As Election Day draws near, it is imperative to actively engage in the political process. This involves not only exercising your own right to vote, but may mean supporting female candidates in your local elections and rallying your peers to get involved. This year, the political landscape is abuzz, with many state and local elections occurring nationwide (check out when your state is holding elections here!). These elections can shape the direction of our communities and influence policies that directly impact our daily lives. Are you wondering how you can take action in the 2023 elections, be ..read more

Women's Public Leadership Network (WPLN) is excited to continue our video series, Tips From the Trail, where we interview top leaders who have worked on political campaigns or run for office. In our October Tips From the Trail, Emma Ruskamp, WPLN Nonprofit Management Fellow, was joined by Laura Maristany, Founder and CEO of Prospera Insights. Drawing on 18 years of expertise in leadership and management roles spanning various sectors, Laura places a significant emphasis on formulating effective strategies that align with market trends. During her interview, she detailed her professional journe ..read more

READING | The Sisterhood: Secrets of the Women of the CIA by Liza Mundy: This new release covers three generations of women at the CIA, from the women who joined as secretaries in the years after World War II, to the women who helped track Osama bin Laden. The book highlights how the women were often overlooked or underestimated, which enabled them to observe and gather information without suspicion. WATCHING | Practical Magic, starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman: Two sisters (played by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman), who are also witches, must use their powers to fight a family curse ..read more

As Latinos become an increasingly influential group at the ballot box, conservative Latinas are making waves in the political arena like never before. In the 2022 Midterm Elections, a record 43 Latinas ran for the US House of Representatives as Republicans, flipping several districts and disrupting the balance of power in Congress. The current Congressional class also includes a record-breaking number of Hispanics at nearly 11% of House members. According to Rutgers University’s Center for American Women and Politics, 19 Latinas currently serve in Congress. Out of the 19 members, six Republica ..read more

Last week, WPLN Founder and President Larissa Martinez was joined by Allison Kajs (Senior Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, API Energy), Emily Casey (Director, UPS Public Affairs), and Jessica Cabrera (Managing Director of Member Engagement, AFBF) as panelists at Women in Government Relations (WGR)’s 2023 Professional Women in Advocacy (#PWIA) Conference. The panel topic was “Industry Experts as Public Leaders: How more professional diversity makes for better public policy.” Martinez opened with a message close to the heart of WPLN: "It matters to tell these stories and show why dive ..read more

READING | The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell: September marks the end of summer and the beginning of spooky season, so we were looking for a light-hearted thriller that would work for lying on the beach over Labor Day or getting cozy on the couch with a pumpkin-scented candle burning. The Golden Spoon was the perfect option — and fans of The Great British Bake Off might particularly enjoy it! Learn more. WATCHING | Being Mary Tyler Moore on Max: Mary Tyler Moore was a groundbreaking actress who revolutionized the way women were portrayed on screen. This 2-hour documentary covers her person ..read more

The WPLN Board has appointed Mimi Walters, Chief Commercial Officer of Leading Edge Power Solutions and former U.S. Representative, as its inaugural honorary Co-Chair. As honorary Co-Chair, Rep. Walters will provide indispensable expertise and strategic guidance to the WPLN Leadership Team as they seek to educate, organize, and inspire more women across the country. Additionally, WPLN welcomed Liz Bowman, Vice President of Communications at AXPC, and Michelle Phillips, Vice President of Land at Lime Rock Resources, to the WPLN Board of Directors. “I have greatly admired Rep. Walters for a long ..read more

In 2022, WPLN launched its first-ever Fellowship for nonprofit management. As part of the program, fellows help build the capacity of our organization and assist our State Partners who identify, engage, and train women on the ground to seek public office. This year, WPLN continues this program with its second cohort of three outstanding young women. Meet Kendall Webb, WPLN fellow from Hot Springs, Arkansas. Kendall is pursuing her Bachelor’s in History at Mercer University and is expecting to graduate in 2024. [WPLN]: What about WPLN's mission do you feel most passionate about?  [Kendall ..read more

READING | Mr. President, How Long Must We Wait? Alice Paul, Woodrow Wilson, and the Fight for the Right to Vote by Tina Cassidy: This August marks the 103rd anniversary of the 19th Amendment, and this book serves as a reminder of the challenges that suffragists faced in the fight for women's right to vote — including being arrested, beaten, and thrown in jail for protesting in front of Woodrow Wilson's White House. Learn more. WATCHING | You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah on Netflix: This coming-of-age comedy-drama film follows two best friends whose falling out affects their b ..read more

Women’s Public Leadership Network (WPLN) is excited to release the latest installment in our monthly Tips From the Trail series, highlighting the different experiences and perspectives of individuals who have worked in the world of campaign politics. In our August Tips From the Trail, Maureen McInerney, WPLN’s Director of Development and External Affairs, spoke with Marta Salazar, Director of Agency Relations in Political Advocacy Group Sales at TelevisiaUnivision. Based out of Washington D.C., Marta serves as a voice for Hispanic voters throughout the country and works to educate candidates a ..read more