NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dear Friend,
As we reflect on 2021 and look ahead to the 2022 election, I am deeply grateful for the work our state and national partners are doing to normalize women’s political leadership and build a pipeline of diverse candidates. More than ever, we need women in office, not only because it’s what’s right, but because it’s what’s good for our democracy. When elected, women legislate based on lived experience, prioritizing policy that benefits people often left behind by our institutions. Read on about the work our partners are doing to realize a truly representative democracy and how you can support their work. 
Onward!
Abbie Hodgson
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2021 IMPACT REPORT
ACCELERATING THE PACE OF CHANGE
TOWARD GENDER PARITY
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Since launching, The Ascend Fund has invested more than $6.5 million in nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations working to build a pathway to public office for diverse women.
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Just last year, our 12 national partners trained more than 15,000 women to run for office last year. Thanks to our partners, the pipeline now includes more than 55,000 future women candidates.
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Not only do these women represent the next generation of political leaders, they are also far more diverse than current elected officials because racial equity is as important to our work as gender parity.
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PERSPECTIVES ON PARITY
It's Past Time to Elect a Black Woman Governor
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This year poses a unique opportunity to achieve a long-overdue first: electing the first Black woman governor in the Unites States. Learn about the barriers that have historically hindered Black women’s political representation and meet some of the incredible Black women running for governor in our most recent column.
READ MORE
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UPDATES FROM OUR STATE PARTNERS
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MOTHERING JUSTICE
Black Womxn Win Cohort Announced
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Black Womxn Win Michigan, an innovative, three-month political training program for Black women, launched this month with the support of The Ascend Fund. Black Womxn Win Michigan will provide 27 women with the skills and confidence to run for office, with a curriculum focused on public speaking, campaign finance, and issue education.
LEARN MORE
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NATIVE ACTION NETWORK
Announces Inaugural Advocacy Boot Camp
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Native Action Network announced their inaugural Advocacy Boot Camp, "A Seat at the Table" which will provide Native women in Washington State with the tools and strategies to amplify their advocacy skills and see themselves as political leaders. The boot camp, which will be held April 8-10, aims to normalize Native women’s political leadership and build a pipeline of Native women candidates.
LEARN MORE
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UPCOMING EVENT
BUILDING A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY
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Join The Ascend Fund on Thursday, March 3rd at 4 pm ET/1 pm PT for our first virtual event of the year, Building a Healthy Democracy: A Preview of Gender and Racial Parity in the 2022 Election.
RSVP Now
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