November 2022 WPLN Newsletter

Dear friend, 

It's fitting that the November elections are followed by Thanksgiving, as it allows us a moment and a reason to step back from politics to focus on gratitude.

So ahead of Thanksgiving Day, I'd like to share some of the things I'm grateful for.

• The increase in woman-versus-woman races helps to normalize the concept of women in politics and positions of power. And these races help to highlight that women have different backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints rather than being a monolithic group that thinks the exact same way.
• A record number of women were elected to serve as state governors, since governors play a significant role in setting policy discussions in their state, and the position is traditionally a common path to the White House. 
• It seems to be the beginning of a shift in attitude toward women in leadership positions. Historically voters have favored voting women into legislative positions, where responsibility is shared amongst others, rather than executive positions with the power to make decisions.

And most of all, I'm thankful for our constitutional republic and our fellow Americans. There are all kinds of ways to serve, from military service to public service to volunteering and charity, and Americans never shy away from the responsibility. 

Studies show that gratitude can improve both our mental and physical health. Starting tomorrow, WPLN will be celebrating a Gratitude Campaign, and I hope you'll join us – simply share a snapshot from the campaign trail, one of WPLN's events, or another favorite memory from this past year, with the hashtag #GratitudeCampaign.

I'm excited to see what you share!

Onward,

Larissa

WPLN President and Co-Founder

BOOK NOW... Registration for our 2023 WPLN National Summit is OPEN! Our Summit provides you with the opportunity to connect with women throughout our network. Our 2023 Summit is in San Diego from April 21-23, and we don't want you to miss it. Buy your ticket now!

And to show our gratitude for our service members, current and former members of our Armed Forces are invited to use the code MILITARY-APPRECIATION for 10% off tickets to our National Summit. We can't wait to see you there!

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday are quickly approaching... and WPLN has the gifts you need for the woman leader(s) in your life! When you buy WPLN merchandise at our shop, every purchase helps to support WPLN's efforts to empower more women to lead. Or, if you shop at Amazon, use our unique link or with Women's Public Leadership selected as your charity in Amazon Smile, and Amazon will donate a percentage of your purchases to WPLN at no cost to you!

Hold my coffee... I've got an election to win! New WPLN stickers just dropped with our favorite phrase to empower women on the campaign trail! A $15 donation supports our programming throughout the year, and to say thank you we will send you a brand new sticker and an invitation to our regional Election Recap Series.

YAHOO | "All the unpaid labor women did during the COVID recession might have saved us from an economic crisis": "Our economy depends on unpaid labor to fuel the rest of our economic output, and the division of all the work at home is far from fair. Women do at least two and a half times more unpaid labor than men." Read more.

KATU2ABC | "As young veterans face breast cancer, Congress pushes VA to ensure access to screening": "...Studies show that female service members have up to 40% higher risk of developing breast cancer than their civilian counterparts. The VA reports that about 700 military women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. With women now the fastest growing population among veterans, it's a number that could rise..." Read more.

NPR | "Vermont ends streak as the last state to send a woman to Congress": "All 50 states in the U.S. have now sent a woman to represent them in Congress." Read more.

THE HILL | "Pelosi attack highlights risks of online violence against women in politics": "The online abuse of women running for office, especially those of color, is more likely to be gendered, personal and invoke sexual violence than their male peers, research shows ... 'Any political violence is bad. So it’s not as if we should care more about what is targeted to men versus women. But what we should pay attention to is the way that gender is a factor in that targeting.' " Read more.

NPR | "Concussion protocols are based on research of mostly men. What about women?": "Every year, millions of Americans get concussions. In a 2017 CDC survey, 2.5 million high school students – 15% of all high school students nationwide – reported having experienced a concussion in the previous year. More than 40% were girls. Yet much of the most consequential concussion research has focused on men and boys.." Read more.

CNBC NEWS | "Women athletes now have their own sports network": "Finding women’s sports is about to get easier. The first-ever network to focus on female athletes, the Women’s Sports Network, launched [November 2], offering 24/7 streaming of original programming, competitions, documentaries and a daily studio show... The new network comes at a time when investment and viewership numbers for women’s sports are on the rise, yet women only receive a small fraction of media coverage." Read more.

Our ReflectUS coalition member Latinas Represent partnered with the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) to release a new report titled "Latinas in U.S. Politics 2022":

"Data from the 2020 U.S. Census shows that those identifying as Hispanic or Latino accounted for more than half of the country’s population growth in the previous decade, with the greatest increases in Texas, California, and Florida. Latinas are key to that rise. But has representation in elective office kept pace with that population growth? This report helps to answer that question."

Read more.

