In honor of April as Poetry Month, we're picking back up poetry from Maria James Thiaw, LEAD PA's dedicated Histiographer, (2023-2025).
First Steps holds the moments that push candidates to make change, inspired by her time with Will Griffin and Ashley Comans.
leadpa.org/about
🔔 🆓 VIRTUAL TRAINING ALERT: TREASURER'S TRAINING
LEAD PA is hosting a Nuts & Bolts training for current and interested treasurers of the 2026 campaign cycle.
We will go over general rules, best practices & how to prepare reports for Cycle 2!
Apply here: leadpa.org/skills-development
✡️ APR 13-14: Yom HaShoah
Jews commemorate this day either in a synagogue or communal space. In 1979 Pres Carter established a Holocaust Commission paving the way for state-run ceremonies in Washington, DC & throughout the US.
(Via: PBS)
🔔 VIRTUAL TRAINING ALERT: TREASURER'S TRAINING
LEAD PA is hosting a Nuts & Bolts training for current & interested treasurers of the 2026 campaign cycle.
General rules, best practices & how to prepare Cycle 2 reports!
leadpa.org/skills-development
🔗 leadpa.org/office-hours
Are YOU 🫵 curious about careers in advocacy or politics?
Our team is excited to offer 30-minute video calls to kickstart the conversation! 💻
📆 APRIL: Arab American Heritage Month
Did you know?
Arab Americans in Pennsylvania reside in all 18 congressional districts in the state. District 7, which includes the city of Allentown, houses the highest number of Arab Americans at an estimated 11,585.
via: Arab American Institute
📣 🆓 VIRTUAL TRAINING ALERT!
PENNCIVICS: GOVERNANCE
⏰ APPS DUE TODAY: 04/06 at 4PM‼️
🔗 leadpainstitute.org/penncivics
📆 Weekends between 04/11 - 05/17 (10AM-3PM). Details upon acceptance.
Join us for our second ever cohort for PennCivics: Governance! 🏛️
🐰 APR 5: Easter
Most European languages refer to this holiday w/ names from the Jewish holiday of Passover, but German & English use this non-biblical word: Easter. 🐣
Archaeology confirms the goddess Eostre in parts of England & Germany; the hare as her main symbol. 🐇
(via: Smithsonian Magazine)
🔗 leadpa.org/resources
🤔 Are you or anyone you know ready to take the first steps toward running for office? 👣
We have a compilation of resources available and a 🆓 guide for first-time email list members! 📧
🔗 www.leadpa.org/nominations
We're out here cultivating the next gen of progressive leaders across the Commonwealth.
🧐 We're looking for folks who are:
✅ Locally-grown
✅ Laudable
✅ Leader in any form or fashion
–to join our growing list of trailblazing alumni!
🪞REFLECTIVE DEMOCRACY x WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
With the PA General Assembly up for election this year, we wanted to highlight what Reflective Democracy would look like for the Commonwealth.
Support LEAD PA in empowering the next generation of leaders:
leadpa.org/donate
📣 🆓 VIRTUAL TRAINING ALERT!
PENNCIVICS: GOVERNANCE
⏰ APPS DUE: 04/06 at 4PM‼️
🔗 leadpainstitute.org/penncivics
📆 Weekends between 04/11 - 05/17 (10AM-3PM). Details upon acceptance.
Join us for our second ever cohort for PennCivics: Governance! 🏛️
🗓️ MAR 27-29: TAKING THE LEAD - Virtual Candidate Intensive
⏰ APPLICATIONS DUE 03/25 @ 4PM ET ‼️
🔗 leadpa.org/taking-the-lead
Our flagship program is rigorous, comprehensive, and cohort-based for those considering running for local/county office or the state legislature.
📣 🆓 VIRTUAL TRAINING ALERT!
PENNCIVICS: GOVERNANCE
📆 Weekends betw 04/11 - 05/17 (10AM-3PM). Details upon acceptance.
⏰ APPS DUE: 04/06 at 4PM‼️
🏛️ If you are a first-time elected official, this is for you. Learn more on our website!
🔗 leadpainstitute.org/penncivics
🗓️ MARCH 27-29: TAKING THE LEAD - Virtual Candidate Intensive
🔗 leadpa.org/taking-the-lead
⏰‼️ APPLICATIONS DUE 03/25 @ 4PM ET
Our flagship program is rigorous, comprehensive, and cohort-based for those considering running for local/county office or the state legislature.
