political party or candidate since their training.