Save the Date!
Wyoming Women’s organizations to host three leadership events
For Immediate Release: 10/14/11
Contact: Melissa E. Turley
307-690-7690
Wyoming’s women juggle numerous roles including wife, mother, professional, family caregiver, athlete, volunteer, rancher, philanthropist and more. So adding political leadership and engagement may seem impossible at times, as reflected by Wyoming’s small representation of women in the legislature. The Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus and Wyoming Women’s Foundation are hosting three events this winter that will help women take on community leadership roles while juggling their other responsibilities.
On February 7 in Cody and February 9 in Laramie, half day Leap into Leadership workshops will give area women the tools they need to run for office, including information about local boards and elected positions, and ways to become more active in local leadership. Last year’s successful workshops in Gillette and Evanston attracted close to 100 women; nearly half said they were contemplating a run for political office afterwards.
On March 1 & 2, 2012, women are invited to Cheyenne to participate in Leap into Leadership, a networking conference with speakers, workshops and a visit to the Capitol. Keynote speaker Lisa Belkin has written a monthly column and blog for the New York Times as well as several books on issues of balancing work and life. Ms. Belkin will address how women can be effective community leaders and keep their other commitments in balance.
Representative Rosie Berger, statewide spokesperson for Leap into Leadership and Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, cites the scarcity of women in elected positions at all levels in Wyoming as the nexus for this event, which will raise women’s voices to add their perspective to the public dialog statewide. “As one of thirteen women in the Wyoming Legislature, it’s my responsibility to share my leadership experience and encourage others to participate in local and state politics,” says Berger.
Event details will be available in December 2011. Please contact Melissa Turley, info@wyowlc.org, or Sarah Mikesell Growney, sarah@wywf.org for more information. These events are hosted in partnership with The Equipoise Fund, The White House Project, and the Wyoming Community Foundation.
Founded in 2006, the bipartisan Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus is a project of The Equipoise Fund. For more information, please visit www.wyowlc.org. The Wyoming Women’s Foundation invests in the economic self- sufficiency of women and the future of girls. For more information, please visit www.wywf.org.
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