The 2012 Project: Educate. Inspire. Connect.
The 2012 Project Post
January 26, 2011


From:  Mary Hughes, Founder and Director, The 2012 Project
          Debbie Walsh, Director, Center for American Women and Politics

We challenged.  Women responded.

After the setback for women in the 2010 mid-term elections, we are more determined than ever to elect an unprecedented number of new women to Congress and state legislatures in 2012. Our goal is to surpass the gains of 1992 , when 24 new women were elected to Congress, and to regain nearly 100 seats lost in state legislatures last year - and add 50 more.
 

Last fall we road tested The 2012 Project at 15 conferences and conventions across the country. Nearly 100 women stepped forward to pursue candidacies after hearing from our faculty of former legislators about the need for more women of achievement to lead in elected office. And thanks to more than 70 ally organizations, these women will be trained, connected, promoted and supported in their exploration.  And that was just the test!  We know it works. Invitations are coming in from across the country. For the full list of where we've been and where we're headed, check out "2012 on the Road" on our web site.
 

We can't do it without you. So help us spread the word about The 2012 Project. Tell your friends to go to our website and click "Take Action."


 

It Takes a Super Bowl Ad.

A 30-second spot on Super Bowl XLV costs close to $3 million. Advertisers will spend that much to showcase geckos, Clydesdales, or talking, day-trading babies.

 

But for even less than that price, we can spend more than a year taking giant steps toward gender equity in America. Join us. When women score in Congress, we all win!

 

Please give today
Click here to donate online, or call our development team: Betsy Cotton at 650-326-2216, or Sue Nemeth at 732-932-9384 (x229) to discuss membership. Donate today!


 

All gifts made to The 2012 Project are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.The 2012 Project is a nonpartisan, national campaign of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, a 501(c)(3) organization.

 

Rachel's Network Joins 2012 to Target Women in Environment

Rachel's NetworkWe are excited to announce our partnership with Rachel's Network, a leading network of women funders dedicated to environmental causes.  As Winsome McIntosh, founder of Rachel's Network, said, "Now more than ever, we need committed environmental advocates in our Congress and statehouses. Rachel's Network is ready to recruit women leaders who will speak out on behalf of our families, our communities and our planet."

For more, see our press release.


Stay tuned for more news about outreach partners - great organizations that
will help us engage women with deep expertise to strongly consider running for Congress and state legislatures.
 

The 2012 Project Goes to MacWorld
MacWorldSenior women in technology will get the word from 2012 campaign manager Stacy Mason and former Assemblywoman Dion Aroner this week in San Francisco. They will lead one of ten policy and culture discussions organized by the hosts of the fabled annual gathering of those on the cutting edge of personal computing.
 

New Feature: "Focus on our Faculty"  

Meet Dr. Martha Wong

Martha Wong

A former Texas state legislator, Dr. Martha Wong is one of more than 50 members of the 2012 faculty, the former elected women who bring our campaign to life by using their stories to inspire other women to run. We will share some of those stories with you in this new feature. Some highlights from Dr. Wong's interview with 2012:


Q: What was the "aha" moment that made you decide to run for office?
Dr. Wong:
A group I started was going to field two Asian men to run for Houston city council; both decided not to run. Then the group decided that I should run.  I thought, I can do that.... I have always felt that I could do whatever I set my mind to.. and so I did.

 

Q: What is your proudest accomplishment?

Dr. Wong: In the legislature, I represented an area that 30 years prior did not allow Asians to buy in that part of the city, helped passed tort reform legislation, and passed legislation to have four new buildings for the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

 

For more from Dr. Wong, please head to Facebook.
 

In other faculty news, congratulations to Fran Coleman, former Colorado state representative, who played a role in recruiting Dr. Irene Aguilar to run for the Colorado state senate when a seat opened up. Congratulations, also, to Dr. Aguilar, who was sworn in this month.
 

Listen Now: Mary Hughes on the Air
2 MinutesHear what 2012 Founder Mary Hughes said on "2 Minutes & More" on KFWB radio in Los Angeles about why women ought to consider politics.


Listen to an MP3 of the call here.
 
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Facebook: facebook.com/the2012project
Twitter: twitter.com/the2012project
E-mail: info@the2012project.us
The 2012 Project: A Campaign of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP)

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