SHEROES OF NY Launches as the First Bipartisan Campaign of Women Candidates Promoting a Summer of Collaboration Leading up to the Primary Elections in New York City

An initiative of the National Women's Political Caucus of New York City (NWPC-NYC), SHEROES of New York is set to make history as the first campaign with 11 female candidates, both Democrat and Republican, collaborating to motivate people to vote and increase awareness and consideration for women candidates

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The National Women's Political Caucus of New York City (NWPC-NYC)

Jul 20, 2017, 15:28 ET

NEW YORK, July 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Women's Political Caucus of New York City (NWPC-NYC), a leading multi-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to increasing women's participation in the political process, launches SHEROES OF NY. This campaign aligns with the celebration marking 100 years since New York State signed women's suffrage into law.

Running a 9-week countdown until the primaries on September 12, SHEROES OF NY seeks to drive voter registration, voter participation and increase awareness of qualified female candidates running for office.

"Women are underrepresented in the political world, often their names go unrecognized and women are often discouraged to run for office," said Sharon Nelson, President of the NWPC in New York. "This campaign is designed to make sure we not only elevate the profiles and stories of female candidates but also raise the importance of voter turnout during local elections. Our vision is for SHEROES OF NY to serve as a blueprint for the nation that shows that women candidates are capable, ready and most important willing to work together and unite to serve their communities," Nelson concluded.

Less than 20 percent of eligible New Yorkers voted during the last primaries, the second lowest turnout after the Louisiana primary, according to the analyst Michael McDonald of The Elections Project. While women do lead the way in voter turnout in New York, there is still a significant gap in representation of their voice and political choice at the ballots.

The candidates, in alphabetical order, participating in the SHEROES OF NY campaign are:

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer (D) - Manhattan Borough President
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R) – Mayor
Councilwoman Margaret Chin (D) - City Council, District 1
Vanessa T. Aronson (D) - City Council, Midtown, District 4
Cristina Furlong (D) - City Council, Queens, District 21
Rebecca Harary (R) – City Council, District 4
Helen Hines (D) - City Council, S. Bronx, District 17
Tamika Mapp (D) - City Council, E. Harlem & S. Bronx
Lucretia Potter (R) – Assembly, Brooklyn, District 43
Carlina Rivera (D) - City Council, District 2
Marjorie Velazquez (D) City Council, Bronx, District 13

The campaign includes online, offline and mass media elements. It aims to galvanize the spirit of women, as well as New Yorkers, to exercise the power of their voice with their vote in the upcoming primary. The candidates will take part in a media tour, borough-to-borough visits, digital and social media communications and most importantly, will demonstrate that despite party lines, SHEROES OF NY work together to represent the party of America.

An exclusive event for supporters, media and special guests will take place on July 27th at the New-York Historical Society, bringing together the SHEROES OF NY. The event will include bipartisan women advocates and community leaders who are united in their commitment to promote a summer of political parity and civic engagement in the City of New York. Included will be a tour of the current exhibit Saving Washington, highlighting the contributions of women whose behind-the-scenes efforts helped implement the Constitution "on the ground."

Photographer Tatiana Villamil, immediately felt compelled by the story behind the campaign and decided to voice her support by becoming the official photographer of SHEROES OF NY. Villamil was born within an artistic family and is currently based in New York City, where she aims to captivate her audience with her influential work.

The integrated multichannel campaign was developed in partnership with award-winning research and marketing firm CIEN+, a women-owned and minority-owned company based in New York City co-founded by Lili Gil Valletta, a nationally recognized advocate for the role women and minorities play in the American economy.

For more information about the SHEROES OF NY campaign, to get involved please visit www.sheroesofny.org. Follow the campaign on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sheroesofny and Facebook at www.facebook.com/sheroesofny. For press inquiries or to attend special events, please email [email protected].

ABOUT NATIONAL WOMEN'S POLITICAL CAUCUS (NWPC-NYC)
The National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC-NYC) is a multicultural, intergenerational, and multi-issue grassroots national organization dedicated to increasing women's participation regardless of party preference in the political process and creating a true women's political power base to achieve equality for all women. NWPC recruits, trains and supports women candidates for elected and appointed offices at all levels of government regardless of party affiliation. The Caucus offers campaign training for candidates and campaign managers, as well as technical assistance and advice.

SOURCE The National Women's Political Caucus of New York City (NWPC-NYC)