Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2017 UCW 13 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Erinn Foote, a Fayetteville native, cannot be accused of sitting on the couch this summer — not while she's at Running Start's 11th annual Young Women's Political Leader- ship Program, which runs from June 19 to June 24. According to a press release, "Running Start is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Washington, D.C. that encour- ages young women to run for office early so that they can estab- lish the tenure necessary to rise to political leadership positions." e press release continued to say that the Young Women's Political Leadership Program gives women in high school the "encouragement, support, knowledge and inspiration" they need to be leaders where they are now and in the future. Foote is 17 years old and is a rising senior at South View High School. She's one of 65 young women from a national pool to be accepted into Running Start's program this year. She was in French class when she got the good news and said she couldn't contain her excitement. "I applied Jan. 31 just for fun," she said. "But I only found out I was accepted March 28. When I found I was accepted I called my mom in the middle of class." She said she kept the informa- tion mostly to herself until she knew for sure she was going, but when her dad found out, he began calling her "Madame Congresswoman," and her mom made "a billion Facebook posts." Melody Foote, Erinn's mother, said she's excited and proud of her daughter for applying entirely on her own and being accepted into the program. "I think it's a fantastic oppor- tunity for her to actually explore and see if this is a field she ... wants to go in," Melody said. "As her mom, you just can't pass up that experience." All of this excitement called for a celebratory din- ner with Rudino's pizza, Erinn said. According to the Running Start website, the pro- gram will include a week of political training, a trip to the White House and one-on-one meetings with Congress members. e one event Erinn said she looks forward to most is meeting her favorite congresswoman, House Representative Tulsi Gabbard, who repre- sents the 2nd District of Hawaii. Erinn said she's nervous but wants to tell her how much respect she has for her and "hopefully get a selfie or two." "She stays very true to her beliefs and her promis- es," Erinn said. "She left her position in the (Demo- cratic National Committee) so she could verbally support her candidate during the election." Susannah Wellford, president and founder of Running Start, said every one of the 65 young wom- en was chosen based on their "passion to make a difference in people's lives and (their) work to give back to (their) community." "ese young women are the political leaders of tomorrow," Wellford said. "ey give me great hope for the future of our country." Erinn was given the highest allotted amount in scholarship, which will cover half of her expenses for the program. She wants to study political science and psychol- ogy at Duke University leading up to a master's de- gree in law, and wants other students to know that "hard work will always pan out." SARAH STRICKER, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upand- comingweekly.com. 910.484.6200. South View Student Accepted to the Young Women's Political Leadership Program by SARAH KAYLAN STRICKER Erinn Foote with Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) PROFILE Music by Harvey Schmidt | Lyrics by Tom Jones | Directed by Jeanne Adams Koonce, Purple Door Productions "A Unique Theatre Experience!" A Romantic Musical Comedy! July 27-29, 2017 Ramada Plaza | 1707 Owen Drive Call: 910-391-3859 For Reservations or More Information $75.00 Per Person* • $5 Discount for Seniors 65+ Active Duty Military Available at www.fayettevilledinnertheatre.com or FDT Box Office at Ramada Plaza Monday - Friday 8:30 - 5:00 *Proceeds donated to Kidsville News Literacy & Education Foundation with Special Musical Guests: Cross Creek Chordsmen