Join Our Movement
Women's Democracy Lab is a space created by us, for us. We are radically reimagining political leadership to serve us better—bold, revolutionary, multigenerational. We create visionary solutions for elected leaders like us. We are African, Arab, Asian, Black, Indigenous, immigrant and refugee, Latinx, multiracial, Pacific Islander, LGBTQIA, and Two Spirit people.
Join Us
We see a world liberated.
A world created for us by us.
When women like us win elected office, we have an opportunity to radically reimagine political leadership. Together, grounded in our unique histories, identities, and stories, we create a world liberated, where we live safely. Where we live our whole and authentic selves.
About UsOur Approach
We reimagine, resource and replenish. We are the safe harbor for women like us in elected office. We work together to radically reimagine political leadership. We create shared power. We decolonize the political process and our own mindset about it. Why? Because we know when we are centered, as full, authentic leaders in our political process and systems, liberation is possible.
We recognize that our systems of governance and political participation were built by and for white men. From dress codes to parliamentary procedure, politics in America are designed to be exclusive, not inclusive. When we are at the table, women like us are often pigeonholed as single-issue figures, treated solely as representatives of our racial or ethnic groups rather than as whole and complex people. Evolving America in our image, rather than the image of white men, demands a radical reimagining of political leadership.
We recognize that being an elected official can damage our mental, physical and emotional health. This is compounded for women like us because of the high and unique expectations set on us. Beyond the job itself, we struggle with the socioeconomic disparities between us and our white counterparts, disproportionate scrutiny of our appearance, demands to serve both a geographic and racial/ethnic constituency, and attacks on our very place in America. Only sacred rest can ensure that we can thrive as leaders.
We recognize that the significant racial wealth gap in the United States limits who can succeed in elected office. In addition to financial disparities, women like us are hampered by the lingering and racist perception that we are less viable candidates than white men. We struggle to raise money while campaigning and must fight to financially sustain ourselves in poorly paid legislative positions that demand full-time commitment for less than minimum wage. Comprehensive support for our leadership requires adequate attention to financial resources.
Future Presidents Project
Future Presidents Project is a national, cohort-based fellowship designed to provide a supportive and transformative space that allows women to find solidarity amongst themselves, build a national network of support, and strengthen the leadership skills they need for continued service and advancement to higher office. Future Presidents Project is open to women at all levels of elected office.
Rest Residency
We support women like us by offering curated experiences for rest and recovery to ensure that we can thrive long-term. Residencies offer resources for caregiving, travel, accommodations and meals, to reduce as many obstacles to sacred rest as possible.
Lead2030
LEAD2030 places state legislators in nonprofit organizations in paid policy fellow roles. The program recognizes that citizen legislatures, particularly in the most populous and diverse states, are out of step with the financial demands of modern America. The luxury of serving in part-time legislatures for what amounts to a stipend is not feasible for many of us. LEAD2030 changes that reality, providing financial security to everyday Americans serving in state legislatures.
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