Mission

Girls, we want you to be president someday. We know you hear that. We know you hear, throughout your lifetimes, that a woman could or should be President of the United States. 

Maybe you want to be president, but not that president. Maybe it's something else. Maybe it's something next year or the year after. President of your class. Captain of your team. Chair of your committee. Student director. Manager of your own business. Editor-in-chief, or hell, simply Editor. Maybe you wish there was a club for improv or fencing or women's rights but you have no idea how to start one-- and you think you would have to lead it just to get it to exist. Maybe you want to be the one leading the group work instead of being relegated to being everyone's secretary since "you have the best handwriting." Maybe you're starting to think it's time to stand up, speak up, and be in charge. We think so, too.

We know that it seems like there are a thousand obstacles between you and your Presidency. First of all, you don't even know where to start. Past leaders have graduated. Nobody knows who you are. Your school is really big. You don't have any money for posters. When you open your mouth to tell people what you're all about, you can't say it quite right. Public speaking gives you the sweats but you're still the best candidate to lead the lit mag, dammit. 

The mission of Be the President (Of Anything) is to unite and train high school girls in Connecticut who want to lead. We will help girls learn to speak publicly, write persuasively, articulate their visions, plan and manage their time, fundraise, and build community. All with the support of other girls trying to do the same thing in their own schools, and women leaders in your community.

The long-term mission of Be the President (Of Anything) is to get girls brave and comfortable with leadership so that they can lead us for the rest of their, and our, lives.

How does it work?

We don't know yet! We're still in the very beginning stages of figuring out what this is. Most likely, a camp and/or a club that goes through the year. Here are four ways to get involved if this sound good to you.

Sea Tea Improv

Sea Tea Improv is Connecticut's favorite comedy company. Led by an equal number of women and men, these young comedians built the state's first comedy theater in August of 2016. Since 2009, Sea Tea Improv has performed thousands of shows and taught hundreds of classes to people of all backgrounds. Sea Tea Improv is a leader in communication training, personal development, and community leadership. 

Sea Tea Improv is uniquely situated to train young women in the art of leadership: public speaking, personal confidence, and community building are already in their curriculum. Sea Tea can't wait to bring its skills and enthusiasm to the great cause of female leadership.

Julia Pistell, Managing Director of the Sea Tea Comedy Theater

Julia Pistell is the Managing Director of the Sea Tea Comedy Theater, former Director of Writing Programs at the Mark Twain House & Museum, four-year administrator and teaching artist of The Greater Hartford Arts Council's "Write to the Point" Neighborhood Studios program, host of the Literary Disco and Radius Project podcasts, and creator of Syllable: The Reading Series. Be the President (of Anything) is Julia's next passion project. Reach out to her any time at julia@seateaimprov.com with questions and ideas.