The Hill’s Changemakers: Running Start

Susannah Wellford says the idea for Running Start came from not just a mission, but a fixation. 

“I became obsessed with having more women in power when I was both a staffer on the Hill and a staffer in the Clinton White House, and then a young lawyer,” Wellford said. 

Struck by how few women she encountered in high-powered roles, in 2007 Wellford created Running Start, an organization that aims to “demystify” politics and leadership for young women. 

The organization holds training sessions — more than 50 this year alone — for high schoolers, college students and other women to train them to run for office through programs and congressional fellowships. 

“We don’t sugarcoat politics,” said Wellford, its CEO. 

“We talk to them about all the difficulties of deciding to run, getting support, raising money.” 

This year, 100 percent of the high schoolers who participated in Running Start’s summer program focused on political leadership said they had an increased desire to run for office after attending the training, according to the group. 

The organization is also expanding its reach, this past fall hosting a cohort of women from nearly 30 different historically Black colleges and universities at its annual HBCU leadership summit in Washington.   

Countries including Brazil, Kenya and India have all offered pilot programs this year based on Running Start’s curriculum. 

One of Running Start’s prominent alumnae is Rep. Lauren Underwood — the Illinois Democrat who became the youngest Black woman to serve in Congress when she won her race in 2018. 

“I think sometimes until somebody says, ‘You can do this job,’ they don’t really think you can do it, especially something as audacious as politics,” said Wellford, 55. 

The nonprofit takes its nonpartisan approach “very seriously,” Wellford said, ensuring that its cohorts are “balanced ideologically.” 

“We believe so deeply that if you want real change in terms of women in power, it has to come from all sides,” she said. 

“Having somebody, especially somebody in a position of power, believe in you and see something in you, it can be just totally life-changing.”