Ms. Foundation honors Yale campaign trainer Patti Russo

By AI, Created 4:26 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – The Ms. Foundation for Women gave The Campaign School at Yale Executive Director Patti Russo the first Teresa C. Younger Award at its Women of Vision Awards in New York City. The honor spotlights Russo’s role in training women and underrepresented leaders for campaigns and public office at a moment when many candidates face rising hostility.

Why it matters: - The award recognizes leadership that multiplies future leadership, not just individual achievement. - Russo’s work at The Campaign School at Yale has helped train women and underrepresented leaders to run for office and lead campaigns. - The recognition lands as hostility toward candidates continues to make some people hesitate before entering public life.

What happened: - The Ms. Foundation for Women honored Patricia “Patti” Russo with the first Teresa C. Younger Award at the Women of Vision Awards in New York City. - Russo is executive director of The Campaign School at Yale, known as TCSYale. - The award was presented during the foundation’s annual event, which also recognized Tarana Burke, Blair Imani, Fatima Goss Graves, Pua Case and the Girl Scouts of the USA. - The event raised more than $270,000 for the Ms. Foundation’s advocacy, grantmaking and capacity-building work.

The details: - The Teresa C. Younger Award is designed to honor a feminist champion whose lasting impact comes from the leadership they develop in others. - TCSYale is an independent, nonpartisan nonprofit founded in 1994. - The organization offers an intensive Summer Session hosted at Yale Law School and one-day “The Basics” trainings. - Russo has led TCSYale for 16 years. - Ms. Foundation for Women President and CEO Teresa C. Younger said TCSYale under Russo’s leadership cultivates the next generation of political leaders and helps them maximize power and influence once they are in office. - Younger said Russo deliberately uses her voice to raise up women and gender-expansive people who want to lead campaigns, shape policy and make feminist issues a priority. - Russo used her remarks to honor Younger, for whom the award is named. - Russo said Younger’s vision and success have been monumental and called the award part of Younger’s legacy. - TCSYale said the award underscores Russo’s international influence in expanding women’s political leadership. - The organization’s Summer Session has become one of the most respected and rigorous campaign training programs in the country. - TCSYale Board President Aubrey Mongomery said Russo’s leadership has transformed students and the communities they later serve.

Between the lines: - The award frames campaign training as a pipeline issue, not just a professional-development issue. - The recognition also signals that women’s political participation still depends on institutions that provide training, confidence and support before a campaign even starts. - Russo’s profile suggests that movement-building work inside political training programs is getting more public recognition.

What’s next: - TCSYale will continue its Summer Session and year-round training programs for women and campaign staff. - Russo is expected to keep advocating for investment in women’s leadership and for training that helps candidates step forward and serve. - The broader test is whether more institutions follow this model and help expand the pool of women ready to run and govern.