Ready to Run™ Pennsylvania

Ready to Run™ Pennsylvania provides non-partisan political training to encourage women to run for government leadership positions. The day-long program targets women considering or recently deciding to run for political office, providing training and mentoring by campaign professionals, political women, and officeholders.

Ready to Run™ Pennsylvania is part of the Ready to Run™ National Training Network of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers University (NJ).

“When I decided to run for Congress, I was a newbie – I’d never even considered running for anything before then. What I knew was that I needed practical, nonpartisan advice from smart people who understood intimately what I was going through. I’m so, so grateful to Ready to Run for helping me when I needed it most.”

— Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan

Ready to Run™ Pittsburgh

January 24th-25th, 2025

Pre-Conference: Women of Color in PA Politics

January 24th: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Full-Day Conference

January 25th: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Chatham University, Shadyside Campus

Registration Fee (includes meals and conference materials)

Pre-Conference Session Only, register on or before January 5th, 2025: $20 Pre-Conference Session Only, Register on or after January 6th, 2025: $25 Full Conference Early-Bird Registration, on or before January 5th, 2025: $75 Full Conference, Registration on or after January 6th, 2025: $95

View The Brochure Here

Pre-Conference Only Registration

Full Conference Registration

Ready to Run™ Philadelphia

Ready to Run™ Philadelphia 2025

Virtual Details Coming Soon!

2025 Ready to Run™ Pittsburgh Keynote Speaker

Erica Rocchi Brusselars

Erica Rocchi Brusselars, Allegheny County Treasurer & Ready to Run Alum, is the first outsider elected to the office in over 50 years. Bringing experience as a private-sector actuary, foster parent, yogi, abolitionist court watch organizer, schoolteacher, and community activist, she is committed to running the Treasurer’s Office with a focus on transparency, modernization, and collaboration across County government to improve services and save taxpayer money.

Erica began her career as a middle-school math teacher before her 14-year career as an actuary in pensions at the global firm which is now Willis Towers Watson. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University (BS in Mathematics with a minor in Gender Studies) and a master’s degree from University of Mississippi (MA in Curriculum & Instruction). Erica is a 20-year resident of the East Allegheny neighborhood of Pittsburgh’s Northside.

Photo of a room of people seated in chairs before a panel of four Black women, with a white woman giving an introduction at a podium to the left of the panel

Photo of a Black woman in a green blazer speaking at a podium in front of a presentation screen

Photo of the Ready to Run participants, a group of women of varying races and ages, seated and standing, clapping

Photo of the Ready to Run participants, seated and listening to women on a panel and standing at a podium

Photo of a Black woman seated at a panel table. She is wearing glasses, a black and white blouse, and a black cardigan, smiling whilst she adjusts her microphone

Photo of a young Black woman wearing glasses speaking into a microphone

Photo of the Ready to Run 2023 participants, seated and listening to speakers off screen

Photo of a group of women in professional clothing, listening intently to off screen speakers

Photo of Ready to Run 2023 participants smiling

Photo of Ready to Run 2023 participants, seated and listening intently to off screen speakers

Photo of a woman speaking at the front of a room of seated Ready to Run 2023 participants

Thank You

A special thank you to our sponsors and partners, whose support makes this program possible.

Tom and Bonnie VanKirk '81