Women’s Public Leadership Network (WPLN) believes that a diversity of voices at every decision making table creates better policy for the greatest number of people. To help ensure America’s rich diversity is reflected in public office, WPLN offers resources to make the political process more accessible. Women of all backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, family structures, professional experiences and abilities are welcome to access WPLN’s content and networking events.
WPLN’s online educational resources are completely free to women at all levels and stages of their political journey and can be accessed anytime to fit any schedule. For all in-person events, including our National Summit, WPLN ensures that all participants are offered free childcare and accommodations for nursing mothers.
In 2022, WPLN wants to continue to expand the audience of our educational resources, ensuring we grow as a network that reflects America. The specific initiatives we are undertaking this year to meet this goal include:
Launching a new nonprofit management Fellowship Program
This program will offer 11 women currently pursuing their education at a university, college, or community college the opportunity to develop their leadership skills in an active, paid fellowship supporting WPLN’s nonprofit partners at the state level. We aim to elevate new and diverse voices, equipping them with the practical skills needed to run a successful nonprofit, while empowering them socially and emotionally to use their own voices to create change. Following the COVID-19 pandemic which brought significant strain on students, this opportunity to learn in a supportive, hands-on environment will help prepare them for success well into the future.
Adding new courses on building diverse coalitions
Candidates at every level need to understand and respond to the changing demographics of our country. We aim to launch a new course as part of our free online curriculum that addresses how to build diverse coalitions across socioeconomic, racial and ethnic, religious, and geographic lines. We plan to feature veterans, LGBTQ+ activists, and women of a variety of ethnic backgrounds to share their expertise and encourage the next generation of public leaders to consider the most vulnerable of their constituents.
Establishing an Impact Council to inform our strategy
WPLN has created a brand new Impact Council, a coalition of men and women from across the United States interested in engaging, supporting, and fortifying a network geared towards equipping and elevating women seeking public office. The Impact Council provides critical guidance and feedback to the WPLN Team, including the Leadership, on outreach efforts and programmatic activities to ensure the organization is using a wide lens when designing and implementing its efforts. WPLN works to engage women from a diversity of backgrounds, including those with different professions, educational levels, and family status, as well as those of all ages with varying cultural, ethnic, religious, and racial make-ups.
WPLN and its network of state-based training partners aim to foster the next generation of women to serve as public leaders at all levels and create a more reflective democracy to serve all residents.
Contact
For more information on how to support these efforts, please contact Maureen McInerney at maureen@womenspublicleadership.net. Individuals interested in attending or speaking at the events mentioned, or applying for the Impact Council, can contact Mercedes Blackwood at mercedes@womenspublicleadership.net for more information.
