THE FUTURE OF CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT:

A Multi-Day Leadership Lab

Introduction 

Welcome to the application for Vote Run Lead’s first-ever Campaign Leadership Lab!

Before applying, please make sure to read all the information given here, so you have a full understanding of the training structure, cost, timing, location, and participant expectations.

Vote Run Lead envisions a country with women as the majority of office holders at every level of government, forging the reflective democracy we deserve. Our goal is to dismantle obstacles to equal and equitable representation and place women’s experiences, perspectives, input, and expertise at the forefront of the democratic process to transform the lives of our families, communities, and our country. We recognize that a key part of this success is ensuring that women candidates have access to campaign managers who share their lived experience, who look like them, will build inclusive teams, and know how to run a values-driven campaign.

A core belief that drives Vote Run Lead’s approach is that YOU are already enough, just as you are, to do this important work. You bring your skills, passion and experience and we give you the tools, best practices, support, confidence, and community for you to succeed and thrive.

About the Training

The Campaign Leadership Lab will be highly interactive. You will learn by doing. Together, we will work collaboratively in small groups, applying concepts and using tools in real time through a campaign simulation, culminating in a group presentation at the end of the three days. This will be a dynamic, participatory, and supportive learning environment where you can explore your leadership style, reinforce your talents and strengths, and identify areas for growth.

Through this training, you will learn directly from women experts on the ground, who have built and managed successful campaigns around the country, and you will forge connections with other women campaign managers and leaders.

There will also be additional opportunities in the evenings to learn more tips and strategies from trainers, staff, and special guests.

Training Location:

Graduate Hotel

101 20th Ave N
Nashville, TN 37203

Dates: 

March 9th, 10th, and 11th (Three full days)

To ensure you're present when the training begins on Thursday, March 9th at 9am, you need to arrive Wednesday, March 8th (hotel check-in starts at 3pm). More travel details can be found here.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

 

 

When

March 09, 2023 - March 11, 2023

Where

Graduate Hotel
101 20th Ave N
Nashville, TN 37203
United States
Google map and directions

Apply for Vote Run Lead’s Campaign Leadership Lab:

  • Please plan to spend about 20 minutes completing the application.
  • You will be asked to attach your current resume (or a written summary of your employment and campaign experience).
  • You will also be asked a series of demographic questions and short answer responses that help us learn more about who you are and what motivates you.

We view the demographic and qualitative information we collect as an essential tool to promote equity and hold ourselves accountable to reach and reflect women across our multiple identities, to meet you where you are, to understand—and dismantle—the barriers to leadership for women in different geographies and communities, and to make sure we are aligning our training program with the right audience. We are striving to make this a safe and easy process that makes you feel seen and respected.

You will receive an email on or before January 20th regarding your acceptance to the program.  

If you are placed on the waitlist to attend, we will notify you as soon as possible if a spot opens up, but cannot guarantee when/if this will happen, as it will be based on another accepted applicant canceling their registration. 

 

This training is designed for aspiring campaign managers, or those who are relatively new to campaign management. Ideally you have some experience with political campaigns, but prior experience is less important than your passion and commitment to helping get values-aligned women elected to public office. As you’re filling out the application, please share with us why this work is important to you and what you want to be able to do after the training.

This training is part of our RUN/51 initiative, which is currently focused on the states of Minnesota, Georgia and New York. We will be accepting up to 10 applicants from each of these states plus 10 applicants from other states, so a total of 40 applicants will be accepted and take part in the training.

$500 Registration fee, to be paid through online advance registration

The registration fee covers the three days of training, four nights in a single-occupancy hotel room at the Graduate Hotel Nashville (Wednesday - Saturday night), breakfast, lunch, coffee and snacks during each training day, plus a celebration dinner on Friday night.

To ensure that our training is accessible to everyone, regardless of financial ability, we are able to offer a limited number of need-based scholarships. We can also offer a very limited number of travel stipends to offset travel costs.

