Emerge KY Announces Class of 2019

  • Jan 21, 2019
  • Emerge Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 21, 2019

 

Emerge Kentucky Announces Class of 2019

Louisville, KY: Emerge Kentucky is proud to announce the members of the Class of 2019, as it enters its 10th year of training Democratic women to run for office. A cohort of 30 women, the 2019 participants hail from all across the Commonwealth, including 16 different counties; five of which are Emerge “firsts” – Breathitt, Breckinridge, Grayson, Scott, and Knox counties.

Each year Emerge seeks to broaden its impact by expanding its network throughout the state. This year, three participants are from eastern Kentucky and nine are from western Kentucky. Emerge has also expanded geographically to include a training in Berea for the first time. Dates of receptions and trainings can be found on the website: do my math homework .

Executive Director Blair Haydon is ready to get things started. “Training women is truly my favorite part of this job,” said Haydon. “We transform the lives of Kentucky women by giving them the tools to progress as leaders. That all starts at the end of this month.”

Founder and Board Chair of Emerge Kentucky Jennifer A. Moore has the vantage point of watching the organization enter its 10th year. “Emerge has taken leaps and bounds since we started our first training program,” said Moore. “Each year we have seen demonstrable growth, and women step up from all across the Commonwealth. In the 2018 Midterm Election, we increased the number of Emerge-trained women in the state house from two to seven. Now, 35 alumnae hold elected offices throughout the state and no doubt we will see great things from the 30 women in this year’s class.”

Emerge alumnae had a very successful Midterm-Election in 2018, with a total of 27 wins altogether and a number of “historic firsts” for the organization and Kentucky with the elections of:

  • Representative Nima Kulkarni, who is the first Indian-American to serve in the General Assembly;
  • Mayor Beverly Chester-Burton, who is the first African-American Mayor of Shively; and
  • Kathryn Thomas, who is the first Emerge county attorney win and the first woman to hold that office in Barren County.

With each election that comes to pass, the work of Emerge Kentucky adds diversity to local and state government and dismantles the barriers for women, and particularly, women of color, from running for office.

Orientation for the Class of 2019 begins on January 25th in Louisville.

 

Emerge Class of 2019 Participants

Sarah Adkins, Fayette County

Martha Amerson, Warren County

Pat Banks, Madison County

Caratha Buckner, Christian County

LuTisha Buckner, Jefferson County

Paula Clemons Combs, Breathitt County

Stephanie Compton, Spencer County

Katina Cummings, Jefferson County

Sheri Donahue, Jefferson County

Christa Dubrock, McCracken County

Lacretia Dye, Warren County

Claire Estill, Mason County

Dora Sue Farmer, Knox County

Willow Hambrick, Scott County

Heather Harrell, Jefferson County

Mary Beth Jewell, Knox County

Tracy Jones, McCracken County

MacLean Lessenberry, Barren County

Maurie McGarvey, McCracken County

Tanya Meeks, Fayette County

Kiley Milliner, Grayson County

Jessica Faye Mohler, Fayette County

Brittany Martin, Scott County

Ashlea Shepherd Porter, Warren County

Tara Wise Sawvel, McCracken County

Diane Seaman, Oldham County

Maddie Shepard, Jefferson County

Whitney L. Stepp, Woodford County

Kimberly Conder Storms, Breckenridge County

Meagan Thompson, Scott County

 

This list can also be found online at:

Emerge Kentucky is the premier candidate training program for Democratic women. We inspire women to run and we hone their skills to win. Our goal is clear: to increase the number of Democratic women in public office.

-###-

< Back To News