|
Community Advocate Mentor Program
2006
The 2006 CAMP Delegation on the Capitol
Steps.
The fifth Community Advocate Mentor Program (CAMP) took place
from February 26 to March 9, 2006, in Washington, DC, completing
IWDC’s five-year commitment. Ten women leaders from
Northern Ireland strengthened their public policy, lobbying,
and advocacy skills through a series of presentations, workshops,
and networking sessions with public policy experts, lobbyists,
and Congress members. The two-week training session, which
provided a hands-on understanding of how advocates affect
public policy reform, was an “invaluable experience,”
commented participant Audrey Stewart.
During the first week of CAMP, the women learned about the
legislative process and strategies for effective communication
by engaging with experts in the field. The quality level of
the presentations and discussion sessions was, “exceptionally
high” according to Elizabeth Hendron. The women also
attended receptions hosted by the Northern Ireland Bureau
and the Embassy of Ireland and met with women legislators
of the Maryland State Congress in Annapolis.
During the second week, the women spent two days shadowing
Washington-based lobbyists at the AFL-CIO, AARP, General Mills,
and SEIU. Corrina Langelaan discussed the recent developments
of the Royal Mail Group with the President of the National
Association of Letter Carriers and was featured in its monthly
journal, The Postal Record.
On the final day of CAMP—applauded in a participant’s
evaluation to be the “chance of a lifetime”—each
woman shadowed a Congress member. On March 13, Roll Call,
a newspaper distributed on Capitol Hill, published a two-page
spread about the event, which greatly increased the visibility
of IWDC’s work and the need for women’s continued
leadership in the Capitol community. The article aptly portrayed
the changing socio-political situation of Northern Ireland
and the importance of networking amongst women.
CAMP Delegate Pamela Dooley and Carolyn McCarthy, her Congressional
mentor, understand the power of women helping other women
to gain political voice.
McCarthy said, “around the world when women have risen
to the top, they’ve forgotten to take others with them.
It is important to remember that everyone had a helping hand.
This is about giving back.” Dooley and McCarthy’s
dedication to women’s political leadership—and
the dedication of all the CAMP participants—exemplify
the purpose of IWDC’s mission: to strengthen women’s
global leadership through training, education, and networking
in all facets of democracy within their own governments.
|
