2025 Trainings

Keep checking back for more information!

Day One: Saturday, March 1, 2025

The Campaign School at Yale will examine the ins and outs of developing and running a campaign, featuring a national panel of elected officials. This session will provide a foundation and skillset for launch as community leaders.

AGENDA

10:00 a.m.: WELCOME! 

• Ron Thomas, CCM

10:15 a.m.:  Session I:  Making the Decision to Run, Run a Campaign, Lead in your Community. 

• Patti Russo, Executive Director

11:30 a.m.:  Session II:  Finding Your Voice, Making it Matter,

• Gilda Bonnano, TCSYale faculty

12:30 p.m.:  Session III:  Effective Networking Techniques,

• Patti Russo, Executive Director

1:00 p.m.:  Session IV:  How TCSYale Transformed my life:  Hear from TCSYale alumnae leading locally as they share their individual political paths, and how TCSYale skewed them for success.

• Moderated by Patti Russo, Executive Director
• Panelists:
  • YT Bell, Councilwoman, City of Clarkston, GA
  • Jacqueline Cabrera, Zoning Board Commissioner, City of Danbury, CT
  • Gabriela Koc, Board of Education member, City of Stamford, CT
  • Jason Nova, Special Assistant to Mayor Roberto Alves of Danbury, CT
  • Wendy Tyson Wood, President, NAACP of Greater Waterbury, CT

1:45 p.m.:  Session V: Wrap Up/Next Steps:  Where do I go from here? 

• Patti Russo, Executive Director

Day Two: Saturday, March 8, 2025

Day Two includes presentations from and conversations with individuals with varying state and local government backgrounds.

 AGENDA

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: Welcome 

• Laura Hoydick, President of CCM and Mayor of Stratford
• Joe Delong, CEO of CCM 
• Melvette Hill, Executive Director, CWCSEO
• Patrice McCarthy, Executive Director, CABE
• Thea Montanez, Senior Advisor, Office of Governor Ned Lamont

10:30 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.: Why Representation Matters in Local Government

• Secretary of the State of CT, Stephanie Thomas

11:05 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.: Break

11:10 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.: Getting Involved in Politics and Seeking Elective Office

• Moderated by Patrice McCarthy, Executive Director, CABE
• Darrell Harris, Easton Republican Town Committee Chair
• Tejal Vallam, Rocky Hill Democratic Town Committee Chair

11:40 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.: Poet Laureate Performance

• Manchester Poet Laureate, Nadia Sims

11:50 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.: Lunch Break

12:10 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Municipal Governance 101

• Roberto Alves, Mayor of Danbury
• Danielle Wong, Mayor of Bloomfield
• Arunan Arulampalam, Mayor of Hartford

1:00 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.: 50/50 Campaign, Best Practice Sharing to Ensure Gender Equity and Racial Diversity on Local Boards and Commissions

• Tiffany Young, YWCA Hartford Region

1:20 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.: Break

1:25 p.m. –2:45 p.m.: Panel of Seasoned Local Experts Sharing Lessons Learned and Best Practices for Leadership

• Moderated by Melvette Hill, Executive Director of the CT Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity
• Panelists:
  • Aidee Nieves, Council President, Bridgeport
  • Nuchette Black-Burke, Mayor of Windsor
  • Rose Reyes, Councilmember, Windham
  • Caroline Tanbee Smith, Alder Ward 9, New Haven
  • Leonard Lockhart, Board of Education Member, Windsor
  • Jarrell Hargraves, Councilmember, New Britain

2:45 p.m. –3 p.m.: CCM Closing Remarks

2024 Trainings

Make sure to register for both days to get the most benefit from this training. 
People who attend both days will receive a certificate from Yale and CCM!

Day One: Saturday, February 24, 2024

The Campaign School at Yale will examine the ins and outs of developing and running a campaign, featuring a national panel of elected officials. This session will provide a foundation and skillset for launch as community leaders.

10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.: Welcome!

