13 Days and Counting!

Here’s what life at The Campaign School at Yale looks like right now.

It’s 9 pm, we’re a few weeks out from Election Day, and our phone rings.?I recognize the voice on the other end—it’s one of our TCSYale Rockstar graduates running for office.?She needs advice and a bit of motivation to keep her going.?Her stance on a position has been misconstrued by her opponent. What to do?

These calls are exactly why we’re here. And this time of year (peak campaign season), fielding these calls is arguably the best part of my job.

Responding to grads who need our guidance is what makes The Campaign School at Yale so special, so unique.??Our grads tell us that it’s what sets us apart.?Once our graduates become members of our thriving, supportive TCSYale network, they gain access to the mentoring/coaching assistance we offer to our alumnae.

Running for office isn’t easy.?Not everyone is cut out for it.?That’s why we apply such rigor to our application process.?Danielle Burr, a TCSYale board member, captures the essence of our program so thoughtfully:

“TCSYale is focused on making sure women are positioned to be successful in their role and entry into public policy, not just running.?We need women to win, but we also need them to be prepared and successful in their leadership role once they’ve been elected.”

The mentoring/coaching component of our work is an integral part of our graduates’ success.

Being a woman—particularly a woman of color or a trans woman—in everyday society comes with its own set of challenges.?These challenges are exacerbated even further on the campaign trail.?We structure our programming with this in mind.?During our annual premier five-day summer session, we teach topics to skew our students for success, making it possible for them to handle all of the challenges they may face along the campaign trail.?From campaign planning to presentations skills and debate prep, to fundraising and effective use of social media, GOTV, and security on the campaign trail, our grads leave us and return to their respective states and countries with an enhanced sense of confidence and a profound skillset which equips them with the ability to weaken barriers and tackle whatever comes their way.?Our goal is to give them the tools to not only win elected office but to remain in office.

When our grads reach out with a particular obstacle, we work together to provide options.?We help them develop a “Plan B” when their “Plan A” simply isn’t working.?For instance, right now many are concerned about a late October “surprise”—something that may derail them.

How to best prepare??How to move on from something that may or may not happen? How to continue sharing their message with their voters??Many have found great solace in knowing that, in the event an October “surprise” lands on their doorstep, they have a resource in TCSYale available to deal with it.?The unknown can be paralyzing. We help our grads to continue to move forward.

Another challenge candidates are facing this year is a decrease in volunteerism.?Nationally, there’s a shortage of individuals willing to volunteer on campaigns: ie., going door to door, or phone banking.?Some of this can be attributed to the impact of the pandemic.?For two years, we couldn’t come together in person.?Instead, we relied on virtual events and rallies.?This decreased level of emotional connection so critical to campaign work has forced candidates to contend with even more difficulty this campaign cycle.

In addition to helping to address their challenges, our grads also proactively check in with us. "What more should I be doing?” or “Here’s a funny thing that happened on the way to my debate tonight!” or “I need a moment to B R E A T H E!”?Keeping their mental health strong is just as important as ensuring they’re hitting all the right campaign marks.?Our grads know we are always up for hearing the good, the not-so-good, even the horrific.?

Right now, we’re fielding 10-15 calls per day.?It is all-consuming.?It is joyful.?It is exhilarating. And yes, it is exhausting.?Is it worth it??Absolutely!?We like to say the coaching/mentoring we provide after our Summer Session is equally as important as the exemplary training we provide during it.?The two go hand in hand.?They complement each other, and they strengthen our graduates and their campaigns.?Our grads tell us how deeply they appreciate the support they receive from us throughout the year and how they cannot imagine running for office or running a campaign without it.?

Recently, we received this note from a grad, currently running for re-election:

"TCSYale support has been my lifeline.?Any time that I have a tough situation in a campaign, I’ve called Patti and without fail, she has ALWAYS been there.?She has not only spent the time to navigate the particulars of the challenge but has re-anchored me in my strengths, reminded me of why I was doing this work and lifted me up.?And she always has done it with her Patti balance of good humor and steely determination.?‘Grateful’ doesn’t even scratch the surface."

That’s a wonderful reminder of why we choose to lead the way we do at TCSYale.?Knowing our grads are receiving the support they so richly deserve, and making the world a better place…what could be better?