🍀 MAR 17: St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick's Day parades were thought to have originated in the United States by Irish emigrants, with the first parade being held in Boston in 1737, according to the Ireland.com site, run by Tourism Ireland. 🎊
📣 🆓 VIRTUAL TRAINING ALERT!
PENNCIVICS: GOVERNANCE
📆 Weekends between 04/11 - 05/17 (10AM-3PM). Details upon acceptance.
⏰ APPS DUE: 04/06 at 4PM‼️
🏛️ If you are a first-time elected official who wasn't able to make our in-person sessions, this is for you.
🔗 leadpainstitute.org/penncivics
"The first campaign taught me that I wanted to reach more people."
Over the next few wks, we'll be featuring poetry from Maria James Thiaw. LEAD PA's dedicated Histiographer, (2023-2025) captured the journeys of alumni she had the pleasure of interviewing.
Learn more: leadpa.org/about
🗓️ MARCH 27-29: TAKING THE LEAD - Virtual Candidate Intensive
🔗 leadpa.org/taking-the-lead
⏰‼️ APPS DUE 03/25 @ 4PM ET
So you've sent in your petition forms? What's next? Our flagship prgrm is rigorous, comprehensive, & cohort-based for those considering running for local/cty office or the state leg
📋 MAR 10 2026: Today is the end of Nomination Petitions period! TOMORROW is the first day to file nomination papers.
🔗 Learn more: pa.gov
📝 Note: Though these trainings online, please make sure you are able to attend ALL three weekends. SPACE IS LIMITED!
📣 🆓 VIRTUAL TRAINING ALERT!
PENNCIVICS: GOVERNANCE
📆 Weekends between 04/11 - 05/17 (10AM-3PM). Details upon acceptance.
⏰ APPS DUE: 04/06 at 4PM‼️
If you are a first-time elected official who wasn't able to make our in-person sessions, this is for you.
🔗 leadpainstitute.org/penncivics
⏰ ‼️ APPLICATIONS DUE: MARCH 4, 2026
🔗 victoryinstitute.org
🗓️ APRIL 23-26: @victoryinstitute.bsky.social's Candidate & Campaign Trainings 🏳️🌈 🏛️
A comprehensive, skills -building opportunity for LGBTQ+ leaders who want to elevate their political power by running (and winning!) their campaigns.
📍 Phil
🕉️ MAR 4, 2026: HOLI
Holi (Dolyatra, Doul Jatra, Basanta-Utsav) is the Hindu festival of colors that celebrates the triumph of good over evil, good harvest, and fertility. 🪷 A time when everyone throws off the gloom of winter and rejoices in the liveliness of spring! 🎊
Via: timeanddate.com
✡️ Evening of MARCH 2 to MARCH 3: PURIM
On the Purim table, triangle-shaped dishes are traditionally served at holiday parties to remind the worshippers of the legendary shape of Haman's hat. 🔼 Called hamantaschen, it's filled with apricot jam, prunes, or poppy seeds.
Via: timeanddate.com
🗓️ MARCH: WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
In honor of closing out Black History Month and ushering in this one, we are featuring some of LEAD PA's trailblazing alumni.
Let LEAD PA support you on your HERstory-making journey.
🏋️♀️ leadpa.org/taking-the-lead
🗓️ APRIL 23-26: @victoryinstitute.bsky.social's Candidate & Campaign Trainings 🏳️🌈 🏛️
⏰ APPLICATIONS DUE: MARCH 4, 2026‼️
🔗 victoryinstitute.org
A comprehensive, skills -building opportunity for LGBTQ+ leaders who want to elevate their political power by running (and winning!) their campaigns.
📍 Phila
🗓️ MARCH 27-29: TAKING THE LEAD - Virtual Candidate Intensive
🔗 leadpa.org/taking-the-lead
⏰‼️ APPS DUE 03/25 @ 4PM ET
So you've sent in your petition forms? What's next? Our flagship program is rigorous, comprehensive, and cohort-based for those running for local / cty / state leg.
🔗 leadpa.org/resources
🤔 Are you or anyone you know ready to take the first steps toward running for office? 👣
We have a compilation of resources available and a 🆓 guide for first-time email list members! 📧
🗓️ APRIL 23-26: @victoryinstitute.bsky.social 's Candidate & Campaign Trainings 🏳️🌈 🏛️
A comprehensive, skills -building opportunity for LGBTQ+ leaders who want to elevate their political power by running (and winning!) their campaigns.
⏰ APPLICATIONS DUE: MARCH 4, 2026‼️
🔗 victoryinstitute.org