1st Amendment-1st Vote, Inc is a non-partisan seminar and conference opportunity for high school girls to imagine themselves engaged in the political process as leaders and candidates
for elected office in adulthood.
Gender parity in US elected offices at the local, state and national levels.
“1st Amendment-1st Vote, Inc offers non-partisan civic engagement and leadership development opportunities to teen girls in the effort to create a ‘pipeline or bench’ of young women ready, willing and able to run for office or seek professional government-related positions. As a result, we expect to achieve gender parity in US elected offices at local, state and national levels sometime in their future.”
Melina Carnicelli, Founder & President
2019
1st Amendment-1st Vote, Inc creates experiential learning opportunities for high school girls to be active leaders engaged in the American political process and provides students with a “foundational tool kit” to run for elected office.
It’s been nearly 100 years since passage of the US Constitution’s Amendment XIX when women won the decades-long struggle for the right to vote in America. Women make up 51% of the current US population, yet continue to be substantially underrepresented in elected office, across-the-board, at an approximate 4:1 ratio of men to women. The 2018 Congressional elections in America marked an unprecedented time regarding the number of women running for and elected to national office. However, there’s still a long way to go to close the almost 30% gap necessary to achieve gender parity in elected office at the local, state and national levels. 1st Amendment-1st Vote, Inc is an innovative educational offering addressing this gender gap. While the program is politically
non-partisan, it IS an early opportunity for high school girls to begin to seriously imagine themselves as candidates for elected office, and to begin their engagement in the American political process. In doing so, teen girls ensure, that in their not-too-distant future, more and more women will be ready, willing, able to run for office, win, and hold an equal number of seats as their male counterparts at these all-important leadership tables.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident;
that all men and women are created equal…”
Declaration of Sentiments, 1848, Seneca Falls, New York
We are committed to LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT of teen girls.
We expect GENDER PARITY in governance and leadership positions.
We highly value DIVERSE STUDENT COHORTS for participation in 1st A-1st V.
We appreciate and applaud the COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, TALENT, TIME, EFFORT & FUNDRAISING of women who step (have stepped) forward to mount a campaign for public office.
We seek strategic SUPPORT & FUNDING from individuals, organizations, and companies that share our mission and vision for girls.
We encourage participants to ACTIVELY ENGAGE in 1st A-1st V by voicing their thoughts, opinions, questions, and suggestions.
We are committed to EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION.
We value COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS.
We utilize and encourage use of MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY to aid participation and interaction, teaching and learning.
Christine Alexander, Educator, Innovation Tech High School
Luke Carnicelli, Principal, Southern Cayuga Junior/Senior High School
Melina Carnicelli, Founder & President; Educator & Mayor (ret)
Sheri Dozier – Owens, Regional Director NYS Comptroller’s Office
Mario Gutierrez, Attorney, WHMB Law
Linda Hall, Human Resource Consultant
Anne Herron, Educator, Higher Ed (ret)
Melissa Killeleagh, Treasurer and Arbonne Consultant
Karen King, Vice President and Executive Director,
Erie County NY Commission on the Status of Women
Debra McCormick, City Councilor Auburn NY
Emily McCarter, Educator, Geneva Middle School
Trina Newton, Educator, Superintendent of Schools
Nathan Richardson, Frederick Douglass Historian & Educator
Marilyn Tedeschi, Dean of Students (ret)
Amy Tormey, Educator, Skaneateles NY
Morgan Wright, Student, Hobart William Smith Colleges
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