Dear friend, 

This month marks the 105th anniversary of one of the most pivotal moments in American history — the 19th Amendment, which recognized women's right to vote and enfranchised approximately 26 million American women.

In 1920, generations of tireless activism and courage culminated in a constitutional change that reshaped the democratic landscape of our nation.

Today, this milestone reminds us that there is still opportunity to advance women's representation. The 19th Amendment opened the door, and we at WPLN remain committed to building on the progress made by the women before us.

Onward,

Larissa

WPLN Founder and President

Last chance to win a free WPLN coffee mug!

We've extended our giveaway, so there's still time to enter!

Here's how to enter to win:

1. Follow WPLN's Tips from the Trail Podcast
2. Rate
3. Review/comment

Winner will be announced on Sunday, August 31!

(No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Winners must be 18 years or older and live in the U.S.A. To enter, participants must comment or leave a review, rate and follow the WPLN Tips From The Trail podcast show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. There is a limit of one entry per person. Winner will receive one free WPLN mug from the WPLN store. Prizes are non-transferable, and no cash equivalent or substitution of the prize is offered. Giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. on 8/29/25. Winners will be chosen at random on 8/30/25 and announced on the official WPLN social media accounts (@WPLNetwork). Winner must contact WPLN to confirm acceptance of the prize. This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Apple Podcasts, Instagram, Spotify or YouTube.)

For our 7th episode of the Tips From the Trail podcast, political consultant and former Montana Republican Party Executive Director Danielle Bradley joined us to break down essential fundraising strategies for first-time candidates.

One of her tips? Opening your home is one of the most powerful ways to support a candidate you believe in! From intimate coffee chats to dinner parties, home fundraisers create genuine connections that drive real change.

Listen to the episode below to get more expert insights!

Meet the new WPLN Fellows!

WPLN is thrilled to announce the fourth cohort of our WPLN Fellowship for Nonprofit Management for the 2025-2026 academic year!

• Alayna Ruiz, Weber State University (Ogden, Utah)
• Valerie Hoyos, North Carolina State University (Orlando, Florida)

Stay tuned for their upcoming blogs to learn more about them!

... A record number of black women have served in state legislatures this year!

According to a new report titled "Black Women in American Politics 2025," from Higher Heights and the Center for American Women and Politics, there’s been a 67% increase in the number of black women in state legislatures since 2014.

Here are some key findings from the new report:

• Since 2014, the number of black women state legislators has risen from 240 to 401 — a 67.1% increase in just over a decade.
• 2025 marks the first time that two black women are serving simultaneously in the U.S. Senate.
• If Virginia's Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears (R) wins the state’s 2025 gubernatorial election, she would be the first black woman governor in the U.S. and the first woman governor of Virginia.

Read more.

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

• For the woman who knows "history" includes "her story," learn more about the bipartisan effort "for funding for a new women’s history museum on the National Mall that would join museums celebrating African American and Native American history."
• For the woman who realizes "pandemic gains" shouldn't be temporary but permanent, the Washington Post wrote about how and why "return-to-office measures and government layoffs take an outsize toll on women," causing women to leave the workforce and erasing pandemic gains.
• 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 August.

If you have a good recommendation for next month,

let us know!

SEPTEMBER 15 | Episode 8 of WPLN's Tips from the Trail podcast drops! Find out more details on our website!

OCTOBER 30 | WPLN's Profiles in Leadership Reception: Save the date for WPLN's invite-only Profiles in Leadership Reception in Washington, D.C.! To receive an invitation to this exclusive event, become an annual supporter of WPLN by joining the Rankin Circle today!

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.