In an election season when we may see the first woman elected President of the United States, there is no question women are a force in today’s politics. Although women have come a long way from the days of the Suffragettes, women candidates still face special challenges in running for public office.
On Thursday, June 25th, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Patricia Russo, Executive Director of the famed Women’s Campaign School at Yale, will discuss the subject “When Women Run and Win, America Wins.”
The Women’s Campaign School is a non-partisan, issue neutral political campaign training program for women interested in running for public office, and for women interested in campaign management. Based at Yale Law School, it is a leading program attracting women in the United States and internationally. Russo is also a member of the Council of Women’s Health Research at Yale University and chairs its Philanthropy and Communications Committee.
This event is sponsored by the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee and will be held in the Meeting Room of the Greenwich Arts Council on the second floor of 299 Greenwich Avenue. The suggested minimum contribution for this summer fund raiser is $50 and all proceeds will go to supporting campaigns in the future. Refreshments will be served.
Patricia Russo is a nationally-recognized leader who is focused on improving the quality of life for women in Connecticut and the United States. For over 25 years, Russo has held numerous leadership positions in public, private and not-for-profit organizations centered on the rights of women. Russo has also held leadership positions on Federal, state and local political campaigns. In addition to her role at the Women’s Campaign School, Russo has served for 23 years as a member of Connecticut’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW), including 8 years as its Chair. Russo is now Commissioner Emerita on behalf of the organization. Russo is also a member of the PCSW’s 4th Congressional District Advisory Council and an honorary member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.
Russo is the founder of the Connecticut Women’s Agenda, a state-wide advocacy coalition comprised of women leaders. As a co-founder of the Women’s Business Development Council of Connecticut, Russo also assists women entrepreneurs. Russo is a co-founder of the Connecticut NARAL Foundation which educates and protects women’s reproductive rights. Russo also served on the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame.
Professionally, Russo served as the Director of Southern Fairfield County’s Centers for Planned Parenthood of Connecticut. Russo has served as Executive Director of the Middlesex County Sexual Assault Crisis Center, and as Development Director for the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Having been named “Women of the Year” by the Connecticut Chapters of both the American Association of University Women and Business and Professional Women, Russo has received numerous awards for her leadership in the area of women’s rights. Russo was also the recipient of the prestigious Hannah G Solomon award, given by the National Council of Jewish Women.
Russo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the George Washington University and a certificate in health care and non-profit management from the Yale University School of Management. While an undergraduate student, Russo served as an intern to U.S. Congresswoman Bella S. Abzug (D-NY), who inspires Russo to this day.
For more information about this event, please call Beth Krumeich, a member of the Executive Committee, at (203) 962-1462.