One of the most remarkable things about working for a women’s organization in Washington, D.C., is the access to a close-knit, active, and large feminist community. Living in the D.C. area provides access to a plethora of activities with feminist organizations, from grassroots collectives to large, national organizations. D.C. is a great place to live if you are interested in feminist politics and women’s issues. But even though this city has a vibrant feminist community, this is not so in many places around the country.
So I’m happy to be able to attend events such as the National Young Feminist Leadership Conference. Hosted by the Feminist Majority Foundation a little over a week ago, this event encouraged feminist leaders from around the country to join forces for a weekend to exchange stories, attend informational trainings, and listen to women leaders. It was inspiring and motivating for me and the many young women who attended.
One of the best sessions was True Life: I’m a Feminist Organizer. Even though many of the girls in the (packed) room were still undergraduates, the women on the panel were around my age. What they said was relevant to me as a graduate student working in an entry-level position in a women’s organization but also to the students who would soon start their graduate studies or activist careers.
The screening of the film The Coat Hanger Project, directed by local feminist Angie Young, was one of the most inspiring moments of the conference. The film takes viewers on a journey from the time before Roe v. Wade, when women had to resort to dangerous methods in order to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, to our current state of having to protect our reproductive rights daily.
Last year when I attended the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL), I found the same sense of inspiration and motivation in the workshops, events, and conversations. Some of the greatest joys in my life are the moments when I get the opportunity to surround myself with peers who are talented, driven, and passionate about women’s issues.
Like the National Young Feminist Leadership Conference, the sessions at NCCWSL were wide-ranging; from how to build a sexual violence response team on your college campus to increasing the number of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—there is a session for every issue.
It’s always a moving experience to meet young women who are dealing with some of the same issues on their college campuses. At both NCCWSL and last week’s conference I was able to talk to young women who are having issues similar to those I face on my campus. We were able to not only vent about lack of support but also discuss solutions we have found.
I highly recommend attending a conference such as the National Young Feminist Leadership Conference or NCCWSL. There is still time to register for NCCWSL, which takes place June 2–4 just outside D.C. at the University of Maryland, College Park. Early-bird registration ends April 15, and regular registration ends May 18.
This post was written by AAUW Leadership Programs Fellow Donnae Wahl.
