Dear friend, 

We've reached the midpoint of another year, and I wanted to take a moment to reflect on all we have accomplished so far. 

In 2023, WPLN launched two new series highlighting women leaders and offering practical tips and advice for women seeking public office. If you haven't yet, check out those interviews on our YouTube channel. We hosted our second annual National Summit, and are already planning for 2024 — stay tuned via WPLN's social media for details! We also continue to see new sign-ups each month to our free online training platform, equipping women who are interested in seeking public office with the skills and understanding of the political process to be successful. 

Now more than ever, we need to close the representation gap with leaders who reflect our values and are focused on public service and policy-making over publicity. As a nonprofit, support from folks like you makes this work possible. Please consider making a donation of any amount — $25, $100, or $1,000 — to help us continue the work we do to equip and encourage women leaders. 

Thank you for your ongoing support,

Larissa

WPLN Founder and President

For our June #TipsFromTheTrail series, WPLN Director of Development and External Affairs Maureen McInerney interviewed Ashley O’Rourke, Director of Analytics and Audience Insight at Majority Strategies and a member of our national Impact Council. In her interview, Ashley highlighted 5 simple steps to integrating data into your campaign, including how to turn data into action on the trail. Learn more.

New Merch in the WPLN Store!

Introducing our First Ladies Series

Treat yourself (or a friend!) to a new tote bag, coffee mug, or T-shirt this month! Our new swag is inspired by quotes from U.S. first ladies Eleanor Roosevelt, Nancy Reagan, Abigail Adams, and Barbara Bush.

Collect them all for a limited time!

Every purchase supports WPLN's mission and helps us equip women to seek public office across the U.S. and become effective leaders. 

TEXAS MONTHLY | "Opal Lee, Fort Worth’s 'Grandmother of Juneteenth,' is still marching at 96": "Seven years after her historic walk, Lee’s activism continues to make news. She was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2022, and this year was honored as the second Black woman to have her portrait hung in the Texas Senate chamber. Both of her alma maters, the University of North Texas and Wiley College, awarded her honorary doctorates this year, and a new affordable housing complex, The Opal, is being built in her honor in Fort Worth, as is the National Juneteenth Museum she’s long advocated for." Read more.

NPR | "40 years ago, Sally Ride became the first American woman in space": "After completing that historic spaceflight in 1983, Ride spoke with journalist Gloria Steinem, remembering that the press seemed more concerned about her gender than the mission. 'Everybody wanted to know about what kind of makeup I was taking up,' Ride said. 'They didn't care about how well-prepared I was to operate the arm or deploy communications satellites.'" Read more.

MSNBC | "Women have historically shunned power in the workplace. Here's how to change that – for good.": "Many women don’t actually want power as it exists today. In what they call 'power aversion theory,' Kay and Shipman reveal that women’s ambivalence toward power is rooted in the desire to prioritize a broader range of life goals and make a lasting impact in society. As it stands today, power dynamics do not work for women, men or the world." Read more.

19th NEWS | "Women of every race and ethnicity broke representation records in statehouses after the 2022 midterms": "Women hit new levels of representation in statehouses after the 2022 midterms, with new records being set by Asian American/Pacific Islander, Black, Latina, Native American, Middle Eastern or North African, and White women, according to the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers University. " Read more.

Earlier this month, Harvard Business Review published "Women in Leadership Face Ageism at Every Age":

"However, research has only just begun to investigate how age is used to justify bias and discrimination specifically against women. Gendered ageism sits at the intersection of age and gender bias and is a double whammy where there is 'no right age' for professional women.

In our recent open-ended survey research of 913 women leaders from four United States industries (higher education, faith-based nonprofits, law, and health care), we discovered that many women suffered from this 'never-right' age bias. Conceptions of young, middle, and old age are often based on perceptions and vary between workplaces and contexts."

Read more.

READING | Fathers & Daughters & Sports: Featuring Jim Craig, Chris Evert, Mike Golic, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Sally Jenkins, Steve Rushin, Bill Simmons, and others by ESPN: We chose this book this month because of the excitement around this year's NCAA women's basketball tournament (and the upcoming Women's World Cup) and because Father's Day recently passed. Sports offer a way for girls to build leadership skills, and Father's Day serves to remind us of the critical role fathers play in their children's confidence and development. Learn more.

WATCHING | Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret, starring Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, and Abby Ryder Fortson: Based on the 1970 novel by Judy Blume, the movie was released in theaters on April 28 and is now available to watch on demand. It follows a pre-teen girl as she navigates religion, puberty, and relationships with friends and family. Learn more.

LISTENING TO | The SheEO Lead In podcast, hosted by San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones: This podcast features women in leadership positions sharing their stories and journeys, including their successes and failures, and is hosted by Mayor Rebecca Jones, who was one of our panel speakers at the #WPLNSummit earlier this year! Learn more.

EXCITED FOR | The FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this summer: It's been a great year for women in sports, and we can't wait to cheer on the U.S. team as they defend their title and seek to become the first nation to win three World Cup tournaments in a row. Learn more.

• Jeannette Rankin, politician from Montana who became the first woman elected to Congress in 1916 (June 11)
• Harriet Beecher Stowe, author whose anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was the best-selling novel of the 19th century (June 14)
• Mary Katharine Goddard, publisher who was the second printer of the Declaration of Independence (June 16)
• Susan La Flesche Picotte, doctor who is known as the first Native American to earn a medical degree (June 17)

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

JUNE 29 | California Women's Leadership Association Rooftop Conversation Starters Series #1 - Women and Economic Development: Join our California training partner California Women's Leadership Association on June 29 for the first of their rooftop events. Learn more.

JULY 12 | Nevada Women's Leadership Alliance Leadership Speaker Series with Tami Pyfer: Join our Nevada training partner Nevada Women's Leadership Alliance as they kick off their Leadership Speaker Series on July 12! Their first speaker will be Tami Pyfer of The Dignity Index. Learn more.

JULY 12 | Virginia Conservative Women's Coalition July Candidate Mentoring Circle: Join our Virginia training partner Virginia Conservative Women's Coalition on July 12 to network with right-of-center women running for any office in Virginia. This is an opportunity to introduce yourself and ask questions about issues you are facing in your race. VCWC Executive Board and Advisory Board members, former candidates, and special guests will be available! NOTE: This event is for candidates only. Learn more.

JULY 31 | California Women's Leadership Association Rooftop Conversation Starters Series #2 - Women Leaders in OC: Join our California training partner California Women's Leadership Association on July 31 for the second of their rooftop events. 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.