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Next Step Launch Party

Rachel

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about these organizations geared toward creating an “old girls network” or groups that aim to train women to run for office, negotiate a promotion, manage finances, get ahead at work, that sort of thing. I’ve been personally involved in handful, the Women’s Information Network, the Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership, and the Women’s National Democratic Club.

So, a couple things – one, I would like to hear about more groups like these. They can be incredibly valuable. It’s been ten years since I attended the Woodhull retreat and I still regularly think about the public speaking portion. In the comments, tell us about a local women’s network you’re a part of.

Two, there’s a new group launching in DC. It’s called Next Step:

Next Step is a bipartisan professional development program geared towards young women aged 23-27 with 2-4 years of work experience and a passion for politics. Our purpose is to provide practical, hands-on training aimed at developing professional confidence and fostering the advancement of the next generation of women political leaders. These women can expect to leave the program self-assured with a thorough understanding of the professional political environment. We are the bridge to help women get from where they are to where they want to be.

The 2010 Next Step program will be held at The George Washington University from June 2-6, 2010.

They’re having a launch party here in DC on March 4, worth checking out. As a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, I have to smile at their special guest Dana Perino, but hey. I’d still be very interested to talk to only the second female White House Press Secretary.

4 thoughts on Next Step Launch Party

  1. It’s a good idea, certainly. True bipartisanship, however, requires a tremendous amount of avoiding destructive confrontation while acknowledging and correctly dealing with constructive criticism.

  2. I’ve also been involved in Woodhull program, and it’s fantastic. What stuck with me was the negotiation training.

    However, as a single-mother in a sour economy, any further participation in the group, at this point, is not something I can afford, which is something that makes me both sad and frustrated. What I learned and the connections I made at that retreat were so valuable, but I’ve definitely not gone to other retreats or events due to financial constraints. And in that way, it seems a little restrictive.

  3. Whitney, I have to agree. I was only able to go as a struggling 20something (a long, long time ago, to Woodhull 5) because they waived part of the tuition. But I’ve had very little involvement with them since, partially because of cost and partially because they are very, very NYCentric. All that said, I continue to recommend it to young women and consider it a valuable and important experience.

  4. Rachel, these are great finds.

    The cost issue is a tough one to navigate. On the one hand, sometimes the folks who most need to get the information to be presented don’t have access for cost reasons. On the other, often the folks putting on the programs are women who need to put food on the table, as well, and can’t afford to work for free. Possibly a solution would be to fundraise with groups who could use the woman-friendly publicity, like corporations or law firms, in exchange for bragging rights or signage.

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