Portland State Magazine Spring 2008

conservative to liberal-were listening to former legislators, governors, supreme court justices, and others talk abom developing public policy," says Robem. "How you rake an issue and become an advocate and develop the nuances. They were gercing public policy instruction char I don't know char I ever got ac chat level in quire char way. Ir really is an incredible experience. In my day it was an impossible experience." As a result, Roberts says, women who go through the program may enter policies younger and reach higher levels earlier. Ulrimacely, she says, rhe com– munity "wins" by dine of che more equal representation in rhe body politic. After hours, participants and faculty rubbed shoulders informally. "We played all kinds of silly games-competitive games, funny games-everyone laughed and had fun," Roberts says of the rime she stayed in the dormitory with stu– dents. "And I slept in maybe the worse bed I've slept in since I was a child." RE 5ULTS FROM che first four years of conferences indicate che program is working. Before and after surveys show chat more women consider becoming involved in public service or political office after the conference, says Rose. Alumnae are running legislative can1- paigns, lobbying, running for office themselves, or working in che upper echelons of political campaigns. "I can't go to che capitol," says Rose, "without running into one of our alum– nae." She hopes co expand the program to include high school girls and working women. Among alumnae with capitol connec– tions are Andrea Cooper, consticuency director of the Oregon Democratic Parry; Amy Goodall, associate director of governmental affairs for the Oregon Medical Association; and Blair Larkins, congressional aide for Oregon U.S. Rep. Greg Walden. The conference was more than a one-week interlude for deVries, who now serves as an alumnae representative on rhe advisory board. She and ocher participants stay in couch through Web sites and liscservs, and meet socially every quarcer. "Ir has definitely shaped che direction of my life," says deVries. "I had never ever considered a career in public ser– vice. Now I know that my community volunteer activities are the way I wane my career co go-serving the commu– nity in some political capacity. And my experience is not unique. If you talk to 20 women from each cohort, I chink you'll find they had the same exact experience." ■ Melissa Steineger, a Portlandfreelance writer, wrote the article "Producing, Using, Saving"for the winter 2008 Porland Stace Magazine. SPRING 2008 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE 13