Dear friend, 

It’s hard to believe how quickly time has flown, but here we are — with another year wrapping up.

This year, WPLN turned 5 — and we had our biggest year yet!

• We highlighted more than 50 women leaders in our programs, sharing their leadership advice and elevating their experiences.
• More than 100 women in our network ran for office this year, with more than half of them emerging victorious.
• We brought together nearly 200 women and men in Denver, Colorado, in June for our third annual National Summit, which offered opportunities to network, hear from experts, and learn and strengthen key leadership skills.

In addition, we continued to see women rise to leadership positions, challenge old norms, and redefine what leadership means and looks like in today's world... from a record-breaking number of women serving as governors at the same time, to a woman winning a Republican presidential primary for the first time.

A new year means more opportunities to build on the momentum and empower even more women to step into leadership roles. Here’s to celebrating the women who broke glass ceilings this year, to the many more who will follow in their footsteps in 2025 and beyond — and here's to you!

Onward,

Larissa

WPLN Founder and President

WPLN Founder and President Larissa Martinez hosted an exclusive conversation earlier this month where she

• Shared valuable insights from this year's elections,
• Offered an exclusive look at the political landscape for 2025, and
• Unveiled a preview of our new programs launching next year!

Stay tuned for other upcoming conversations!

If you still need gift ideas, check out the WPLN online store!

Whether the woman in your life is a future leader, a candidate for office, a history buff, or just a pop culture enthusiast, we have something for everyone!

Our gifts not only celebrate the remarkable women in your life but also support WPLN's mission to see more women at decision-making tables.

Nicole Chavez

State Representative-Elect, New Mexico District 31

Nicole Chavez won her general election last month to represent District 31 in the New Mexico House of Representatives. She has also served as the Director of Sales, Outreach, and Retention for Presbyterian Health Plan. We previously interviewed Representative-Elect Chavez for our 2022 #MomsOnTheTrail series!

... America remains the most generous country in the world!

In 2023, U.S. charitable giving totaled $557.16 billion. Per capita, Americans donate approximately 7 times as much as their counterparts on the European continent.

According to the Deseret News:

"Americans are generous all year round. From small acts of service like helping a stranger to change a tire or volunteering in a blood drive to historic cases of financial largesse, pitching in is part of our national identity."

Amir Pasic, the Dean of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, says that generosity is uniquely encouraged across all parts of American society: 

“There’s a different cultural approach to philanthropy in the U.S. We have a tax system that supports it; public institutions that celebrate it; and educational, social and cultural organizations that require it to thrive. It’s part of our expanded understanding of what it means to be American.”

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

• For the woman who still remembers her middle school summer reading list, the Atlantic recently wrote about "the elite college students who can't read books" because middle and high schools keep asking students to read fewer and fewer books.
• For the woman who finds opportunities and inspiration in unexpected places, the Chronicle of Philanthropy examined the ways that women's nonprofits are shaking up their strategies post-election.
• 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 December.

If you have a good recommendation for next month,

let us know!

DECEMBER 31 | Virginia Conservative Women's Coalition Networking Event Interest: Our Virginia training partner Virginia Conservative Women's Coalition (VCWC) is planning their 2025 in-person meet-ups. These are opportunities to connect with like-minded women, share insights, and build stronger networks — and to shape the future of your community. Sign up to be a part of the conversation!

DECEMBER 31 | Early Bird Pricing for the 2025 #WPLNSummit Ends: Get 15% off your 2025 #WPLNSummit tickets through the end of the year with code EarlyBird!

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.

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.