Voices of Change Institute Enters Second Year

The Voices of Change Political Institute, a comprehensive non-partisan training program for women, recently began its second year of training. 

A partnership of Meredith College, Advance NC, and the North Carolina Black Alliance,  the Voices of Change Institute is designed to help women build their confidence and develop the practical skills to run successful campaigns and serve as powerful and effective leaders.

There are 13 participants in this session, representing all geographic areas of North Carolina, and with varied professional backgrounds in education, health care, advocacy, and more. They bring interests in public policy issues such as voting rights,  climate change, education, maternal health care, civil rights, and public safety concerns.

Women selected to participate in the Voices of Change Political Institute will hone their leadership skills, prepare for political campaigning, and develop tools for effective and ethical public service. Featured presenters will include state and local elected officials, professors, media experts, leadership trainers, noted political strategists, and community organizers.

The 2022 Voices of Change Political Institute began on June 11 and continues every other Saturday through August 20. All sessions will be held virtually.

About the Voices of Change Institute

Voices of Change is an initiative facilitated by Meredith College and its community partners to elevate and support the political engagement of Black women and women of color as part of a multi-year project funded by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and the Gilder-Lehrman Center at Yale University. The Political Leadership Institute is co-directed by Meredith College Professor of Political Science David McLennan and Meredith College alumna La’Meshia Whittington, deputy director of Advance Carolina. 

Historically, Black women and women of color have been significantly underrepresented as officeholders at the state and federal levels. Of the 142 women serving in the 117th Congress, only 23 are Black. There are no Black women serving in North Carolina elected state executive offices. This underrepresentation belies the importance of Black women and women of color as voters. The Voices of Change Political Institute seeks to address this gap in representation by providing an institute that informs, prepares, and creates a lasting community to support future candidates. 

For more information, visit ourvoicesofchange.org/politicalinstitute.