Recruitment for the Class of 2011 Now Underway

Do you know a smart, passionate Democratic woman who should be serving the community? Do you want to learn more about the Emerge Program or have questions about the application process? Click here to see answers to FAQs

Successful Annual Event with Arianna Huffington!

Arianna Huffington packed the 6th Annual Emerge event with hundreds of supporters on June 17, 2010. Click here to see more pictures from the event.

Emerge California graduates the Class of 2010!

Congratulations to the Class of 2010 on their recent graduation from the Emerge program. Click here to see more photos of the ceremony.

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Who We Are

Emerge California Candidates

Belia Bennett
Candidate for American Canyon City Council, Class of 2010

Belia Bennett is the President of Raise the Bar, LLC, a bar exam preparation company. In addition to running every aspect of Raise the Bar, Belia is an adjunct law professor and part owner of a vineyard farming company, Ramos Vineyards, LLC. Prior to embracing her entrepreneurial spirit, she practiced law in the area of Employment Counseling and Litigation. Prior to her admission to the State Bar of California, she served as a congressional staffer and appellate law clerk.

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Carlyn Obringer
Candidate for Concord City Council, Class of 2010

Carlyn Obringer is a researcher/writer who focuses on public education reform to ensure quality education for every child in California. Previously, she worked as a researcher/writer and Japanese-to-English translator/interpreter for the Japan External Trade Organization.

In that capacity, Carlyn conducted interviews with California state economists, policy makers and mid-level corporate representatives as the basis for articles on current political and economic topics facing the Bay Area and Silicon Valley (including education, healthcare and social security reform).

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See the rest of the Emerge California Candidates

Emerge California Women in Office

Adrienne Waterman
Vallejo School Board, Emerge California, Class of 2009

Adrienne Waterman is a recent graduate of the Emerge California program and sits on the Vallejo School Board. 

Adrienne is a community activist, political organizer, business woman and parent. Her political foci are GBLT Rights, Women's Issues, Children's Advocacy, Historic Preservation, and responsible economic development for the City of Vallejo and Solano County, California. Some of the many civic projects she has directed include a Youth Mural Arts Program, a Summer Arts Camp for kids, advocacy for historic Mare Island and Vallejo, and the management of important capitol improvements to Vallejo's City Park including the building of a Community Center and orchestration of a Community Built Playground. Adrienne also sits on the Boards of the Vallejo Architectural Heritage Foundation, the Vallejo Charter School, and until recently was the Executive Director of the Vallejo Community Arts Foundation.

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Alecia Eugene-Chasten
North Highlands School Board, Emerge California, Class of 2008

Alecia's experience with education includes advocating for children, parents, teachers, and her community as a past PTA President, elementary and high school Site Council member, and Board Director for the North Highlands Recreation and Park District. Alecia has 22 years of civil service with the State of California and currently provides technical support services for the State Department of Child Support Services as an Information Systems Analyst; she is also the CEO/President of "MoneyTree Capital Group" a consulting firm that specializes in account receivable financing, private funding, recruiting and training new entrepreneurs on how to build wealth. Alecia has resided in the North Highlands area for over 40 years, and has three children.

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Click here to see more Emerge California Women in Office

Class of 2010 Graduates

Alicia Okoh

Alicia Okoh is a Clinical Social Worker. She received a BA degree in Psychology from Spelman College and dual Masters degrees in Public Health and Social Work from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Alicia conducted comparative research while living in Nigeria and South Africa on the attitudes of AIDS among adolescents. As a Moody Scholar in South Africa, she researched the effects of apartheid on the mental health and political involvement of young adults.

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Amber Hughes

Amber Hughes is the special projects manager for the Marin City Community Services District and a long time resident of Marin City. Consistent with her life's work, she is at the center of several social justice initiatives to improve the quality of life for underserved members of her community. In conjunction with her efforts and undeniable calling to spread a message of self-love to young women nationally, she is developing the SHERAW Organization (Sisters Headlining Entertainment and Raising Access for Women)—a non-profit, social enterprise, which provides outreach to at risk and incarcerated women and youth through a performing arts medium.

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Click here to see more 2010 Program Members.

Class of 2009 Alumnae

Class of 2008 Alumnae

Class of 2007 Alumnae

Class of 2006 Alumnae

Class of 2005 Alumnae

Class of 2004 Alumnae

Class of 2003 Alumnae

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