Former Congresswoman Karen Shepherd is an ardent supporter of the Real Women Run initiative created by the Hinckley Institute of Politics and the YWCA in 2011. Real Women Run is intended to empower women to participate fully in public life and leadership through elected political office at all levels, political appointments, working on campaigns, or simply learning more about the political system. Karen Shepherd was a panelist during the first Real Women Run public leadership training held on January 14, 2012. For more information, please visit www.realwomenrun.org.