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Sometime late last year a friend emailed me a description of a new program being offered through the Women's Media Center. It's called Progressive Women's Voices and it is a media training and spokesperson program to connect media professionals with smart, media-savvy women experts in a variety of fields. Funded primarily by a generous grant from the NoVo Foundation and with additional support from the UN Foundation and other supporters, Progressive Women's Voices provides each of the participants with intensive media training and ongoing support to promote their perspective and message into the national dialogue. She had a lot of questions about it, but it seemed like a great opportunity. Of course I couldn't fit it into my already packed schedule. Thus I ended up emailing it to almost every woman I knew in Chicago because I had a feeling that it would be NYC and DC heavy and well, we have some awesome subject matter experts here in the Chi.

They made another call for a second class and I wasn't accepted. But I tried for the third class and I GOT IN! 

Last week I was on cloud nine about this. I sent out thank yous to almost everyone who has ever acted like a mentor to me. Even a few who might think that either they failed me or I failed them. Today? I'm scared and trying not to freak out over the fact that I have a dress that I want to wear to training, yet needs some altering...*lalala*

But during my cloud nine moment, someone asked me this - Why? Why would I do this? What's my goal?

Well not a shock to long-time readers, but my goal is to get my voice hear louded. I am simply tired of not seeing women being the experts on women's issues and well as women not being used as experts on non-women's issues. Whether it is child care or war, there are women experts out there and the media needs to start using us. That is also why I work with Women In Media & News. The founder and executive director, Jennifer Pozner, has long been documenting the lack of women's voices in the media.

I am super excited that I'll be in a class with Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner of Momsrising and Carmen Van Kerchhove of Racialicious, two uber-mom-activists.

OK, now I'm super scared again! 

I leave on Thursday and return Saturday night from our first weekend of training. I'll report back, especially on any strategy us moms & dads will need to take over the world. 

When Veronica isnt' jetting off to sit at the big girls' table she blogs at Viva La Feminista, WIMN's Voices, and Work it, Mom! You can also follow Veronica at Twitter...She's sure to send fan-girl messages all weekend long.