Rising Stars 2020

Rising Stars: Educating Asian American Women for Politics

C Rising Stars participants AWP, together with a steering committee of Asian American women leaders, sponsors Rising Stars: Educating Asian American Women for Politics, a preconference session of the Ready to Run^® Campaign Training for Women. Rising Stars participants attend a half-day session that targets issues of particular interest to Asian American women running for political office. Rising Stars participants then attend Ready to Run^® to learn about the nuts and bolts of working on a campaign. Ready to Run^® offers a unique opportunity for potential women candidates to hear directly from prominent elected and appointed leaders, campaign consultants, and party officials about how to get Ready to Run. Topics covered include fundraising, navigating the political parties, working with the media, and developing a campaign plan.

Register here!

2020 Agenda
Rising Stars Steering Committee
More details about Ready to Run ® here

Rising Stars/Ready to Run^® 2020 Agenda

(Check back regularly for updates; full Ready to Run^® agenda with additional speaker details available here.)

Friday, March 20, 2020

11:00 am	Registration Opens
Noon - 1:30 pm	Welcome and Opening Keynote
1:45 - 4:00 pm	Roundtable: Serving your Community This roundtable features women in the Asian American community who have been involved in public leadership in various ways, including elected or appointed officials, campaign workers, and non-profit leaders. Topics covered include: the experience of running for and serving in elected office; how to be involved politically besides running for office and why participants should be involved in politics in some way; and using community leadership positions, such as appointments to non-profit or government boards, as a way to advocate for issues and gain leadership experience.
4:15 pm	Ready to Run^® Welcome and Opening Remarks
4:30 - 6:00 pm	Plenary Session: Digital Strategies for Candidates, Campaigns, and Advocates Digital outreach is a key aspect of today's political and advocacy campaigns. Online tools including blogs, social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other online organizing and communications resources are important for getting campaign messages out to a broad audience of potential voters or stakeholders. This session will provide an overview of best practices and offer practical tips on how to get started or enhance your online presence. Presenter Tara Dowdell President Tara Dowdell Group
6:00 pm	Networking Reception

Saturday, March 21, 2020

7:30 am	Registration Opens
8:15 – 9:45 am	Plenary Session: What Women Candidates Need to Know Presenter Cate Gormley Vice President Lake Research Partners
10:00 am – Noon	Track 1: Launching your Campaign This session provides an overview of the key elements of a campaign, including assessing and establishing oneself as a candidate, developing a campaign plan, structuring a campaign organization, and voter contact. Presenter: Eva Pusateri President & Founder Expert Communications and Training, Inc.
10:00 am – Noon	Track 2: Finding Your Political Voice and Influence This session, designed for those who are not ready to run but want to have some impact on important issues, offers an overview of the "nuts and bolts" of government and political parties in the state. Topics covered will include positioning oneself for appointment to a public board or commission and getting active in a political party. Gail Gordon (moderator); Azra Baig, former Board of Education member, South Brunswick; T. Missy Balmir, CEO, Thorough Planning; Amanda De Palma, Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations, Saker ShopRites, Inc.; Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso, New Jersey Legislature
Noon – 2:15 pm	Plenary Session: Find the Message, Be the Messenger: Strategic Campaign Communications This interactive media training workshop will include tips for successful interviews on tough topics, how to looks poised and professional on camera, staying on message, and public speaking techniques. Selected participants will take part in mock interviews and on-camera practice sessions. Presenter Nell Callahan Founder Frontwood Strategies
2:30 – 3:45 pm	Track 1: Navigating New Jersey’s Political Parties As a Potential Candidate The session will highlight the power dynamics of party organizations, building relationships with party operatives and gaining the party’s support, and will address how to respond when the party organization is not supportive. Freeholder Angela Garretson, Union County; County Clerk Hanlon, Monmouth County; Arlene Quiñones Perez, Chair, Hunterdon County Democratic Committee; Candace L. Straight, Former Co-Chair, New Jersey Republican State Committee; Senator Loretta Weinberg, Majority Leader, New Jersey Senate
2:30 – 3:45 pm	Track 2: Legislative Advocacy This session is designed for those who are not ready to run, but want to have an impact on important issues. Legislative advocacy is working with individual lawmakers and lawmaking bodies to gain support for your cause or initiative. Learn how to organize a legislative advocacy campaign, including gathering allies, creating a campaign structure, building a communication network, and cultivating media relationships. Jeanette Hoffman, President, Marathon Public Affairs; Jeannine LaRue, Senior Vice President, Kaufman Zita Group
4:00 – 5:30 pm	Plenary: Fundraising for Success Fundraising is one of the most crucial aspects of a campaign. This interactive workshop covers key components of campaign fundraising, including special emphasis on understanding why people give and the in-person “ask”. Presenter Nancy Bocskor Director Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy Texas Woman's University