The Victory Institute team was in Los Angeles this weekend at the Equality California Leadership Academy. This two-day training hosted by Equality California included presentations from current elected and appointed LGBTQ officials, Equality California staff, and Victory Institute staff. The Leadership Academy is in its pilot stages, but is already set up to develop the next generation of LGBTQ leaders in California. Trainees heard from an all-star cast – former Lt. Governor Mona Pasquil, Speaker Emeritus John A. Perez, State Senator Katherine Perez-Estolano, CA VA Secretary Vito Imbasciani and Coastal Commissioner Mark Vargas – on their experiences with the appointments process, and best practices and tips for LGBTQ leaders seeking a gubernatorial appointment or running for office.
The Victory Institute team was there doing what we do best: training LGBTQ leaders to run for office. Our Director of Domestic Programs Sheila E. Isong and Programs Associate Ana Flores were asked to join the inaugural cohort and walk them through the essentials of running for office – deciding whether to run, the “nuts and bolts” of running an effective political campaign, and fundraising. The topics the Victory team covered at the Leadership Academy are a teaser for our Candidate & Campaign Training, an immersive 4-day boot camp where trainees learn how to run an effective political campaign as openly LGBTQ people. We hope every single one of the promising California LGBTQ leaders will use the training Victory Institute provided to run for elected office and continue the fight to LGBTQ equality.
