John,

Even as a kid, I could tell something wasn’t right.

While other kids were watching Sesame Street, I’d sit in front of the TV watching C-SPAN, and I noticed who wasn’t in the room.

There weren’t many women in those chambers.

And there definitely weren’t women who looked like me.

That realization shaped everything I’ve done since.

When I was in high school, I confronted a politician who lied about raising the minimum wage. After he argued with me in front of my class, I volunteered for his opponent, and we won.

That moment taught me something I carry to this day: women don’t have to wait to be invited into power — we can claim it.

And that’s exactly what Emerge is about.

We train Democratic women to run for office because when women run, they win.

But we can’t slow down.

We’re not on pace to hit our October fundraising goal, and if we don’t raise $10,000 before the deadline, we’ll have to delay the trainings that prepare the next wave of Democratic women to lead.

Every delay gives extremists a head start.

Every missed training means fewer women ready to run when democracy needs them most.

That’s why I’m asking you directly: Can you chip in $10 or $25 today to help us close the gap and keep training women ready to lead?

I’ve spent my life fighting to make sure women’s voices are heard in the rooms where decisions are made. I’m not stopping now, and I hope you won’t either.

A’shanti F. Gholar
President & CEO, Emerge