Emerge Launches Second Seated Together Cohort

Emerge Launches Second Seated Together Cohort

Elevating Black Women Leaders

Washington, DC— Today, Emerge is announcing its second ever cohort of Seated Together, its first in the nation advanced candidate leadership program designed specifically for Black women who aspire to run for higher office. The program was co-founded by Congresswoman Emilia Sykes, (OH-13) and Colorado State Representative Leslie Herod (HD-08).

There are no Black women in the U.S. Senate. No state has elected a Black woman governor, dozens have never had a Black woman in Congress or in statewide elected office, and Black women lack equal representation in many more governing bodies. Through Seated Together, Emerge is changing this. 

In order for Black women to shatter glass ceilings and become the “first” – be it the first Black woman governor, first Statewide executive office holder or first mayor of their city – they first need a greater investment in their networks, access to top Democratic strategists, and training to sharpen skills in competitive races near the top of the ticket. 

That’s why Emerge is excited to welcome its second cohort of inspiring Black women leaders:

• District Attorney Sherry Boston, Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit (DeKalb County), Georgia
• Former At-Large City Councilmember Tameika Isaac Devine, Columbia, South Carolina
• State Rep. Denise Ennett, District 80, Arkansas
• City Councilmember Marchè Johnson, District 3, Montgomery, Alabama
• State Rep. LaKeshia Myers, District 12, Wisconsin
• Michigan State Board of Education President Pamela Pugh
• State Rep. Diamond Staton-Williams, District 73, North Carolina
• State Rep. Jamila Taylor, District 30, Washington state
• Del. Jheanelle Wilkins, District 20, Maryland
• City Councilmember Carolyn Wysinger, El Cerrito, California
• State Rep. Regina G. Young, District 185, Pennsylvania 

Seated Together is building out a network of powerful Black women across the country who are already leaders in the community. When they win higher offices together, program alums will not only deliver political representation that looks like the community, but that addresses community needs. 

The program will engage a slate of top Black political talent from around the country to train participants on the unique opportunities and address the particular barriers Black women face as they seek to deepen their impact and move up the political pipeline. 

Participants will meet for six months starting in July 2023 for both virtual and in-person sessions. The in-person programming will take place in Washington, D.C. in the days leading up to Congressional Black Caucus week in September 2023. Through the program’s knowledge sharing and coaching, participants will build a network and learn the skills they need to run for higher office – and win.

“Seated Together is planting the seeds for Black women to achieve historic firsts at the top of the ticket, from the first Black woman president to the first Black women governors. Through this program, Emerge is also creating a world where Black women will finally achieve leadership positions and equal representation in Congress, state legislatures, and governing bodies at all levels of government.

And the program is achieving rapid results. We’ve already seen successes from the first cohort in the advancement of Ohio state house Rep. Emilia Sykes to Congress, now representing (OH-13), Pennsylvania state house Rep. Joanna McClinton to Pennsylvania state Speaker of the House, and Tennessee state Rep. London Lamar to the Tennessee state Senate.

Between first cohort participant Oregon state Rep. Janelle Bynum announcing her 2024 run for Congress, and several other trailblazing Black women announcing their candidacies for higher office in the current election cycle, Emerge projects many more successes to come.

This country has long been held back by the absence of Black women leading at the highest levels, and through this program, Emerge will not only change that, we will celebrate all the wins along the way. Because we know when Black women lead, we all win,” said Emerge President A’shanti F. Gholar.

Seated Together is part of Emerge’s new democracy building slate of training programs, alongside Gavel In which trains women to run for judge and the organization’s ongoing work to prepare Democratic women to win school board seats. These programs are uniquely focused on building reflective government for the first time in American history, as the nation cannot have a full fledged democracy without representation.

The organization is committed to reaching 100,000 women of the New American Majority – Black, Brown, and Indigenous women, women of color, LGBTQ+, young, and unmarried women – over the next 15 years, fostering a lift as you climb culture for women in politics, and repowering political structures. There are more than two dozen state affiliates, and the organization has impacted a total of 45 states, Washington, D.C. and territories.

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About Emerge

Emerge has one goal: To increase the number of Democratic women in office who are reflective of the incredible diversity of the Democratic party by recruiting, training, and providing a powerful network. Since 2002, Emerge has trained over 5,500 Democratic women to run for office, and currently more than 1,200 Emerge alums serve in elected office. Emerge is committed to reaching 100,000 women of the New American Majority over the next 15 years, fostering a lift as you climb culture for women in politics, and repowering political structures. There are more than two dozen state affiliates, and the organization has impacted a total of 45 states, Washington, D.C. and territories.