NEW Leadership Mississippi's annual summer institute brings together college women from across the political spectrum to discuss the roles of women in leadership and to prepare for political leadership. The program exposes participants to politics in Mississippi and expands their network of professional mentors and peers who share a passion for nurturing women's leadership. NEW Leadership® Mississ
ippi is open to undergraduate students enrolled in any Mississippi college or university and Mississippi residents enrolled in out-of-state schools. Each cohort of undergraduate students represents a wide range of socioeconomic and political backgrounds as well as a variety of academic majors. Learning From Women Leaders
NEW Leadership™ participants meet women leaders with a wide range of backgrounds, educational experiences, and political views. During the program, students hear from women who are shaping public policy as elected officials, community leaders and issue advocates. These women serve as role models and mentors, illustrating the challenges that women leaders face as well as the opportunities they encounter to make a difference. Developing Leadership Skills
Many NEW Leadership™ sessions are interactive workshops and hands-on exercises that encourage participants to practice their leadership skills. Students participate in workshops such as public speaking, conflict resolution, networking and advocacy training. Addressing Issues of Diversity & Bipartisanship
Leadership in the 21st century will require the ability to work with diverse groups and constituencies. As national politics become more polarized, it is also crucial that political leaders develop their ability to work across the aisle. Each NEW Leadership™ class includes students from a wide range of racial, ethnic, educational, political and economic backgrounds. During the institute, students interact with people who have different ideas and life experiences. In various learning activities, they are also tasked with presenting the best arguments on behalf of policy proposals that they may personally oppose. NEW Leadership™ provides students with a safe space where they can respectfully address issues of diversity and discuss the difficulties associated with leadership in a diverse and politically polarized society. Professional Learning
NEW Leadership™ participants meet women leaders with a wide range of backgrounds, educational experiences, and political views. Program Cost
Housing, meals, instructional materials, and transportation to and from Jackson, MS are provided at no cost to participants. In addition, a full tuition scholarship covers the cost of each student’s enrollment at The W, so the two hours of college credit are also free to students. NEW MS is free to students thanks to the generous financial support of The W, the Ascend Fund (a collaborative fund dedicated to accelerating the pace of change toward gender parity in U.S. politics), and private donors.
