Dear friend, 

Did you know that the month of April is Global Volunteer Month, and the U.S. observes National Volunteer Week during the third week of April — which happened to be this week?

While we at WPLN often focus on serving through elected office, there are many ways to serve your community — including through volunteering.

Volunteering is a powerful way to make a positive difference in your community and meaningfully impact the lives of those around you. Studies have also shown that volunteering improves your physical and mental health, from encouraging physical activity and reducing stress, to providing a sense of purpose and boosting self-esteem.

And it's an excellent way to meet new people and expand your social network.

So in honor of Global Volunteer Month and National Volunteer Week, we'd love to hear from you about the ways you're giving back and serving your community through volunteering!

Onward,

Larissa

WPLN Founder and President

WPLN's fourth annual National Summit is just weeks away — are you ready for it? Here are the key dates you need to know:

• 5/1 for free childcare: WPLN is committed to providing free childcare at our events. Register for our summit by 5/1 to receive free childcare — all you need to do is select the option for childcare when you buy your ticket!
• 5/22 for the hotel room discounted rate: Register now to save money on your hotel room! When you purchase your ticket, you'll receive a confirmation email with the hotel booking information, including the discounted room rate just for our summit attendees. But the room block closes 5/22, so plan your trip now so you don't miss out!

We have exciting news about this year's Summit! We're honored to welcome Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina Pamela Evette as one of our Summit Speakers!

In addition to being South Carolina's first female Republican Lieutenant Governor, Lt. Gov. Evette is a driven businesswoman who champions small business, community, and early childhood education.

And we're delighted to share the topics for our Summit workshops and panels:

• Elevate Your Brand, with June Cutter
• Fundraise Like a Pro, with Falicia Mandel
• Finding Your Voice: Authentic Communication, with Becki Wright
• Future of Work: Insights from Local Leaders
• Veterans in Leadership, with Phyllis Wilson, Maddy Meininger, and Seth Lynn

More details to come — but in the meantime, we're sharing a sneak peak of our panel on veterans in leadership! Maddy Meininger joined us this month for a panel preview to discuss veterans in leadership and the unique transition from military service to public service:

When it comes to leadership, knowing and sharing your "why" is critical.

For the 3rd episode of WPLN's new podcast Tips from the Trail, WPLN President Larissa Martinez sat down with Maralyn Beck, founder of the New Mexico Child First Network, to explore how the foundation for effective leadership is a strong sense of purpose.

Maralyn shared her personal journey as a foster parent and founder of a non-profit — and how she overcame hesitation, translated her passion into action, and built a supportive network.

Listen to the episode below!

WPLN has curated a Mother's Day Gift Guide to help with your shopping this year! 

We've released a new line of WPLN swag that celebrates the remarkable women who nurture and inspire us, all while supporting our mission to educate, organize, and inspire women to pursue leadership.

By shopping our store, you can make a meaningful impact and empower moms who lead in every area of life.

Natalie Mihalek

State Representative, Pennsylvania House District 40

Natalie Mihalek was elected in 2018 to serve the citizens of the 40th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives; she was re-elected in 2020. Prior to running for office, she served in the U.S. Navy.

WPLN had the opportunity to connect with Representative Mihalek for our #MomsOnTheTrail series last year!

... this year another state will elect a woman as governor for the first time!

In Virginia's election for governor this November, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) and former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D) will face each other — so no matter who wins, Virginia will elect a woman as governor for the first time in its history.

This will be the 11th governor's election in history where both major party's nominees are women.

According to the Center for American Women in Politics:

• 51 women have served as governor in 32 states.
• Arizona is the first state where a woman succeeded another woman as governor and the first state to have had 5 women governors.
• Of the 51 women governors, 35 were first elected in their own right; 3 replaced their husbands, and 13 became governor by constitutional succession, 7 of whom subsequently won full terms.
• The record number of women serving simultaneously was achieved this year, in 2025, and is 14.

And since we know you're busy, here are our top picks for other "must reads" this month!

• For the adventurer ready to hit the road, women in Congress have introduced legislation to ensure cars are tested properly for women's safety, using crash dummies that reflect women's lighter frames.
• For the mother who's got multitasking down to a fine art, the Washington Post covered the failed measure to allow new parents in Congress to vote by proxy and the state lawmakers who are hoping "their states can find solutions to bring and keep younger women in state capitols."
• For the woman who wants to Remember the Ladies, check out our monthly feature on key moments in women's representation and rights in the past during the month of April.

MAY 5 - 9 | WPLN's #MomsOnTheTrail series: We're excited to continue our "Moms on the Trail" series this year, celebrating mothers who are seeking or serving in public office! We'll also be releasing our 4th episode of our new podcast, Tips from the Trail. Stay tuned for more details!

MAY 20 | WPLN "Lead in Style" in Kalispell, MT: WPLN is hitting the road to bring our brand-new program to Kalispell, Montana. Co-hosted by the Montana Chamber of Commerce, the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, and Montana State Representative Courtenay Sprunger, this event will give you the opportunity to learn practical skills to elevate your professional and personal brand. We're also hosting an optional Campaign 101 training for those interested in running for office!  Get your ticket today!

MAY 28 | WPLN Leadership Spotlight: Stay tuned for more details on our next Leadership Spotlight!

JUNE 5-7 | 2025 #WPLNSummit: Join WPLN and women leaders from across the country in Orlando, Florida, from June 5 through 7 for our 4th annual National Summit! Attendees will hear from experts and leaders to learn how to become a more effective leader, at all levels of government, and connect with women from across the country to build their networks!

Support WPLN programs and resources by making a contribution today!

Women’s Public Leadership Network (WPLN) is a non-profit organization organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent provided by law.