By Gretchen Webster

WESTPORT — A woman has never been elected to the United States presidency. But if the women and girls involved in Ms President US have their way, the nation will have a female chief executive — at least in a few years.

The mission of the Connecticut group, which opens a chapter in Westport this week, is to help girls in fourth through eighth grades overcome the self-doubt and lack of confidence prevalent in girls in their middle school and teen years, and to cultivate leadership qualities and promote civic education, according to Amanda Cordano, executive director of the nonprofit.

“Sadly, studies show that it used to be at age 13, dropped down to 11 and 12, and now as low as 9 years old,” she said of research showing that girls lose confidence in themselves. “Is it social media, is it their bodies are changing earlier and earlier?”

Savannah Joseph, a senior at Wilton High School and a mentor in the group’s Wilton chapter, agreed. “Young kids think they are unstoppable, but from fourth grade through high school they begin to doubt themselves,” she said. 

Joseph, who joined the group in seventh grade, said that becoming a member of Ms President US “assures that girls are sure of themselves and can speak their mind.”

Another mentor, high school junior Maggie Fleuette, joined the Ridgefield chapter as a fifth grader. She ultimately decided that she didn’t want to be a politician, but still learned leadership skills and hopes to go into a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

“I learned a lot of skills like public speaking,” Fleuette said.  “As a sophomore and junior I became a class rep and I lead the class meetings every week. The Ms President US program gave me the confidence to take a leadership role.”

The non-partisan, civic leadership program was started in Ridgefield by Liz Osterhous, when her daughter was unhappy with the 2016 election results. “Her daughter really wanted to see the first woman president,” Cordano said of the group’s founder.  Since then, the organization has expanded with six other chapters, mostly in Connecticut. 

The Westport chapter will hold its first monthly meeting on Friday, Sept. 29. The program is for girls in fourth through eighth grades, with the option for high school students to become a mentor for younger girls. High school students are welcome to join the mentor program, even if they haven’t gone through the program themselves, Cordano said.

Each chapter has a workshop from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. once a month, takes a field trip to the state Capitol in March, and holds a campaign and election in April where the girls can run in an election to be Ms President US of their town, according to a release provided by the group. During the program, girls also meet with local government officials and state and federal leaders. 

The eight-workshop series costs $250, but the organization offers, “tons of scholarships,” so that all girls who are interested can participate. Cordano said.

 The group gives girls the opportunity to:

●  Develop public speaking skills.

●  Cultivate self-esteem and confidence.

●  Meet with local, state and federal leaders.

●  Gain insights from female role models, leaders and experts.

●  Work with high-school-age mentors to run an election and campaign to become “Ms President US” in their town. 

A statistical analysis survey taken every year by the Ms President US organization shows that girls are growing and becoming empowered by participation the program and fulfilling those goals, according to Cordano.

The 2022 survey showed that 100 percent of participants 8 to 11 years old reported satisfaction with the program. “To get 100 percent satisfaction in statistical analysis is so uncommon,” she said.

Other findings from the survey show that 94 percent of members 12 or older showed greater political interest, and improvement “in at least one of the following taking action capacities: Advocating for Change, Sociopolitical Participation and Confidence to Mobilize,” 

according to the organization’s release.

Mentor Samantha Joseph characterized the program’s mission as “helping girls to advocate for themselves and encouraging girls that they have the power to make change,” she said.

“Every single girl grows from the beginning of the program until the end.”

To register for the Westport program, beginning Friday, Sept. 29, from 4:15-5:45 p.m., visit the MS President US website, email info@mspresidentus.org or call 203-244-7630.

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Freelance writer Gretchen Webster, a Fairfield County journalist and journalism teacher for many years, was editor of the Fairfield Minuteman newspaper for 10 years and teaches journalism at Southern Connecticut State University.