Emerge Maryland

On a recent Saturday this summer, I joined a diverse group of 20 Maryland women who gathered for 5 hours in a windowless suburban conference room to learn how to run for political office. They included a disabilities rights activist, an African American prosecutor, and an Indian-American immigrant who emerged from her local PTA as an outspoken voice on education issues. They had come for “A Taste of Emerge,” a day-long boot camp organized by the non-profit political group “Emerge Maryland,” which was created five years ago to recruit women to the electoral process.

Jessica Fitzwater says she loves working with students while they're too young to care what people think.

The Oakdale Elementary School music teacher said the onset of adult self-consciousness discourages many people from putting themselves out onstage. But when children are little, they are risk-takers, she said.

If teachers can "catch them when they sing their heart out or dance their heart out," there's a chance that they will hang on to that fearlessness as they grow up, she said.

Fitzwater, 29, said her experience as a performer — playing the violin in the Frederick Symphony Orchestra and taking the stage with Equinox Dance Company — has made her someone unafraid to take a public stand.

Her willingness to step forward could move her from the orchestra hall to Winchester Hall; Fitzwater says she's "strongly considering" running for the District 4 seat on the county council in 2014.

Emerge Maryland, a group dedicated to helping Democratic women run for public office, will begin accepting applications for its course beginning in October and running through April.

“Basically, we train women to be candidates,” said Diane Fink, the organization’s executive director.

The online application process, open through Sept. 7, can be found on the group’s website at emergemaryland.org. Twenty women will be accepted.

The training will provide more than 70 hours of training in areas such as fundraising, campaign management, networking and other skills needed to run a political campaign.