The Carl Albert Center is accepting applications for a
women’s leadership institute to be held May 14 to 18.
Oklahoma’s National Education for Women’s (NEW)
Leadership program is designed to increase the number of Oklahoma
women in politics and public service, said Jean Warner, project
specialist for the Carl Albert Center.

Oklahoma ranks 47th in the nation for the percentage of women
serving in a state legislature, Warner said.

The program, which began in 2002, has graduated 66 women from 21
Oklahoma colleges and universities.

Applications for the five-day residential institute at OU are
due March 12 in the Carl Albert Center.

“Essentially, this program is supposed to educate and
encourage women to seek public office,” said Ambar Malik,
political science senior and 2003 participant. “Recognizing
that many young women are strong leaders on their respective
campuses, once out of college, few women seek to advance their
leadership. This program encouraged the attendants to seek those
offices in which women are so poorly represented.”

The program fees, including room, board and materials, are free
for all participants. Students will stay at the Sooner Hotel. The
NEW Leadership program is primarily funded through private
contributions and grants.

JoKay Dowell, faculty-in-residence for the program, said it will
influence leadership in the women of Oklahoma. She was selected for
her community organization on social issues in state and
nationally. She said she is always willing to share knowledge and
experiences with others, especially women.

“Once you have obtained the skills, nurtured alliances and
have a vision of the world you want to create for future
generations, you can do nothing else. You become your work, and it
becomes part of you,” Dowell said. “Community work is
hard work, and it takes passion first. The skills and networks will
come, but one has to be almost born to do it.”

The program encourages participants to build personal skills and
learn about historical and contemporary participation in
leadership, politics and policy-making, according to a press
release issued by Warner.

“We don’t push for them to take active and immediate
roles in politics,” Warner said. “We want them to be
turned on to activism.”

Cindy Simon Rosenthal, NEW Leadership program director, said
participants will gain skills in community organizing, public
speaking, leadership, team building, negotiation and conflict
resolution.

Warner said she and Rosenthal modeled Oklahoma’s program
on a training network started by the Center for American Women in
Politics at Rutgers University.

“We applied for the grant, and we are one of 10 campuses
in the country that do this,” Warner said. “I am
pleased we have been able to maintain it here.”

Warner said it is important for people with different
perspectives to be active in the political arena.
hello there & you too