Are you Prepared to Run Hard and Fast?
Run for It! is a non-partisan training and coaching program dedicated to supporting Asian Canadian participation and representation across Canada at all levels of elected public office including federal, provincial, municipal and school board trustees.
With condensed sessions designed with a practical and best practice approach, candidates running for elected office as well as key leaders involved in campaigns will be enabled to hit the ground running. Each session module provides essential tools and critical development to build confidence in all aspects of driving and positioning an election campaign for winning results.
Who should apply for the Run for It! Program? Asian Canadians who are running for elected office, campaign leaders and allies (campaign workers) who are supporting their candidates to win.
There are some subsidized spaces available. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
Event Session Dates and Descriptions
1. Public Narrative: Storytelling: Tuesday September 14th, 4:00-6:30 pm PT, 5:00-7:30 pm MT, 7:00-9:30 pm ET
Develop personal narratives: (Why am I running? What is my core value that drives me? What do I want to accomplish? Who are my electorates and what are their stories and needs?).This will lead candidates towards self awareness and understanding - Through this process participants will develop a deeper understanding of the role they want to play in politics - running for office, or running campaigns to elect candidates they believe in.
Purpose: Make space for potential candidates to do self-inquiry, explore the personal, emotional, systemic realities of running for office as a BIPOC candidate. How to build and sustain a personal profile and build community capital and coalition. How to bring family and friends together. Furthermore, translating support to actual votes.
2. Campaign Planning and Communication: Thursday September 16th, 4:00-6:30 pm PT, 5:00-7:30 pm MT, 7:00-9:30 pm ET
How to recruit volunteers, deep canvass, deal with racial incidence, get ready for public meetings, candidate meetings, developing internal and external communication skills, and dealing with the media.
Purpose: How to form a concrete plan of action.
3. Technical Campaigning: Saturday September 18th, 9:30-12:00 pm PT, 10:30-1:00 pm MT, 12:30-3:00 pm ET
Teach potential campaign candidates how to build a campaign along with the necessary big picture and practical skills (digital campaigning, campaign team with diverse skills, fundraising, voter contact strategies, strategy and tactics, advance vote, and election day vote).
Purpose: Participants will learn tactical skills such as how to run an effective and legal campaign as well as how to build a political message.
4. Network of Peers and Mentors: Saturday September 18th, 12:00-2:30 pm PT, 1:00-3:30 pm MT, 3:00-5:30 pm ET
Focusing on diplomatic etiquette, how to network, and how to ensure self care and the creation of a support circle.
Purpose: Participants will be connected to a network of past and present politicians, campaign workers, and other change-makers with the intention of building an accountability/support network for potential candidates.
Sponsoring Agencies
ACCT Foundation, Teresa Woo-Paw
ALPHA Education, Gen-Ling Chang
NAAAP Toronto, Ben Hum
The Justin Poy Agency, Justin Poy
Filipinos Rising, Cesar Cala and Marichu Antonio
Institute for Change Leaders, Olivia Chow