Maine NEW Leadership

Educate  Engage Empower

In 2008, The Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center was selected to become the seventeenth member of a national network of Development Partners in the National Education for Women (NEW) Leadership^TM program, initiated in 1991 by the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers University.  With its focus on helping to build leaders within Maine communities, University of Maine Cooperative Extension became a co-sponsor of NEW Leadership in 2008. UMaine Extension has supported UMaine's land-grant public education role for over 90 years by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county.

Maine NEW Leadership—a six-day, non-partisan residential training program provided at no cost to undergraduate college women throughout the state of Maine.  The program is available to women from a variety of backgrounds, ages, races, and majors from public and private, four- and two-year institutions throughout Maine.

By participating in the program, a diverse group of  college women from Maine will gain a greater awareness of their leadership potential, skills, and opportunities in civic life and public office. NEW Leadership will ensure that new generations of Maine leaders understand the importance of running for office, taking part in campaigns, and engaging in public policy development.  With the skills they have learned and the networks they have developed, participants will be empowered and energized to emerge as political leaders.        As one graduate of the CAWP NEW LeadershipTM program concluded, “NEW Leadership has had a huge impact on my life.  It changed my career goals and opened up new options and opportunities for me.”  Further, whether they engage at the campus, local, or state level, students are then less likely to migrate out of state when they graduate.    For more information: Download student brochure (2009) (PDF) Download student brochure (2009) (low rez PDF)

NEW LeadershipTM addresses the historic as well as contemporary under-representation of women in American politics.  Maine NEW Leadership will provide women college students in Maine with the opportunity to learn about women’s voices, perspectives, and contributions in all political arenas, through the application of a broad, inclusive definition of politics and the engagement of speakers from a variety of political offices and organizations.  By bringing NEW Leadership to Maine, we will continue a tradition of strong female political leadership while empowering a new generation of women capable of leading Maine politics. Hon. Mary Cathcart, Co-Director mary.cathcart@umit.maine.edu Rebekah Smith, Esq., Co-Director rebekah.smith@umit.maine.edu Eva McLaughlin, Program Coordinator eva.mclaughlin@umit.maine.edu The application deadline for the June 2009 program has passed.  Check back in January 2010 for information about the 2010 program.