2021 HONORARY CO-HOSTS Cindy Abrams Nickie Antonio Kristen Boggs Janine Boyd Juanita Brent Erica Crawley Teresa Fedor Tavia Galonski Catherine Ingram Brigid Kelly Stephanie Kunze Laura Lanese Michele Lepore-Hagar Mary Lightbody Tina Maharath Susan Manchester Jessica Miranda Allison Russo Lisa Sobecki Bride Rose Sweeney Emilia Sykes Andrea White Sandra Williams February 16, 2021 Welcome! The John Glenn College of Public Affairs is pleased to welcome you to the fourth annual – and first virtual – Women of POWER networking reception. Tonight’s event demonstrates support for the next generation of women who are ready to run for public office and take on leadership roles in their communities. We want to create a network of support where current and future leaders interact, learn from each other, and embrace the challenges and opportunities we face for improving our communities and increasing the number of women in leadership. In Ohio, women are underrepresented in public office, holding 5,000 (28%) of the 18,000 public positions in the state. Young girls and women need to be empowered to run for public office and equipped with the capabilities to win. This requires building skills to run, raising money to campaign, and supporting elected women so they can represent effectively. In response, Glenn College Programs for Ohio Women Empowered to Represent (POWER) educate and empower women by giving them the skills necessary to become effective civic and political leaders. POWER initiatives are getting results – 10% of our Ready to Run Campaign Training participants have run for or currently hold elected office and 87% of our NEW Leadership Summer Institute participants are considering running for office in the next ten years. By participating in POWER initiatives, individuals gain a greater awareness of their own abilities to lead, their expertise and qualifications to take on a leadership role, as well as the many opportunities for them in civic life and public office. POWER participants are empowered to emerge as leaders. Our ability to provide POWER programming throughout the year depends on the generous support of sponsors and your donations. We would like to express our gratitude to the many generous individuals who helped us make this event come together smoothly. We could not do this without you! We hope you find our Women of Power networking reception rewarding and we commend you for your commitment to advancing women’s leadership! The John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University provides public leadership training to women who are ready to run for office, work on political campaigns, and serve as leaders and advocates in their communities through Programs for Ohio Women Empowered to Represent (POWER). POWER uses a gender lens to design and implement training that address the underrepresentation of women in elected office and in leadership positions in politics and policy-making. Currently, women comprise 51 percent of the population in Ohio, but only hold 31 percent of the seats in the state legislature and 17 percent in Congress. Established in 2002, POWER includes NEW Leadership™ Ohio, a residential leadership institute for college women; Ready to Run® Campaign Training for Women, a conference for women ready to run for political office or serve as community leaders; and POWER workshops, networking opportunities, programs, and trainings. From Township Trustee to the Ohio Statehouse, POWER alumnae are running for elected office and winning. http://glenn.osu.edu/power/ [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/JohnGlennPOWER/ 4 Year in Review “Through POWER, I have met some of the most NEW Leadership™ influential women in my life. There programs gave me resources to begin in the political world: I was given strong connections, invaluable Ohio advice, and a fair number of job opportunities.” Including: undergraduate Colgate University students Franklin University have attended Kenyon College NEW Leadership™ University of Dayton Ohio since 2002. 19 University of Toledo 365 Ohio Xavier Universities of participants would ungraduate students consider running for represent diverse office within ten years of idenity groups. 45% 87% completing the program. Ready to Run® Workshops and sessions on running for public office and public leadership 568 15% alumnae since 2015 of alumnae have run for or currently hold public office Save the date for Ready to Run® on December 4, 2021 5 State of Ohio Leadership Institute We need ethical leaders who inspire citizenship. The State of Ohio Leadership Institute provides nonpartisan leadership training and education for current and future elected officials and senior staff in state and local government. LEARN MORE “The happiest and most fulfilled people I’ve known are those who devoted themselves to something bigger and more profound than merely their own self interest.” - Senator John Glenn State of Ohio Leadership Institute program highlights: • A one-week residential Public Leadership Academy for elected officials. • Subject matter expertise and technical assistance to support elected decision-making. • Extensive professional development opportunities for public employees at all levels. • Ohio government internships that place undergraduates in government offices. • Democracy Camp for high school students and internships that earn college credit. • Public conversations and special events for lifelong learners. For more information, please contact: [email protected] or 614-292-3242 Women of POWER Featured Speaker Senator Stephanie Kunze Senator Stephanie Kunze is currently serving her second term in the Ohio Senate representing the people of the 16th Senate District on the western side of Franklin County including the cities of Dublin, Galloway, Grove City, Hilliard, Upper Arlington, Worthington and portions of Clintonville and Columbus. A resident of Hilliard, Senator Kunze has called Ohio home for more than 25 years. While raising her two daughters with her husband Matt, she dedicated her time to volunteer leadership and service in her community and was elected to the Hilliard City Council in 2009. Her commitment to supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs led her to be a founding member of www.LocaLev- elEvents.com, which was created to encourage those who live and work in an area to support their local businesses, schools and community. In addition, she volunteers with groups to address the needs and challenges of suburban poverty in her community. Senator Kunze has been appointed by Senate President Matt Huffman to serve as the Chairwoman of the Senate Trans- portation Committee and as a member of the Senate Financial Institutions & Technology; Insurance; Local Government & Elections and Rules & Reference Committees. She has also been reappointed to the Infant Mortality Commission to serve as Co-chair as well as the Ohio Family Stability Commission. During her previous two terms in the Ohio House of Representatives representing the 24th Ohio House Dis- trict, she played a key role in the passage of recent legislation aimed at reducing the alarming infant mortality rate in Ohio. She looks forward to continuing her focus in fighting this heartbreaking issue. Senator Kunze has also been appointed as the chair the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund; Governor’s Executive Workforce Board; co-chair of the Undergraduate Mission Study Committee; Home Visiting Consortium; The Commission on Minority Health and the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission. Senator Kunze is known for her passionate advocacy for small business, education and health issues important to Ohioans. She has successfully championed legislation aimed at reducing the opiate epidemic that is plaguing Ohio’s communities and legislation aimed at delivering justice for victims of sexual violence, advocated for efforts to improve Ohio’s business climate and fought to ensure that Ohio’s students receive the highest quality education possible. While in the Ohio House, Senator Kunze served as Vice Chair of the State Government committee, as well as a member of the Finance, Insurance. Education, Economic Development and Regulatory Reform and Rules and Reference committees and the Finance K-12 subcommittee. She also co-chaired Ohio’s Commission on Infant Mortality and served on the Attorney General’s DARE Task Force. Senator Kunze is a member of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce, Hilliard Area Chamber of Commerce, The Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce, and Franklin County Farm Bureau. Senator Kunze graduated with a degree in English from Indiana University. 134th General Assembly Committee Assignments: - Transportation Committee (Chairman) - Financial Institutions & Technology Committee - Insurance Committee - Local Government & Elections Committee - Rules & Reference Committee 7 Women of POWER Featured Speaker Senator Sandra Williams State Senator Sandra Williams, who represents Ohio’s 21st Senate District, is currently serving her second term in the Ohio Senate. Senator Williams is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, where she attended Cleveland Public Schools. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Cleveland State University in Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice, a Master’s in Criminal Justice Administration from Tiffin University, and an Executive Master’s in Business Administration from Cleveland State University. She is also the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Tiffin University. In addition to her senatorial duties, Senator Williams serves