Faith perspectives on upcoming elections highlight NNPCW event
 35 Presbyterian collegiate women gather in nation’s capital
by Laura Parkinson
Presbyterian News Service
WASHINGTON — The National Network of Presbyterian College Women (NNPCW) held its annual leadership event July 25-29 at American University in Washington D.C. This year’s theme, “Speaking Truth to Power,” drew 35 young women from private and public universities nationwide. Keep reading.
Workshop Topics Included
- Political women in scripture
- Feminism as a political movement
- History of faith informing politics
- Creating WomanSpace on campus
- Speak your Mind! Forum
- Anti-racism training
- Sexism in politics
- Advocacy training/skill-building
Activities Included
- A visit to the PC(USA) Washington office
- An afternoon spent lobbying
- Site visits to several faith-based and political organizations
- Workshops and plenary sessions
- A talent show
- Some free time in D.C.!
The Rev. Jennifer Butler, an ordained Presbyterian minister and Princeton Theological Seminary graduate, is the Executive Director of Faith in Public Life, an organization founded by faith leaders "to strengthen faith movements sharing a call to pursue justice and the common good.”
She most recently served as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Representative to the United Nations. While a member of the U.N. Executive Council of the Committee of Religious Non-Governmental Organizations, the Rev. Butler was a leading spokesperson and a published author on issues of religion and human rights. The Rev. Butler served in the Peace Corps, holds a master’s in social work from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Arts from the College of William and Mary.
 Dr. Amy Caiazza has worked as the Director of Democracy and Society Programs for the Institute for Women's Policy Research since 1998. An expert on the motivations and impacts of women’s political and civic participation, Dr. Caiazza has recently explored the values and experiences of women social justice activists in religious community groups.
She also oversees the Status of Women in the States Project for the Institute for Women’s Policy Research and has played an active role in developing its research and outreach components. Dr. Caiazza worked jointly for the National Governor’s Association and the National Conference of State Legislators as well as for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services. She holds a doctorate in political science from Indiana University and a bachelor’s in international relations from Georgetown University.
 Mara Vanderslice is the Founder and Senior Partner at Common Good Strategies, LLC (CGS). CGS is a political consulting firm that provides Democratic elected officials, candidates and state parties with the expertise, understanding and resources that will allow them to authentically engage and connect with America’s diverse religious communities. Mara was the Director of Religious Outreach for the Kerry-Edwards 2004 campaign, the first national religious outreach liaison for a Democratic presidential campaign. Prior to her service on the Kerry campaign Mara worked on Community and Faith Outreach for Howard Dean in the Iowa primaries.
Mara has seven years of campaign and advocacy experience for faith-based organizations including Sojourners, Call to Renewal, the Jubilee 2000 campaign for debt-relief and the United Church of Christ. She received her bachelor’s from Earlham College, in Richmond, Indiana, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and with honors for her work in campus ministry.
Mara and the work of Common Good Strategies has been profiled in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic Monthly, PBS, the BBC and NPR. Mara also appeared as a guest on The Stephen Colbert Report on Comedy Central. |
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