Plus, a 2022 elections update: As a result of the elections earlier this month, Latinas set a new record for representation in Congress this year!

READING | The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line: Untold Stories of the Women Who Changed the Course of World War II by retired U.S. Army Major General Mari K. Eder: A fitting read for a month that is designated as National Veterans and Military Families Month and that observes Veterans Day, The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line focuses on "the heroes of the Greatest Generation that you hardly ever hear about. These women who did extraordinary things didn't expect thanks and shied away from medals and recognition. Despite their amazing accomplishments, they've gone mostly unheralded and unrewarded. No longer. These are the women of World War II who served, fought, struggled, and made things happen ― in and out of uniform." Learn more.

WATCHING | She Said, starring Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan: She Said is a biographical drama based on two women reporters whose 2017 New York Times investigation into Harvey Weinstein led to his conviction on sex offenses in 2020. Learn more.

LISTENING TO | "Key Takeaways from Election Day with Errin Haines and CAWP" Twitter Space: The Center for American Women and Politics discussed the key takeaways from the 2022 midterm elections in a conversation moderated by 19th News editor-at-large Errin Haines. Learn more.

EXCITED FOR | WPLN's Gratitude Campaign: Election years can be tough on mental and physical health, so WPLN is looking forward to the opportunity to take a step back and reflect on what we're grateful for from this year. Don't forget to tag us and use the hashtag #GratitudeCampaign so we can share your responses! 

• Elizabeth P. Hoisington, a U.S. Army officer who was one of the first two women to attain the rank of brigadier general (November 3)
• Hedy Lamarr, actress and inventor whose work is widely considered to have led to the eventual creation of Bluetooth and WiFi (November 9)
• Elizabeth Cady Stanton, suffragist and one of the most prominent leaders of the women's rights movement (November 12)
• Condoleezza Rice, professor and diplomat who was the first woman to serve as National Security Advisor, the second woman Secretary of State, and the first Black woman Secretary of State (November 14)
• Georgia O'Keeffe, artist (November 15)
• Mary Edwards Walker, prisoner of war and civilian Army surgeon who became the first (and only) woman to receive the Medal of Honor for her efforts during the Civil War (November 26)
• Sarah Grimké, abolitionist and suffragist (November 26)
• Dora Strother, aviator and Woman Air Force Service Pilot (WASP) (November 27)
• Louisa May Alcott, novelist whose novels included Little Women (November 29)
• Nellie Tayloe Ross, politician and the first (and only) woman to have served as governor of Wyoming (November 29)

NOVEMBER 22 (TODAY!) | She Holds the Key "How to Build Your Professional Online Presence and Digital Resume on LinkedIn with Shari Pash": Join our Michigan training partner She Holds the Key TODAY at 4pm for a FREE virtual training session on updating your LinkedIn profile to highlight your skills and accomplishments and stand out. Learn more.

NOVEMBER 30 | WPLN Election Recap 2022: Join us for our recap of the 2022 elections. Register today!

DECEMBER 1 | She Holds the Key Virtual Holiday Happy Hour: Join our Michigan training partner She Holds the Key for a virtual happy hour! Learn more.

DECEMBER 3 | Virginia Conservative Women's Coalition "2022 In-Depth Training": Join our Virginia training partner Virginia Conservative Women's Coalition for an in-person training session on planning your campaign and perfecting your stump speech. Learn more.

DECEMBER 8 | Women Officeholders Roundtable, featuring the American Farm Bureau Federation: Women officeholders at all levels are invited to hear about the upcoming Farm Bill and other challenges and opportunities for agricultural policy at this free virtual session. Learn more and register today.

DECEMBER 8 | The Pocketbook Project Holiday Happy Hour: Join our Massachusetts training partner the Pocketbook Project in person for a holiday happy hour! Learn more.

DECEMBER 11 | Gotham Rising Brunch, Networking & Candidate Training: Join our New York training partner Gotham Rising in person for a Sunday Brunch with fellow conservatives, network with publicly elected officials and campaign professionals, and stay to learn how to successfully run a campaign in New York and to hear a recap of the recent election victories. Learn more.

DECEMBER 17 | Deadline to apply for the LBJ Women's Campaign School 2023 cohort: Our Texas training partner LBJ Women's Campaign School trains women to run for office or manage campaigns regardless of political affiliations. Apply now to be a part of their fourth cohort! The deadline to apply is December 17, and the session begins May 11, 2023. Learn more.

APRIL 21 - 23, 2023 | WPLN's National Summit in San Diego, California: Our National Summit is an opportunity to meet and connect with likeminded women leaders from across the country. We hope you'll join us! Learn more details.

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.