Emerge Hires Trailblazers Arvina Martin, Danica Roem as Next Executive Directors

  • Feb 16, 2022
  • Emerge Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 16, 2022

CONTACT: Kaleb Harmon; kaleb@emergeamerica.org

Emerge Hires Trailblazers Arvina Martin, Danica Roem as Next Executive Directors

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, Emerge, the nation’s premier organization that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office, announced the hiring of Madison, WI Common Council Vice President Arvina Martin (Ho-Chunk name: Hohapjikere, The lightning in the distance that lights up the sky like daylight) and Virginia Delegate Danica Roem as the next executive directors of Emerge Wisconsin and Emerge Virginia respectively. Both come to Emerge as trailblazing elected officials and alumnae. Martin is an alumna of Emerge Wisconsin’s Class of 2014 and serves as the first Native person ever elected to the Madison Common Council. Roem is an alumna of Emerge Virginia’s 2017 Boot Camp and serves as the first out-and-seated transgender state legislator in the nation.

As executive directors, they will oversee the strategy and operations of their organizations: recruiting and training Democratic women through Emerge’s signature training programs, supporting and guiding alumnae running for office, and helping ensure Emerge New American Majority women from communities across their commonwealth and state are ready to step into leadership.

“I am incredibly proud to have Alder Arvina Martin and Del. Danica Roem serve as part of the Emerge team,” said A’shanti F. Gholar, President of Emerge. “These women are trailblazers who have brought new representation to communities that have historically been left out of decision-making rooms. We’re excited to see how they continue to reach and empower women of the New American Majority, repower political structures, and foster a lift as we climb culture in their states. Their identities, experiences, and leadership will benefit their communities, and Democratic women across the nation and we’re extremely fortunate to have them join us.”

I’m honored to join the Emerge Wisconsin team and serve as the next executive director to lead our state,” said Martin. “Despite making up half of our state’s population, women only represent 27% of the Wisconsin Legislature, the 27th lowest in the nation. We’re feeling that in our public offices and institutions who desperately need the voices of women from communities across Wisconsin to help guide them. Fortunately, we’re seeing Democratic women stand up and make those voices heard, and Emerge is playing our role in preparing them to lead the way. We’re excited to train the next generation of Democratic women to run for office and continue to demonstrate the necessity of more women serving in public office.”

I’m so grateful to serve as Emerge Virginia’s next executive director and lead our efforts to recruit, train and elect Democratic women in Virginia,” said Roem. “As an Emerge alumna, I’ve seen firsthand how Emerge serves to empower communities across Virginia. Emerge has been essential at flipping seats held by decades-long Republican incumbents, providing a powerful sisterhood for us to lean on and grow with, and inspiring Democratic women to run. As more Democratic women step up, Emerge will help guide them every step of the way as we transform what elected offices look like in our commonwealth. I’m excited to lead this incredible organization and can’t wait to see what’s possible with even more powerful Democratic women leading the way.”

To date, Emerge has trained over 5,000 Democratic women to run for office and currently has more than 1,000 alums in elected office across the country. The organization is committed to reaching 100,000 women of the New American Majority, repowering political structures, and fostering a lift as you climb culture over the next 15 years. There are currently 27 state affiliates, and the organization has impacted a total of 45 states, Washington, D.C. and territories.

Both Arvina Martin and Danica Roem officially start at Emerge on February 22nd. For further information or press and media requests, contact Kaleb Harmon at kaleb@emergeamerica.org.

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