• CCM Leadership

10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.: Making the Decision to Run

• Patti Russo, Executive Director, TCSYale

11:45 a.m. - 12:00: Break

12:00 - 1:30 p.m. : Finding Your Voice, Making It Matter

• Gilda Bonanno, President, Gilda Bonanno LLC                     

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.: Panel Discussion with TCSYale Alumnae and Ambassadors

• Moderator: Patti Russo
• Panelists:
  • Hon. YT Bell ’19, City Council Member, Clarkston GA
  • Hon. Dominique Johnson ’22, CT State Representative, District 143
  • Hon. Corey Paris, CT State Representative, District 145
  • Hon. Daryl Joy Walters ’14, LA State Representative, District 4

2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Effective Networking Techniques, Q&A and Wrap Up

• Patti Russo - Executive Director, TCSYale

Day Two: Saturday, March 2, 2024

Day Two includes presentations from and conversations with individuals with varying state and local government backgrounds.

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: Welcome 

• Joe DeLong, CEO of CCM
• Laura Hoydick, CCM President and Mayor of Stratford
• Patrice McCarthy, Executive Director of CT Association of Boards of Education 

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.:   Why Representation Matters in State and Local Government

• Stephanie Thomas, CT Secretary of the State 
• Erick Russell, CT State Treasurer                     

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.:   Journey to Leadership

• Roberto Alves, Mayor, City of Danbury

11:15 a.m. – 12:00: Getting Involved in Politics and Seeking Elective Office

• Moderator:  Richard Porth, CT Conference of Municipalities
• To Be Confirmed, Republican Town Committee Chair
• Millie Torres Ferguson, Meriden Democratic Town Committee Chair

12:00 – 12:15 p.m.:       Lunch 

12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.:   Prerecorded Video Message from Attorney General Tong

12:30 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.: 50/50 Campaign, Ensuring Gender Equity and Racial Diversity on Local Boards and Commissions-Best Practice Sharing

• Terry Fitzgerald, YWCA Hartford Region

12:45 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.: State Government and Finance 101

• Jason Rojas, House Majority Leader

For more information and materials on Public Meetings, Ethics, Roberts Rules and Freedom of Information, check out the DropBox for today’s meeting.

1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Panel of Seasoned Experts—Lessons Learned/ Best Practices for Leadership

• Moderator:  Melvette Hill, CT Parent Leadership Training Institute  
• Panelists:                            
  • Maryam Khan, State Representative for 5th Assembly District (Hartford, South Windsor, Windsor)                                            
  • Raghib Allie-Brennan, State Representative for 2nd Assembly District (Bethel, Danbury, Newtown, Redding)                          
  • Tony Hwang, State Senator for 28th Senate District (Fairfield, Easton, Newtown)                                                            
  • Robyn Porter, State Representative for 94th Assembly District (New Haven, Hamden)                                                                
  • Geraldo Reyes, State Representative for 75th Assembly District (Waterbury)          

2:30pm: Closing Remarks and Networking Opportunities 

• Joe DeLong and Ron Thomas

2023 Trainings

Day One: Saturday, February 25, 2023

A one-day intensive training from The Campaign School at Yale University for people of color with a newly discovered or revived passion for politics. This session will provide a foundation and skillset for launch as community leaders.

Discussion topics included:

• Making the Decision to Run: A Holistic Approach to Preparing to Run for Office, Run a Campaign, or Lead in Your Community
  • Patti Russo, Executive Director, TCSYale
• Putting the 'FUN' in Fundraising: Effective Fundraising Techniques
  • Patti Russo, Executive Director, TCSYale
• Finding Your Voice, Making It Matter
  • Gilda Bonanno, President, Gilda Bonanno LLC
• TCSYale Alumnae Presentation: How The Campaign School at Yale Transformed My Life
  • Hon. Penny Rashin, Member, New Canaan Board of Education
  • Hon. Yterenickia (YT) Bell, City Council Member, Clarkston, GA
  • Hon. Katherine Gilmore Richardson, City Councilwoman, Philadelphia, PA
  • Cynthia Wallace, Co-Founder & Executive Director, New Rural Project
• Effective Networking Techniques, Q&A, and Wrap-Up
  • Patti Russo, Executive Director, TCSYale

Day Two: Saturday, March 4, 2023

Day Two included presentations from and conversations with individuals with varying local government backgrounds.

