MN Activist Lisa Belak Equips Conservative Women to Step Up & Lead

When individuals and organizations join our New Leaders Project, we ask them to commit to doing one of two things: either become a candidate for elected office themselves, or recruit other conservative leaders in their communities to run for office. Few people live out the goals and principles of the New Leaders Project like Minnesota native Lisa Belak.

Lisa first started really paying attention to the political environment after September 11, 2001. When the elections started heating up in 2008, she and her brother attended the state caucus together. She learned a lot, but didn’t become actively involved just yet. That changed when her brother decided to run for state house.

“He was looking for someone to help as a campaign manager until he got someone more qualified and knowledgeable,” Lisa says. “I had a background in marketing and communications, so I thought I could help out in the interim.” Once she started, she didn’t stop and her brother never hired another campaign manager. As the campaign progressed, the two attended a campaign training seminar by American Majority. “By the end of the day we had a good grasp of mechanics…It was a relief to know we were on the right track.”

Shortly after the campaign ended Lisa was approached by Minnesota Excellence in Public Service (MEPS), an organization that identifies and trains conservative women to run for office, manage campaigns, or lead political groups. They recruited her to join their nine-month training program on policy and issues, campaigning, public speaking, and other roles in politics. Since 2009, Lisa has managed three more campaigns…

Read the rest at NewLeadersProject.org.