For Immediate Release:
March 2, 2016
Contact: Ted Bordelon
(267) 469-7048
[email protected]
314 Action to Hold Live Candidate Training for Scientists and STEM
Professionals at American University
More Than 3,000 Candidates Have Signed Up for Live Online Webinar, 150+ Will
Attend the Training In Person
(Washington, D.C.) -- 314 Action, a recently formed nonprofit committed to electing
more scientists to public office, will hold a candidate training session for scientists and
STEM professionals seeking office on March 14th at American University. In a little
over a month, more than 3,000 scientists and STEM professionals who are angered by
President Trump and the Republican Party’s war on science have signed up online for
the session. 314 Action is quickly becoming the face of the intersection between
science and politics, and a voice for pro-science advocates.
The session will be broadcast on the web and more than 150 candidates from across
the country are expected to attend the live event. A tentative schedule of speakers and
training sessions is featured below this press release.
Interviews with the following can be arranged in advance of this training:
• Shaughnessy
Naughton; founder of 314 Action, breast cancer researcher,
former Congressional candidate and entrepreneur
• Joe Trippi; 314 Action political advisor, nationally renowned political strategist
• Candidates attending the training
If you are interested in attending this event as a member of the media, please
contact Ted Bordelon at [email protected] or 267-469-7048
###
314 Action is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) that was founded by members of the STEM
community, grassroots supporters and political activists. Despite being a recently
formed organization, 314 Action has over 75,000 active members and donors across
the United States. 314 Action is concerned that STEM education in the United States is
falling further and further behind the rest of the world, that our political leaders continue
to deny scientific facts and that Congress fails to fully fund scientific research so we can
solve pressing environmental issues like climate change and social problems like gun
violence. For more information, visit 314action.org
RUN OF SHOW
8:00 a.m. Registration and breakfast
Register with us right outside Grossman Hall.
8:30 a.m. Morning speeches
We’ll hear from leaders in science, policy and politics who will discuss the critical role
science plays in public life and the need for more scientists to speak out, step up and run
for office.
Aneesh Chopra, the first chief technology officer for the White House under President
Obama and a candidate for Lt. Gov. of Virginia.
The Honorable Raul Ruiz of California, a physician by training, who has represented the
state’s 36th District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2012.
More speaker announcements coming soon.
9:00 a.m. Running as a Scientist
We’ll hear from Andrew Zwicker, a New Jersey state legislator and scientist who
campaigned on his evidence-based background, Shaughnessy Naughton, a chemist,
Congressional candidate and 314 Action’s founder, and Martha McKenna, a partner in
the Democratic political media-consulting firm McKenna Pihlaja, who has developed
messaging and advertising for candidates with science backgrounds.
10:30 a.m. Coffee break
10:45 a.m. Lessons from the Field for First-Time Candidates
We’ll hear from seasoned campaigners including, Joe Trippi, who handled media for
Gov. Jerry Brown and ran Howard Dean’s presidential campaign, Jeff Weaver, who ran
Bernie Sanders people-powered campaign, Melissa Varga, a science policy specialist
who helped many first time candidates get their start on behalf of the New Organizing
Institute, and Michelle Kleppe, who has served as a state field director for Virginia Gov.
Terry McAuliffe and Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
12:00 p.m. Working lunch. Creating Your Campaign
We’ll get a rundown on campaign law from Brad Deutsch, the owner of Garvy Schubert
Barer and advisor to many campaigns, and on accounting and fundraising compliance
from Jen May, the founder of Next Level Partners.
1:00 p.m. Campaign Communication
Chris Jahnke, the founder of Positive Communication and an advisor to Michelle
Obama, the Hillary Clinton campaign and Sen. Al Franken, as well as many scientists
and science-based groups, will cover the fundamentals of campaign message
development and campaign communication.
2:30 p.m. Recruiting and Inspiring Volunteers
Taylor Billings, a campaigner and former deputy field director for NextGen Climate in
Ohio in 2016 and Michelle Kleppe, who has served as a state field director for Virginia
Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, will cover how to build a
winning field operation and the best ways to recruit and inspire volunteers for the hard but fun! - work of campaigning, from door knocking and phone banking, to recruiting new
volunteers.
3:45 p.m. Making the Right Asks to Raise Money
Rose Arntsen and Alexandra Raposo, Campaigns Finance Advisors for Emily’s List, will
discuss the best tools and practices for digital and person-to-person fundraising.
Emily Crerand, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Director of
Candidate Services will also briefly discuss their priorities for the coming years.
5:00 p.m. Evening Reception
We’ll host a reception with small plates and an open bar. We’ll also hear from a few
more special guests, including representatives from Emily’s List, the League of
Conservation Voters, and other groups that are eager to support scientists running for
office.