Mississippi Women in the Lead Powers New Opportunities for Aspiring Women Elected Officials

Co-sponsored by the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi (WFM), the Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable (MS BWR), and One Voice Mississippi, this high-impact leadership program is designed specifically for Mississippi women who are interested in running for elected office.

Jackson, MS – August 1, 2024 – The Women’s Foundation of Mississippi (WFM), the Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable (MS BWR), and One Voice Mississippi launch Mississippi Women in the Lead (MWL), a free leadership program designed specifically for Mississippi women who are interested in running for elected office. This is the second cohort; applications are open now through August 23, 2024! 

Mississippi Women in the Lead utilizes the best from its host organizations’ strategic leadership initiatives — WFM’s Mississippi Women’s Policy Institute, MS BWR’s Black Women’s Leadership Institute, and One Voice Mississippi’s Mississippi Black Women’s Institute — to provide expert insights and training on campaign strategy, voter outreach, fundraising, and leadership development to Mississippi women ready to start their journey into elected office. Participants will engage in a combination of in-person workshops, virtual learning, and one-on-one coaching during the program’s four-month timeframe. 

“When women thrive, Mississippi thrives. Through Mississippi Women in the Lead, we aim to bring more women into positions of policy influence to create better opportunities for women and girls in our state,” says Melanie Powell, Executive Director of the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi. “Greater representation will help Mississippi reach its full potential and overcome gender disparities that continue to stand in the way of progress. We are excited to connect with and support this year’s leaders!”

In addition to providing expert training, MWL eliminates financial barriers by offering child care, reimbursements for travel expenses like hotel accommodations and mileage, and a $2,500 fellowship stipend to eligible participants, and invites women with diverse professional backgrounds or non-traditional leadership roles to apply.

“There are approximately 400,000 Black women in the state of Mississippi. If even a percentage of us were connected to the legislative process in truly meaningful ways – taking up the mantle of leadership by ascending to elected office, we would see a seismic shift in policy in the ways Black women, girls and families have long deserved. This is the work we champion through Mississippi’s Women in the Lead,” says MS BWR Executive Director, Cassandra Welchlin. 

According to findings from the National Conference of State Legislators, 83% of Mississippi’s legislators are male, and a majority of them are white, signifying a huge discrepancy between Mississippi women and their representation in state legislatures. This gap in representation leaves room for policies to be inaccurate or one-sided in their assessment of community needs at the state and local levels.

“One Voice is thrilled to be a part of this second cohort that seeks to increase the number of women engaged in the political process,” says Nsombi Lambright-Haynes, Executive Director of One Voice. “This is what Democracy looks like.”

Mississippi Women in the Lead gives women living and working in Mississippi a chance to step into a role that brings essential insight into local policy and symbolizes a growing need for women’s representation at decision-making tables, uniting three change-making organizations to power a brighter future for women and their families.

For more information, visit: https://form.jotform.com/242106570980051.

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The Women’s Foundation of Mississippi (WFM) is a nonprofit organization that supports access to education and career opportunities, women’s health, and two-generation approaches through grant-making, advocacy, training programs, research, and community education and engagement. Since 1999, they have awarded millions of dollars, investing in nonprofits, programs, and educational institutions across Mississippi to help women thrive. Learn more about the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi by visiting our website: https://womensfoundationms.org/.

Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable (MSBWR) is a statewide intergenerational network dedicated to advancing women’s economic security through policy advocacy, increasing civic engagement and voter participation among black women and girls, developing transformational leaders for long-term movement building, and engaging in community outreach and rapid response projects. Learn more by visiting: https://msbwr.org.

One Voice Mississippi works to ensure an equal voice for traditionally silenced communities, and envisions a Mississippi with healthy vibrant thriving neighborhoods, schools, economy, and families. Learn more by visiting: https://onevoicems.org/.