Discussion topics included:

• Civic Engagement: Why You and Why Now 
  • Stephanie Thomas, CT Secretary of the State
• Become a Leader in Your Community and State and Work for Change
  • Erick Russell, State Treasurer
• Getting Involved and Working Toward Elective Office
  • Roberto Alves, Danbury Democratic Town Committee Chair  
  • Brendan Saunders, Clinton Republican Town Committee Chair
• How CT Interlocal Risk Management Agency (CIRMA) helps municipal leaders respond to emergencies and manage risks
• Panel of Seasoned Experts—Lessons Learned/ Best Practices for Leadership
  • Moderator:  Melvette Hill, State Director, Parent Leadership Training Institute
  • Panelists:
    • Aidee Nieves, City Council President, Bridgeport
    • Don Harris, Chair, Bloomfield Board of Education
    • Leonard Lockhart, Windsor Board of Education
    • Dr. Carlita Cotton, Town Council Member, Town of Mansfield
    • Danielle Wong, Mayor, Town of Bloomfield
    • Juan Melendez, Mayor, Town of Groton
    • Yukiyo Iida, Co-Chair of the CT Family School Partnership Advisory Council and Lead Organizer for the Asian American and Pacific Islander Parent Affinity Group series through CT SERC.
• Municipal Government and Finance 101
  • Scott Jackson, Former Finance Director, West Haven, former Mayor of Hamden, former Commissioner of CT Department of Revenue Services and Department Labor
  • Thea Montanez, Chief Operating Officer, City of Hartford
• Ethics, Public Meetings, Roberts Rules, Freedom of Information
  • Kari Olson of Murtha Cullina

Other Presenters Included:

• Tom Dunn, Mayor, Town of Wolcott; President, CCM
• Patrice McCarthy, Executive Director, CT Association of Boards of Education (CABE)
• Steven Hernandez, Executive Director, CT Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity
• Ron Thomas, Deputy Director, CCM

2022 Trainings

Day One: Saturday, March 12, 2022

A one-day intensive training from The Campaign School for people of color with a newly discovered or revived passion for politics. This session provided a foundation and skillset for launch as community leaders.

Discussion topics were:

• Making the Decision to Run: A Holistic Approach to Preparing to Run for Office, Run a Campaign, or Lead in Your Community
  • Patti Russo, Executive Director, TCSYale
• Finding Your Voice, Making It Matter
  • Gilda Bonanno, President, Gilda Bonanno LLC
• Putting the 'FUN' in Fundraising: Effective Fundraising Techniques
  • Hon. Mona Das, Washington State Senator, 47th Legislative District and TCSYale Class of 2016
• TCSYale Alumnae Presentation: How The Campaign School at Yale Transformed My Life!
  • Yterenickia Bell, TCSYale Class of 2019
  • Kate Farrar, TCSYale Class of 2014
  • Natalie Murdock, TCSYale Class of 2019
• Effective Networking Techniques, Q&A, and Wrap-Up
  • Patti Russo, Executive Director, TCSYale

Day Two: Saturday, March 19, 2022

Day Two included presentations from and conversations with individuals with varying state government backgrounds.

