IGNITE Texas Gearing Up for Annual Conference

Fewer than 1 in 4 elected officials are women

IGNITE Change! seeks to balance the scales

FORT WORTH (MMD Newswire) February 4, 2015 – The IGNITE Texas annual conference is an important part of IGNITE’s mission to prepare the next generation of women political leaders. The IGNITE Change! Conference will feature workshops open to college and high school students, lunch with more than 25 elected women and a college reception hosted by the IGNITE Texas College Council.

The conference is scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2015 from 10:00 until 4:00, with registration beginning at 9:00 a.m. The conference will be held at Texas Wesleyan University and the cost for college students is $10. Serving young women ages 14 to 22 in their own communities, IGNITE seeks those that are underserved and who may or may not have the confidence to run for office, offering leadership opportunities and training.

“We are so excited about our IGNITE Change! Conference,” said Merriott Terry, executive director, IGNITE Texas. “The work of preparing young women to run for office is so important to the future of women in politics. We hope to reach many young women with our conference.”

All Texas high school and college students are invited to attend the conference, which will include a keynote panel discussion “Leading At All Levels.” This panel of elected women in local, state and national office will focus on women who serve in all levels of leadership. A policy project by second year IGNITE Texas high school students will present the students’ findings on policy issues including domestic violence, human trafficking, voter ID laws and comprehensive sex education. There will also be a roundtable lunch conversation that will include Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Judge Tonya Parker, Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne and Dallas County Commissioner Elba Garcia.

For more information, visit www.ignitetx.org.

About IGNITE: IGNITE delivers programs in high schools and colleges that provide political and civic education, exposure to women in political leadership, hands on training opportunities and a peer network of women who support and nurture each other’s aspirations for civic and political leadership. IGNITE has a national vision to build a movement of young women across the United States who are civically engaged, respond to issues, and who ultimately pursue elective office.

Media Contact:
Ken Scott (713) 682-1382
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