"I knew I wanted to get involved in the 2020 cycle in a professional capacity, but I did not have prior campaign work experience outside of volunteering. So I needed to learn the basics, understand how to switch careers... and know where I'd fit best once I pursued a campaign job. After completing Arena in September 2019, I quickly transitioned to Pete Buttigieg's campaign in Iowa in October 2019. After Pete's campaign ended in March, Arena helped connect me to additional campaign opportunities back in Florida. Now that I am managing a congressional race, I've relied on Arena's Toolbox for resources to build a campaign plan and budget."

“In 2018, I managed my first campaign and I had to learned on the spot. Yet, I knew that there were more skills I could fine tune to be able to improve my managing and strategy skills. Arena Academy helped me learn that people like me belong in politics. That we belong in the strategy sessions of campaigns because our communities matter."

“Frustrated by everything I was seeing in the run up to the 2016 election, I decided I could no longer stand on the sidelines as a spectator and committed to immersing myself in politics, learning the lay of the land, and figuring out how to best contribute my corporate marketing experience from Nike, Red Bull, and other brands to get young people to vote. Creatives, especially those of color, deserve a more meaningful seat at the table in politics.”

"Coming from a small town in south Mississippi... I was interested in getting involved in politics, but I had no idea where to begin or what to expect. When I applied to Arena Academy, I was hoping to learn more about what it is like to work on a campaign full-time, what role I might be fit for, and how to even get started. The finance track at Arena Academy was extremely thorough and informative. I learned tips and developed skills at Arena Academy that I have continued to use on presidential and U.S. Senate campaigns."