Featured Profile

A Most Valuable Representative

Diane Russell  was surprised by her recent honor as Most Valuable State Representative in 2011 given by The Nation magazine.   “I didn’t believe it,” says Russell, a Democrat representing Portland’s Munjoy Hill neighborhood.  “I was tagged in an article by a local blogger and thought ‘how nice of her to mention me.’ It wasn’t until I clicked further and further into the article that I realized that it was a national honor given by The Nation, and not just a mention by a Maine blogger.” 

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Mailing Address:
Emerge Maine
PO Box 3445
Portland, ME 04104

Email:
contact@emergemaine.org

Emerge Maine in the News

Great expectations for women still unrealized
Bangor Daily News

Marie Ruoff Byrum of Missouri, long dead, has her own Facebook page. Two people “like” it. But there are no photos, very little information and no postings — perhaps because she is a mere footnote to history.

Early Vision of Aiding Others Propels Activist
Portland Press Herald

By ELLIE COLE Staff Writer

Jenna Vendil was living with her single mother and older sister when they were evicted from their home during her senior year of high school in Daly City, Calif.

She didn't even know whether she would graduate.

But with a dream of helping others and the support of teachers and social workers, Vendil earned her diploma from Westmoor High School, landed a full scholarship to Bates College in Lewiston, and headed east to a whole new world.

Wanna Party?
The West End News

As of May 6th there are nine official candidates in the mayoral race: Charles Bragdon, Jed Rathband, Zouhair Bouzrara, Erick M. Bennett, David Marshall, Christopher Vail, Jodie Lapchick, Steve Huston, and Peter Bryant.

Currently, there are three Democrats (Bryant, Lapchick, and Rathband) in the race, one Republican (Bennett), one Green Independent (Marshall) and four candidates who are not enrolled in any party (Bouzrara, Bragdon, Huston, and Vail).

Do these party affiliations mean anything? 

Emerge Maine Comes to Orono This Weekend
Maine Ahead

Emerge Maine’s Class of 2011 will converge on the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center at the University of Maine Saturday (April 16th) to take part in its continuing political leadership training program. This weekend’s session focuses on campaign planning and cultural competency, the real nuts and bolts of running for office.

“Over the course of this year we’ve covered a lot of material—from how to choose a race, build a campaign budget and communicate effectively to how to qualify for clean elections, get out the vote and run smartly and ethically. As we get closer to graduation we feel confident that the women in this program will emerge with the tools and confidence necessary to run for public office—whether that office be a local zoning board or the state legislature,” says Katie Mae Simpson, executive director of Emerge Maine.

Society Notebook: Women's Day
Portland Press Herald

An Emerge Maine benefit aims to help the group dedicated to preparing women to seek a greater role in public life.

By Avery Yale Kamila akamila@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

More than half of the population is made up of women, yet men continue to dominate public office. Just look at the Maine Legislature, where only 28 percent of the seats are filled by women.

Recognizing the need to equalize political representation, a group of Democratic women joined together in 2006 to found Emerge Maine, a training organization that encourages women to seek public office.

Recent/Upcoming Events

Democratic Women, Along with Rachel Maddow, are 'Fed up' with Overreaching Republicans in Maine and Wisconsin

Portland, ME- Democratic women are lining up to run for office in Maine and Wisconsin in order to take back their states in 2012.  Fed up with the rush of eerily similar radical legislation from the new Tea Party majorities in both states - highlighted this week on the Rachel Maddow Show - they are training with Emerge to run for office and win.

Emerge America Statement on the Violence in Arizona

It is with deep sadness that we write to you today.  Over the weekend we witnessed a great tragedy in Arizona and our hearts go out Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords who was critically wounded by a lone gunman during a routine constituent gathering.  We mourn the deaths of nine year old Christina Taylor Green, Giffords' staff member Gabe Zimmerman, US District Judge John M. Roll, Dorwan Stoddard, Dorothy Morris and Phyllis Schneck and send our thoughts and prayers to all those who were wounded along with their families, friends and the entire community that was affected by this tragic act of violence.

Emerge Maine Winter/Spring Internship

Emerge Maine Internship

 

Do you want to see more women in politics? Tired of the United States ranking eighty-fourth in the world for women in elected office, behind Mexico, China, and Pakistan?

 

Emerge Maine is the premier training program for Democratic women in the state.  If you are enthusiastic about the advancement of women in politics, then this is the internship for you!

Democratic Women Jump into Political Races

29 %

That’s the percentage of women serving in the State House in Maine.

Why aren’t more women serving in public office?  One Maine non-profit believes it's because women, more so than men, need to be invited to run, and to feel confident that they have the skills they'll need before committing to a campaign.   That’s where EmergeMaine steps in.



Interested in doing a story on Emerge Maine?

We love press and have lots to say about women and politics. For press inquiries, please contact Katie Mae Simpson at katiemae@emergemaine.org or 617-470-3277.

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