Barbara Stone Hollander '60 Lecture in Women’s Leadership
Women Supporting Women in Politics: The Legacy of EMILY’s List

**Join us for the reception at 6:00**
**Program begins at 7:00**

Featuring Betsy Crone ‘67, one of the Founding Mothers of EMILY’s List.

in conversation with:
Ashleigh Deemer ‘05, Co-Founder, Women for the Future of Pittsburgh
Marita Garrett, MAP ‘15, Mayor, Wilkinsburg, PA

Betsy Crone graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Chatham and holds a master’s degree from Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University. Recently retired from her career as a fund-raiser, she has been a leader in expanding financial contributions to political and non-profit organizations. She has worked to advance the rights of women and to ensure that women political candidates have strong financial resources in their campaigns.

She is particularly proud of her role as a “founding mother” of EMILY’s List, a fund-raising network working to elect pro-choice Democratic women to office.

Betsy planned, designed and implemented fund-raising campaigns, including special events, membership drives, large donor development programs and strategic audits. She helped organizations expand individual donor activities and trained fund-raising professionals and volunteers.

Politics was always a strong interest. During college summers she interned for Senator Joseph Tydings of Maryland and then began her professional career working for Matt Reese, a pioneer in political consulting.

In Washington, DC, she raised funds for numerous organizations advancing legal and women’s rights, protecting women’s health, fighting for a cleaner and safer environment, and improving local social services. Her clients included National Women’s Political Caucus, ERAmerica, Women’s Legal Defense Fund/now National Partnership for Women and Families, Alliance for Justice, Ovarian Cancer National Alliance/now Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance, League of Conservation Voters, and District of Columbia Bar Pro Bono Center.

In the political arena, she worked with Democratic Party organizations in Washington and Democratic women political candidates across the country running for Senate, House of Representatives, Governor and other state and local offices. As a native of Baltimore, MD, she is pleased to have worked in Senator Barbara Mikulski’s campaigns.

Betsy has been recognized by Chatham with the Cornerstone Award for Public Service, by EMILY’s List as “The Maker of the List” and received a Mentor Award from the Public Leadership Education Network, of which Chatham is a founding member.

Ashleigh Deemer is a co-founder of the political action committee, Women for the Future Pittsburgh. Having run for officer herself, she knows what women are up against-- especially those striving to break the mold and create change. Women for the Future has raised and contributed nearly $60,000 to progressive women candidates since 2017. Most of Women for the Future’s endorsed candidates have gone on to win seats across the region, from school boards to the state Senate.

In her professional life, Ashleigh spent 7 years staffing Pittsburgh City Council, working on important community projects and break-through legislation. She is most proud of the work she did to pass paid family leave legislation for all city employees, as well as legislation that created and funded Pittsburgh’s Gender Equity Commission. Since losing a 2017 grassroots run for City Council, Ashleigh now focuses on advocating for clean air, safe drinking water, and strategies to address the climate crisis. She currently serves as the Western Pennsylvania Director for a statewide environmental organization.

Ashleigh is a 2005 graduate of Chatham College and recently completed her Master’s degree at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy. She served as a 2019 Practitioner in Residence for the Pennsylvania Center for Women & Politics’ NEW Leadership Program, and enjoys staying engaged with the Chatham University community. She has been recognized as “Who’s Next in Politics” by The Incline and was awarded the “Spirit of the 19th Amendment” Award by Celebrate & Share.

Marita Garrett was sworn in as Mayor of Wilkinsburg, after serving on Wilkinsburg Borough Council from 2014-2018. In her role as Mayor, she has re-established the Public Safety Forums, which is a monthly series that highlights updates in the Wilkinsburg Police Department and provides an opportunity for community members to express their safety concerns.

While on Council, Mayor Garrett started “Wilkinsburg Community Conversations” an initiative to connect and empower residents to work together for neighborhood improvement. Since then, Marita founded CIVICALLY, an umbrella nonprofit that focuses on literacy programming, building healthy communities through free fresh produce distribution and health education, and the Free Store Wilkinsburg -where donations of new and slightly used material goods are available to residents and families. Ms. Garrett is the co-owner and managing partner of Admintrinsic, a for-profit company that provides a wide range of outreach and engagement services to non-profits, and mid-level corporations. She has successfully coordinated small business educational events, the 2016 Wilkinsburg Vacant Home Tour, Dollar Bank’s first ever 2017 Black History Month Celebration, as well as, the Program Facilitator for Coro Pittsburgh’s Women in Leadership Program and Launch Wilkinsburg

Building on her mission of promoting women empowerment, Marita is the co-host of Shattered Glass Podcast, where stories of extraordinary women shattering the glass ceiling are highlighted. She was featured in Pittsburgh Magazine’s Women & Business, September 2018.

Ms. Garrett received a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. She continued on to receive a Master’s in Psychology from Chatham University where she has been a panel speaker on several occasions for the Center for Women and Politics. She has been recognized for her diligence in civic and community engagement by numerous organizations and media outlets such as the, Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 Under 40, City Paper, The Incline’s “Who’s Next in Politics”, NAACP – Greater Pittsburgh chapter, and named, “Young Democrat of the Year” from the Allegheny County Democratic Committee in 2017.

Currently, she serves as Immediate Past Chair of the Congress of Neighboring Communities (CONNECT) as well as on the advisory boards for Emerge Pennsylvania, Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD), National Leaders Council – Pittsburgh chapter, and Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Strategic Partnerships & Community Engagement Advisory Committee, among other organizations.

In 2017, she was selected to attend the NextCity Vanguard conference held in Newcastle, Australia. Additionally, Ms. Garrett has served on panels at the Brookings Institution and United Nation’s World Urban Forum 9.

Location

Beckwith Auditorium, Buhl Hall

Contact Information

Melody Harris
(412) 365-1578
m.harris@chatham.edu

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