IGNITE's Blog
The Dr. Anne Moses Fellowship Experience: Q&A
Dr. Anne Moses Fellows (aka IGNITE Fellows) are community leaders and organizers who mobilize and empower others in their cities and states to become civically and politically engaged. They are helping young cis women, non-binary and gender expansive youth explore new ways to flex their political power, and together, change the face of politics across the country. Keep reading to learn more about the Fellowship from former IGNITE Fellows.
Reflecting on Feminist Firebrand Emmeline Pankhurst
Yesterday was July 14, which means everyone on both sides of the pond should be thinking about Emmeline Pankhurst. For my fellow Americans, I would be pleasantly...
Emily Ultan, Development Coordinator
Emily brings five years of nonprofit fundraising experience to IGNITE. She has worked primarily for arts organizations and holds a BA in Theater from Connecticut...
Jocelyn Yow—Building a Library And More for Young Families on Eastvale City Council in California
Jocelyn Yow with her son, Kayden, when she served as Mayor in Eastvale, Ca, in 2020.
Why Are IGNITE Alumni Running for Office Right Now?
Want to create a better future for everyone in your city? Feel strongly about a local issue, and want to make sure the decision-makers reflect your views?
2021-2022 End of Year Reflection from IGNITE CEO Sara Guillermo
It’s hard to believe that it has been just over a year since I first started as IGNITE’s CEO. I feel incredibly lucky to have marked this milestone alongside hundreds of passionate young women in Washington, D.C. for our first 3-day, in-person Young Women Run national conference since 2019. For so many reasons, this conference looked and felt different than its predecessors, from the daily Covid-19 testing and masking, to the barricades around the Supreme Court and U.S. Capitol as a result of protests erupting across the city.
IGNITE Statement on the Supreme Court Overturning Roe v. Wade
Washington, D.C. - Today, the United States Supreme Court released its decision on the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The decision is expected to trigger abortion bans across twenty-six states, and has put in peril other constitutional rights founded on Roe v. Wade, including same-sex marriage. The decision comes at the end of a week of disheartening decisions directly impacting some of the most important issues for Gen Z, including yesterday’s landmark decision broadly expanding gun rights.
A look at LGBTQ+ representation in politics
Representation matters, because if you can see it, you can be it. When Marvel’s Doctor Strange 2 premiered earlier this year, it featured the debut of America Chavez, a Latina LGBTQ+ character. Despite the movie being censored in some countries, fans said they felt empowered and inspired because they saw themselves in the character. That’s the power of representation. And as more people identify as LGBTQ+, we should see even more LGBTQ+ representation across the board, including in politics.
Mary Black—Creating an Equitable, Sustainable Future on City Council in Raleigh, NC
(Images used with permission from Bob Karp)
Why Are IGNITE Alumni Running for Office Right Now?
Want to create a better future for everyone in your city? Feel strongly about a local issue, and want to make sure the decision-makers reflect your views?
We need more AAPI representation in politics, and we need it now
This month is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Each May, we celebrate the diverse cultures that comprise the AAPI community. Currently, there are over 20 million Asians in the U.S. That number is expected to double by 2060, making them the fastest-growing demographic (and fastest-growing electorate of the major racial and ethnic groups) in the country. Despite making up a sizable portion of the population, there is a lack of AAPI representation from Hollywood to Capitol Hill. The lack of representation is especially significant for AAPI women.