Emerge Vermont and SPEAK, a Vermont Law School student group committed to promoting public speaking, debate and advocacy, will welcome former Gov. Madeleine Kunin and other women in politics for "Ready to Run," a panel encouraging women to seek public office, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, in Chase Community Center at VLS. The event is free and open to the public and press.
In addition to Kunin, panelists include Emerge Vermont Executive Director Sarah McCall, Rutland County State's Attorney Rose Kennedy, Addison County Deputy State's Attorney Ashley Hill, state Rep. Sarah Buxton '10, and state Rep. Kesha Ram. Ready to Run, while focused on women in politics, is open to anyone interested in political leadership.
"It's incredibly important for women's voices—and voices from other marginalized communities—to be represented in politics," said Jessica Bullock '17, president of SPEAK. "I'm honored to work with Emerge Vermont to bring these phenomenal women to Vermont Law School for Ready to Run and look forward to hearing their stories. I hope the greater VLS community will join us as we learn about political leadership and what it takes to run for public office."
In the 222 years since its statehood, Vermont has never elected a woman to the U.S. House of Representatives or to the U.S. Senate, and only one woman, Madeleine Kunin, has served as governor. Currently, only 26 percent of Vermont's state senators are women.
SPEAK (Speech, Persuasion, Education, Advocacy, Knowledge) aims to promote debate, public speaking, education, and advocacy at Vermont Law School through the creation of educational programs and trainings that increase participants' confidence in oratory, critical thinking, and diplomatic dissent. Its Vermont Prison Debate Initiative has drawn statewide attention, and plans are under way to expand the program's reach. For more information about SPEAK, including current projects and events, visit vermontlaw.edu/community/student-groups/speak or email JessicaBullock@vermontlaw.edu.
Emerge Vermont is changing the face of Vermont politics by identifying, training, and encouraging women to run for office, get elected, and seek higher office. Emerge Vermont is part of a national network currently working in 16 states. For more information, visit www.emergevt.org.
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Vermont Law School, a private, independent institution, is home to the nation's largest and deepest environmental law program. VLS offers a Juris Doctor curriculum that emphasizes public service; three Master's Degrees—Master of Environmental Law and Policy, Master of Energy Regulation and Law, and Master of Food and Agriculture Law and Policy; and four post-JD degrees —LLM in American Legal Studies (for foreign-trained lawyers), LLM in Energy Law, LLM in Environmental Law, and LLM in Food and Agriculture Law. The school features innovative experiential programs and is home to the Environmental Law Center, South Royalton Legal Clinic, Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic, Energy Clinic, Food and Agriculture Clinic, and Center for Applied Human Rights. For more information, visit www.vermontlaw.edu, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.