There is a section in the application where you can request a scholarship/stipend.

Final schedule and agenda will be shared closer to the training, but our initial schedule is as follows: 

 

Thursday, March 9th:

Breakfast from 8am - 9am
Training begins at 9am
Lunch break: 12pm - 1pm
Training day ends at 5pm
Group dinner, panel discussion, celebration: 6pm - 9pm

 

Friday, March 10th:

Breakfast from 8am - 9am
Training begins at 9am
Lunch break: 12pm - 1pm
Training day ends at 5pm
Break: 5pm - 6pm
Dinner on your own

 

Saturday, March 11th:

Breakfast from 8am - 9am
Training begins at 9am
Lunch break: 12pm - 1pm
Training day ends at 5pm
Dinner on your own

 

We ask that you are present for the entire training and do not arrive late or leave early.

If you are accepted, you will need to arrive Wednesday, March 8th (check in for hotel rooms begins at 3pm) to ensure you’re able to be present when the training begins at 9am on Thursday, March 9th.

The training ends at 5pm on Saturday, March 11th. Registration includes a hotel room Saturday night, with the expectation that most will travel home on Sunday. Please do not book a flight before 7:30pm on Saturday.

Participants are responsible for booking their own travel and transportation to and from the training venue/hotel.

During the three training days (Thurs, Fri, Sat) we will provide breakfast and lunch, plus coffee and snacks.  We will also be hosting a celebration dinner on Friday night. If accepted, you can share with us any special dietary needs as part of the final registration.

You will be on your own for dinner Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday night. We encourage you to use this time to get to know fellow participants, or to get some good recovery time, depending on your needs and interests.

We will share some materials in advance of the training that we will ask that you read through before you arrive. It shouldn’t take more than an hour and we will send them at least a week in advance. We will also be requesting a few things from you, to share with us before you arrive at the training.

Because this training is application-based and we can accept only 40 applicants, we ask that you let us know as soon as possible if you are accepted and then unable to attend. Please notify us at [email protected].

We hope you will give us enough notice of cancellation if you are accepted and registered, that we are able to offer the spot to another applicant.

We will create a waitlist of applicants whom we can grant later acceptance to attend the training, if we receive a cancellation from an accepted registrant, or if accepted applicants do not register by the stated deadline. We will make every attempt to give advance notice of acceptance to those on the waitlist, but this will depend on the amount of notice we get from those who are canceling their registration.

We are so excited to return to offering in-person training so we can learn and build community together in the same room. 

To protect staff and event participants, Vote Run Lead will be implementing the following COVID-19 operating procedures before and during all in-person trainings/events:

Vote Run Lead requires attendees to be fully vaccinated and have received a booster shot against COVID-19 at least two weeks prior to the start of the event. If accepted, we will ask you to confirm your booster status when you register. Accommodations for religious, medical or any other reason required by law will be considered on an individual basis.

If you develop symptoms prior to the start of the training we expect that you will test for COVID-19. Please also notify us right away and we will stay in communication about your test results, symptoms and make a call about whether it will be safe for you to still attend. 

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure en route to the training, participants are highly encouraged to wear masks while traveling in public spaces such as airplanes, trains, Uber/Lyft, etc.

For those feeling in good health, wearing a mask is optional during the training and we encourage you to do what you feel comfortable with, while taking common sense precautions to avoid risk (using hand sanitizer, maintaining distance when possible, etc.).  VRL will provide color-coded stickers for your nametag, to indicate your level of comfort being near people.

If an attendee, trainer, or staff member reports symptoms during the event, VRL will supply a rapid antigen test. Anyone who tests positive on the rapid antigen test will need to isolate for the remainder of the event. Attendees who test negative on the rapid antigen test will be permitted to continue attending, but will need to wear a mask.

Please navigate our time together with compassion and respect for each other and yourself.

We are committed to supporting all participants in their learning experience. If you need accommodation or support of any kind, please let us know on your application form.