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Message from Shauna Woods, CWD Chair

The Center for Women & Democracy is Seattle’s premier women’s empowerment organization working to advance women’s leadership locally, nationally and globally. Since our organization’s inception eight years ago we have run programs that train future women leaders and connect women in Washington state with each other and with women internationally.

During these formative years, we’ve traveled all over the world on women’s trade and educational delegations, learning how women are leading and tackling their country’s problems. And, in our own backyard, we’ve found women making a difference - from bioethics to winemaking - and we’ve given them a forum to share their stories through our monthly Food for Thought (FFT) dinner series. We’ve helped mentor hundreds of young women in the Pacific Northwest by introducing them to women leaders through our NEW Leadership training program partnership with the University of Washington. And we’ve honored women leaders – legislators, appointed officials and lobbyists – who give our state its great reputation for women in leadership at our annual “Kicking Up Our Heels” celebration at the Governor’s Mansion.

Women in Washington state just keep getting better – the proof is in the Governor’s Mansion, the U.S. Senate, our State Supreme Court, the Washington State Senate and House, and in the many agencies now run by women appointed by Governor Chris Gregoire. Each year at our “Kicking Up Our Heels – Celebrating Women in Washington State Politics,” the Center recognizes women in politics who are making a difference, including Washington Supreme Court justices; legislators; women who run agencies, policy posts, and boards and commissions; lobbyists; and statewide leaders of women’s organizations.

"Lead where you land."