Polis was the proud host for the 2nd annual Healing Politics Campaign School. Healing Politics serves to inspire and train nurses and midwives from across the country to run for elected office. The Campaign School consisted of four days of workshops and lectures focused on campaign development, communications and media strategy, and finance and fundraising fundamentals.

Healing Politics was co-founded by Kimberly Gordon and Lisa Summers to bolster civic engagement and reduce barriers to political participation for medical professionals. This initiative resonated with Sanford Professor’s Nick Carnes and Deondra Rose, who both work to foster inclusivity within public policy. Professor Deondra Rose, Director of Polis, spoke at the opening reception for the Campaign School, highlighting the importance of healthcare representation in Congress to ensure all voices are heard in the democratic process.

In one conversation, Professor Nick Carnes spoke alongside Duke University School of Nursing Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, Ernest Grant on the financial barriers nurses face running for office and how they can break through these barriers.

Participants were also able to meet with current nurse legislators, Senator Gale Adcock (NC-D) and Senator Kristin Roers (ND-R). During a panel discussion they argued that those from all backgrounds should run for office and stressed the need for nurses’ voices to be heard in public policy. Senator Gale Adcock said, “Nobody knows our story like we do. Nobody can tell our story like we do.”