Learning objectives:

• How to pursue elective (or appointive) office in state government (or municipal government)
• What to know when assuming elective (or appointive) office: ethics, public meetings, basic government and finance, and more
• Why and how to get engaged and involved in your community

Discussion topics included:

• Become a Leader in your Community and State and Work for Change
  • Jahana Hayes, US Representative, Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District
• Civic Engagement: Why You and Why Now
  • William Tong, Connecticut Attorney General
• Getting Involved and Working Toward Elective Office
  • Alex Rodriguez, Hartford Democratic Town Committee
  • Brendan Saunders, Clinton Republican Town Committee Chair
• Panel of Seasoned Experts—Lessons Learned / Best Practices for Leadership
  • Moderator: Melvette Hill, Parent Leadership Training Institute
  • Raghib Allie-Brennan, State Representative for 2nd Assembly District
  • Joe de la Cruz, State Representative for 41st Assembly District
  • Treneé McGee, State Representative for 116th Assembly District
  • Tony Hwang, State Senator for 28th Senate District
  • Marilyn Moore, State Senator for 22nd Senate District 
  • Avery Gaddis, Senate Republican Office’s Community Development and Public Affairs division
• State Government and Finance 101
  • Jason Rojas, House Majority Leader
• Ethics, Public Meetings, Roberts Rules, Freedom of Information, and more
  • Kari Olson, Partner, Murtha Cullina

Other Confirmed Presenters:

• Paul Mounds, Chief of Staff, Governor's Office
• Steven Hernandez, Executive Director, CT Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity
• Maryam Khan, newly elected member of the Connecticut General Assembly, representing the 5th Assembly District
• Luke Bronin, Mayor of Hartford and CCM Board President

2021 Trainings

Representation Matters: Are You Ready to Run for Local Office?

The 2021 sessions provided People of Color the fundamentals to run for local office or serve on a board or commission.

Day One: February 13, 2021

A one-day intensive training from the School for people of color with a newly discovered or revived passion for politics. This session provided a foundation and skill set for launch as community leaders.

The training included a comprehensive discussion of all of the components necessary to begin a political career, both personally and professionally; cogent and inspiring speaking techniques; and effective networking.

TCS Yale has been training women to lead for over twenty years and in recent years has included men in the training. That training covers a range of topics including: setting up a campaign, fundraising, developing your message, building your communications and strategy plan, digital and social media best practices and more. The first day of CCM’s training for men and women representing communities of color was adapted from TCS’s great work over many years.

Presentation Topics Included:

• Making the Decision to Run - Patti Russo, Executive Director, TCSYale
• Essentials of Fundraising - Francesca Capodilupo, Professor at Fordham University
• Finding Your Voice, Making It Matter - Gilda Bonanno, President, Gilda Bonanno, LLC
• Roundtable Discussion with TCSYale Alumnae - YT Bell, Renee Johnson, Babz Rawls Ivy, and Jamie Scott
• Effective Networking Techniques, Steps and Questions - Patti Russo, TCSYale

Day Two: February 27, 2021

Day Two included presentations from and conversations with individuals with varying local government backgrounds.

Presentation Topics Included:

• How to Become a Leader in your Community and Work for Change
     Shawn Wooden, State Treasurer and former Hartford City Council President
• I Want to Get Involved in My Community and Local Government—Where do I Start?
     Mark Overmyer Velazquez, UCONN Hartford Campus Director and former West Hartford Board of Education member
• Panel of Experienced Municipal Officials of Color Discuss Lessons Learned / Best Practices
     Moderator: Melvette Hill
     Panelists:
     Suzette DeBeatham-Brown, Mayor, Bloomfield;
     Ed Ford, Councilmember, Middletown City Council;
     Roberta Gill-Brooks, Tax Collector, Branford;
     Cathy Iino, First Selectwoman, Killingworth;
     Aidee Nieves, President, Bridgeport City Council;
     Gerard Smith, First Selectman, Beacon Falls;
     Francisco Santiago, Minority Leader, New Britain City Council
• Municipal Governance and Finance 101
     Scott Jackson, Finance Director, Hamden; Former CAO City of New Haven; Former Mayor of Hamden; Commissioner,
     CT Department of Revenue Services and Department of Labor
• Ethics, Public Meetings, Roberts Rules, Freedom of Information and more
     Kari Olson of Murtha Cullina