by Brenda Compean morales, penny state scholarship recipient
This summer I was selected to be a Political Leaders of Tomorrow (PLOT) intern with Women Winning. The PLOT program with Women Winning is designed to help women acquire the tools and connections needed to be a political leader in Minnesota. PLOT serves as an entry point for energized, pro-choice Minnesotans who are interested in a career in politics, especially those who have not yet volunteered or worked on a campaign.
During my summer with PLOT I was matched to work on Representative Ruth Richardson’s re-election campaign. Before coming to PLOT and working on Representative Richardson’s campaign I had no experience in the campaign world. Last fall I took a class called “Campaigns and Elections” in the Master of Advocacy and Political Leadership program at Metropolitan State University. This class was led by two fierce women who had extensive knowledge in the campaign, voting, and elections world. In class I learned about things like voting laws, the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board, and how not to spend all your campaign money on lawn signs. I learned so much in one semester that I instantly felt energized and ready to put into action what I had learned.
I was very nervous about getting involved in a campaign. Being a first-generation immigrant and graduate student, I didn’t really know anyone in my circle that was involved in campaigns. I knew I wanted to get involved but wasn’t sure how. Then one evening, an alumni from PLOT came to speak to our class. She talked about how much she learned and loved her experience in the PLOT program. I applied to be a PLOT intern not only because I believed in their mission, but also because of the additional trainings they offered. At their trainings I learned all about campaigns, how to raise money, how to build your base, and most importantly networked with other women and women of color with extensive backgrounds in campaigns and elections.
The PLOT program not only helped open the doors to campaigns but, it also allowed me to meet and see women who look like me and have a similar background as myself. I was so inspired to intern for a Black pro-choice woman of color legislator. During my internship with Representative Richardson’s campaign I attended my very first online fundraiser, learned how to write a script, and called more than one hundred constituents when we phone banked. PLOT allowed me to get out of my comfort zone in more ways than I imagined. Before PLOT I had never been part of a fundraiser or asked anyone for money. Although I was nervous the first couple of times that I phone banked, I grew to like it because I loved talking to people about issues that mattered in their community.
None of this would’ve happened without the help of the Timothy J. Penny State Public Service Fellowship. Being a first generation, DACA-mented immigrant means that I do not qualify for federal aid. Having to pay full tuition courses can be difficult and on top of that taking an unpaid internship puts a bigger financial strain on me. Thanks to the Penny Fellowship scholarship, I was able to intern with PLOT. My summer internship with PLOT allowed me to put into practice what I learned in class. It helped get me out of my comfort zone and hopefully prepared me to one day manage a campaign all on my own!