About Us
VISION
Women’s Democracy Lab envisions an American democracy where diverse women hold equal representation at every level of public service and are driving governance that is just, accessible, and responsive to all communities.
MISSION
Women’s Democracy Lab empowers elected women and gender-expansive folks at every stage of their journey, co-creating solutions to transform institutions.
Our Co-Founder and Executive Director
Muthoni Wambu Kraal is an impact connector, veteran political strategist, team builder, organizer, trainer, and advisor to political parties and leaders in the U.S. and internationally. She is a former leader for the Democratic National Committee and EMILY’s List – shaping opportunity for women leaders at every level of the ballot. She is African American and first generation Kenyan American.
Our Story
After more than two decades of helping recruit and train community members to run for office, the founders of Women’s Democracy Lab came together to re-imagine a democracy where solutions are created, tested, and implemented by the people most directly affected by structural barriers and systems of oppression. Through this thought experiment, Women’s Democracy Lab was born.
As of 2025, Women’s Democracy Lab has grown to a community of 200+ and counting, with nearly 50/50 representation of state and local officeholders and a diversity of demographic and geographic distribution across members.
There is currently no other organization serving this sector of the democracy ecosystem in the way we can as seasoned practitioners in sectors spanning politics, policy, leadership development, and systems change.
We are building up and, most importantly, sustaining the progressive talent pipeline by fortifying elected officials and developing with them the ways to best support them through the stages of their service, alongside effective ways of overcoming barriers to serving (and staying) in office.
Our Team
-
Tasha (she/her) supports the organization's business and organizational management, seeking to optimize both financial performance and organizational effectiveness. She partners with leaders to reimagine and redesign programs, practices, and processes to achieve mission-critical results while improving access, experience, and outcomes for marginalized communities. It took a village to raise her; she comes from love, laughs, blessings, hard work, and perseverance.
-
Gabrielle (she/her) comes from a patchwork background of fine arts, design, and retail business management. She was born in South Korea and has lived in the US since arriving as an adoptee at age four. Gabrielle lives on the West Coast with her husband, their wild child preschooler, and two spunky tuxedo cats. She will never say no to a pull-up contest or a vegan donut.
As the Program Associate, Gabrielle plans and coordinates WDL’s pillar programs and pilot programs.
-
Irene (she/her) supports the re-imagining and implementation of WDL's future programming, events, and other community resources and opportunities.
Irene serves in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 8th District. She is a seasoned nonprofit executive, strategist, facilitator, and community organizer. She is the first Korean American woman elected to the Virginia state legislature and currently chairs the Virginia Asian American Pacific Islander caucus.
-
Charminique (she/her) is a senior-level executive assistant and coordinator with 15+ years of experience in non-profit event management and communications, political organizing, and campaign management. She also created and leads an executive assistant training program that seeks to empower, strengthen, build, and support teams/individuals as they pursue organizational success. Charminique and her partner reside in Fairfax, VA.
-
Anathea is a national political strategist, fundraiser, network weaver, and Co-founder and Executive Director of Advance Native Political Leadership. She is from Acoma Pueblo and a queer, Indigenous feminist.
-
Sayu is a democracy futurist, ambition amplifier and dream doula. She is the founder and former president of New American Leaders, author of “People Like Us: The New Wave of Candidates Knocking at Democracy’s Door”, and the first Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs for New York City. She is the child of refugees and a daughter of India and Belize.n
