Dear friend, 

Happy New Year!

A new year is always so exciting and full of promise... and 2023 is already off to a strong start!

I'm thrilled to share that this year, WPLN is ramping up our efforts and expanding our team in order to further grow our programs and offerings – and you can already see some of those efforts below.

It's clear that mentorship, networking, and support systems make a difference. So to help women continue to break records and shatter glass ceilings, WPLN remains committed to building up support systems and empowering women to lead. We're excited to see what women like you accomplish this year!

Onward,

Larissa

WPLN President and Co-Founder

Our #WPLNSummit is just a few months away! We recently announced that Madeline Fetterly of Be the Brand Collective and June Cutter of Highland-Illuminate will be among our rock star line-up of speakers – follow along on social media as we announce more names, and buy your ticket now!

Every month, WPLN will highlight some #TipsFromTheTrail. Since January is often a time to focus on our health, we're sharing our conversation with three nutrition and fitness experts on how to prioritize one's mental and physical health, on and off the trail. Read more.

WPLN is launching a new monthly series called Leadership Spotlight, where we interview top leaders around the country in different types of positions. WPLN's January Leadership Spotlight featured Valerie Dowling, Director of the Women's Democracy Network at the International Republican Institute and Vice-Chair of WPLN's Board of Directors. She shared her own public service journey, as well as advice for women who are looking to engage in their communities around the world. Watch the January Leadership Spotlight.

Join our team – WPLN is hiring! For more details on the open positions and for instructions on how to apply, visit our website.

THE CONVERSATION | "Just over 1 in 4 members of Congress in 2023 will be women – at this rate, it will take 118 years until there is gender parity": "Even though more women than men voted in the the 2022 midterm elections, women’s representation in Congress, with a total of 535 members, will then stand at just 27.9%. At this rate, it will take 118 more years – until 2140 – for there to be an equal number of male and female lawmakers in Congress." Read more.

FOX NEWS | "Republicans enter Congress with record number of women after putting up diverse slate of GOP candidates": "The total number of Republican women serving in the House and Senate reached a historic high. ... The new record comes after Republicans put up the party's most diverse slate of candidates ever in the 2022 midterm elections, including 80 female House candidates and 33 Hispanic, 28 Black, 13 Asian and three Native American candidates, according to the National Republican Congressional Committee." Read more.

CNN | "Why there are more Republican women in Congress than ever before": "The trail [Lori Chavez-DeRemer] has blazed is emblematic of the progress that the Republican Party has made in electing women over the past decade – hard-fought milestones reached only after outside groups began playing a larger role in primaries." Read more.

Earlier this month, Governing published "7 Things to Know about the Record-Breaking Number of New Women Governors":

"Diversity in who is elected governor is important. In a time of decreasing trust in democracy, women governors send a message to all Americans that their government is representative of all its people."

Be sure to check out #1 and #6 on the list!

Read more.

READING | Financial Feminist: Overcome the Patriarchy's Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love by Tori Dunlap: If you're still looking for a New Year's resolution, strengthening your financial health is always a good one. Plus, the end of the year can be expensive – so this is our pick to start the New Year off strong. Learn more.

WATCHING | Women Talking: This movie was inspired by real-life events and has received significant praise from critics. Learn more.

LISTENING TO | "Right Where She Belongs with Dana Perino" on The Friday Reporter podcast: We loved this opportunity to learn from the experiences of former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino! Learn more.

EXCITED FOR | Galentine's Day on February 13: This special day to celebrate female friends got its start from a 2010 episode of Parks and Rec, and it's easy to see why the day has persisted. We at WPLN know the importance of support systems, so we love any day to recognize and empower our friends!

• Lucretia Mott, suffragist and abolitionist who helped organize the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention (January 3)
• Alice Paul, suffragist, abolitionist, and one of the leaders of the American women's suffrage movement (January 11)
• Dolly Parton, singer and humanitarian whose children literacy nonprofit program has donated more than 100 million books to children (January 19)

Visit our website to see the other women trailblazers and leaders who were born in January.

JANUARY 25 | LBJ Women's Campaign School "Campaign for the Texas Legislature: The Women Leading the Way": Join our Texas training partner LBJ Women's Campaign School to hear from two of the women leading their political party's campaign for the Texas Legislature, Monica Gomez Taylor and Jamie McWright; the panel will be moderated by FiveThirtyEight Politics Reporter Alex Samuels. Learn more.

JANUARY 25 | Virginia Conservative Women's Coalition "Resolve to Make a Difference 2023": Join our Virginia training partner Virginia Conservative Women's Coalition to learn about ways to make a difference in your community, including what offices you can run for, and how to get active in the community without running for office. Dr. Sarah Scarbrough will discuss REAL LIFE, an organization that serves and empowers individuals who have been impacted by incarceration, homelessness, or substance use disorder. Learn more.

FEBRUARY 15 | Pocketbook Project's First Annual "Women In Politics" Luncheon: Join our Massachusetts training partner Pocketbook Project for a luncheon with former Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey! Learn more.

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.