Celebrating 14 Years!
NeW is thrilled to announce that Ericka Andersen will serve as the keynote speaker at our Anniversary Dinner on September 27 at Sixth Engine Restaurant in Washington, DC.
Ericka Andersen has been a freelance writer and digital media marketing professional for over 12 years. She writes about politics, policy, culture, fitness and more a variety of publications in including National Review, The Daily Signal, Scary Mommy and The Federalist.
Previously, Andersen was the Digital Director at National Review magazine and the Online Media Director for the GOP Congress, under Vice-President Mike Pence. She also worked as the Communications Director for Congressman Todd Rokita (IN) and as the Digital Manager at The Heritage Foundation.
Her first book, “Leaving Cloud 9: The True Story of a Life Resurrected From the Ashes of Poverty, Trauma and Mental Illness” was released from Harper Collins publishers in 2018.
She lives in Indianapolis, Indiana and is married to Rick and has two children, Jacob and Abby.
Check out our interview with Ericka below!
What advice do you have for young conservative women today?
My best advice is to be knowledgeable. Know history and the details of current events. Be informed before speaking out. Being armed with the facts and details is the best way to gain authority. You will stand more confidently in your beliefs if they are informed by facts and reality.
What inspired you to pursue a career in conservative politics and policy?
Conservatism provides the best benefits for the most people. It’s empowering to every single person and promotes freedom in the very best way. I believe conservative policies are the way to a better life and the key to hope for the most vulnerable in our country.
What was the most difficult part about writing Leaving Cloud 9?
The daily grind of writing. It’s hard to make yourself write this many words but I learned from other writers along the way that sometimes you just have to “just do it” as you would exercise or any other task. You write and write even if you don’t feel like it’s very good some days. Just getting words on paper is the important part. Then you can edit later!
What motivated you to write your book, Leaving Cloud 9?
Hearing and knowing my husband’s story of overcoming severe trauma as a child and then finding true freedom and healing from his past as an adult was something I knew could help others. I think his story is fascinating and inspiring — and we both felt a calling to tell the story so that others might be helped by it.
What message do you hope your readers take away from your book?
Essentially, nothing is impossible with God. However, I also want people to know that there are pro-active steps they can take to help themselves if they are dealing with trauma recovery or mental illness — and that “this too shall pass.” With suicide on the rise, I want people to know there is help and there is hope. They do not and will not feel this way forever.
You have a very active social media personally. What advice do you have for young women early in their careers when it comes to social media?
I would say use it like crazy to build your name and the “brand” of the kind of person you want to be. Whatever you do, you want to have influence and building a social media following is part of that. Be personal, kind, helpful and smart in what you put out there. If you are hesitating on whether something is appropriate or not, just go with your gut that it’s probably not. (hotcanadianpharmacy.com) Use sarcasm wisely and make sure you are armed with the facts before you make comments about policy or politics. Find role models you love on social media and model your actions after them.
What do you wish you could have told your 20-something year-old self then that you know now?
I would tell myself to make as many coffee q&a’s with people I aspire to be like as possible, go to as many networking events as I could, take volunteer jobs and internships for career paths I’m interested in. I would tell myself to interact with people who are different from me politically and read things from “the other side.” Recognize too the humanity of folks on the other side of the aisle and realize they too have good intentions for what they believe in. Empathize and understand you will more likely make a stronger, more compassionate argument for why you believe what you believe.
What value do you think groups like NeW add to the public discourse?
I think it’s great to have a place to discuss ideas and promote policies you believe in. I know NeW is committed to diversity of thought and believes in conversations and thoughtful dialogue. We need more of that on campus and in public life. Though NeW is obviously conservative, you believe in freedom of speech and thought, unlike some Leftist groups you see nowadays. We need organizations like NeW to thrive so that ideas and freedom can continue to thrive as well.
The Anniversary Dinner is free to all members. Registration for the dinner can be found here. Not a member? Join today!
