Ms President US hosts Patti Russo from the Yale Campaign School

“Every young girl here, you’re running for office: Think big.”

Standing at the podium, Patti Russo addressed a room full of young girls, all of whom are aspiring to one day be president of the United States.

The girls’ civic leadership program, Ms President US, held its fifth monthly session at the Ridgefield Library on January 11.

The session, entitled “Finding Your Voice and Making it Matter,” focused on the importance of discovering one’s own voice, the guidelines for speaking well, and the elements in making a great speech.

The session kicked off with Liz Fleuette, founder of Ms. President US, introducing the two speakers for the session: Patti Russo, Executive Director of Women’s Campaign School at Yale University; and Sophia Haber, a senior at Ridgefield High School and a Ms. President US mentor.

Ms. Russo immediately captured the girls’ attention as she emphasized the importance for girls to speak up and the ways in how to do it. She explained that to effectively express one’s own opinion, one must relax, show interest, and take up space in the room.

Colorful boas were then distributed to the young girls; Ms. Russo explained that the boas are a reminder that anything in life can be made more colorful. Most importantly, the boas symbolize self-confidence and the message, as Ms. Russo phrased it, that “Whatever comes this day, I can take it on.”

Sophia Haber then took to the podium and stated the struggles she endured in gaining confidence to speak up; now she is the co-founder of the club, We The People, and a member of the Girl’s State Press.

The session concluded with the girls sharing their perspective regarding certain topics and the ways in how to build upon their argument.

For more information about the program, visit the website, mspresidentus.org.