DEBORAH B. GOLDBERG
by RACHEL ROJAS
Correspondent
HOLYOKE – For a Thursday night graduation, the Log Cabin was packed. Hip younger women and older serious-looking women enjoyed drinks while cooling off from the hot air outside. Women from all over the valley gathered together to celebrate the graduation of The Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI) class of 2015.
LIPPI is a program that is run through the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts that prepares women for public service. Women from all age groups and a variety of demographics are taught how to hone their leadership skills through workshops that cover topics such as racism, inclusiveness, and intersectionality.
The Women’s Fund CEO Elizabeth Barajas-Roman spoke at the graduation.
“This class dealt with structural racism as riots were happening in Ferguson and the class took the issue head on,” she said. “What was amazing was that you pulled apart the ugly pieces and were unafraid to examine what you found and brainstormed positive action within your community within your Women’s Fund, within your cohort, and within your own lives. These were painful and often enlightening conversations that took courage and compassion to be able to emerge with a honed sense of compassion and new skills and relationships that will last your whole life.”
Graduates of the program go on to run for local political office, serve on committees, and join Boards of Directors. Their website states, “LIPPI trains women in the nuts and bolts of impacting policy from the citizen perspective. By helping women develop these two sets of skills – individual leadership development and policy change – we aim to advance social change for a more equitable and just society.”
Graduate Stefenie Robles, an Amherst College doctoral student, found out about the LIPPI program while doing research for her masters degree.
“I was so inspired and motivated by them,” she said. “I thought they were amazing. I felt like I knew something about what they were talking about. You want to change the world, you want to change your area, but you have a job and kids and you do these things that end up draining you.”
During the 10 month program Robles learned how to build effective networks, how to run a campaign efficiently, and then how to manage the appointed position.
“I knew that I would have to use social media, but I learned how to use it without wasting my time,” she said. “I learned that you’re not always going to please everyone, how to get different people to the table, and how to have discussions that can be potentially scary.”
Fellow graduates and teachers enjoyed drinks, networking, and dinner while speakers talked about how LIPPI had helped them to actualize their own goals.
“Once you sit in that chair in City Hall, you have to be conscious of all the potential outcomes of any decision you make,” said Springfield Public School Committee member Denise Hurst of her experience. “I thought, ‘They’re gonna help me get good at this.’ and they did. Life after LIPPI hasn’t always been easy, but it’s provided me with a compassion for all people.”
She encouraged others to, “use your network to open doors for others. Tomorrow, reach out to one woman who would benefit from LIPPI.”
The program, which offers financial aid and grants, costs $2,500, but the end result is priceless. Graduates sitting together glowed with confidence and compassion, the alumnae had an air of reliability and assurance, and they all talked about projects that they were planning to undertake and projects they were currently working on. Words like “intersectionality” and “structural racism” floated through the air.
At this graduation, they also celebrated two women who personified LIPPI’s goals of leadership and policy change Attorney General Maura Healey and Treasurer Deborah Goldberg. They were presented with the ‘She Changes the World’ award which celebrates the achievements of women in leadership, change, and empowerment.
Healey is well-known for her unexpected win in her first run for office, a win she credits to her grassroots campaign. Developing grassroots activists is something that LIPPI prides itself on. By training cohorts of women to participate in local politics, and more importantly to run for office, they hope to change the political landscape so that it is representative of the larger population.
“Representing 40 percent women of color, LIPPI graduates comprise a wide spectrum of backgrounds, ethnic groups, and ages with ranges from 18-60+,” according to the group.
Goldberg’s fiscal goals for the state of Massachusetts include wage equality, government transparency, and economic empowerment.
“The Women’s Fund is a participant in the work that we do, we share best practices locally, statewide, and nationally,” she said. “Working collaboratively with all these groups that have a voice and working at the grassroots level makes our work impactful. We’re connecting needs. [What The Women’s Fund does] is very exciting. It’s about helping people to be empowered so that they can help themselves, but it’s also about economic stability and security and opportunity. That’s what drives me, that’s why I ran.”
Graduates of the 2015 LIPPI class plan to pursue their civic engagement goals. Two women are running for local office and their support staff is largely made up of fellow LIPPI graduates. One graduate plans to further her studies in law and International Diplomacy and return to Afghanistan to run for office there. She hopes to be a diplomat. Several other graduates will serve on committee boards across the valley and some will continue their education. Applications for 2015-2016 LIPPI cohort are currently being accepted. The program consists of 10 sessions and class presentations.
According to the group’s website, “Research demonstrates that promoting women to leadership positions is beneficial to the bottom line by increasing retention, recruitment, and alternative perspectives that drive innovation. However, across all professional sectors women only account for 18 percent of top leadership positions.”
LIPPI graduates are prepared to take on those leadership positions with confidence, and more importantly a great network of like-minded women.
