Cultivating Courageous Leaders Across Oregon

Together, we’re building what Oregon needs most right now: a movement of leaders rooted in collaboration, empathy, and courage.

OUR IMPACT
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Who We Are

The Center for Women’s Leadership, in service to the State of Oregon for over 23 years, works in collaboration with seasoned and emerging women and gender-expansive leaders to advance the individual and collective practice of courageous leadership in Oregon and beyond. During this time, our scope of work, focused initially on increasing the representation of women leaders in government, has expanded to focus on rising community leaders invested in examining the practice of leadership at the intersections of race, gender, and other categories of difference. We believe this in the intersectional approach needed in order to enact systems-level change.

The Center for Women’s Leadership strives to meet the needs of rising women and gender expansive leaders across our region by offering curated learning communities. These communities catalyze learning and growth around leadership practices that are explicitly anti-racist; grounded in intersectional feminist and queer ways of thinking, feeling, and doing; embracing of radical imagination; and dedicated to creating a culture of relationality and care among participants and in our communities.

CWL's mission has always been about impact beyond a single institution. As Oregon’s political and economic landscape shifts, the demand for accessible, community-driven leadership development has never been more urgent. Currently, women hold just 15% of leadership positions across sectors statewide. Programs that build civic and professional leadership capacity are declining, while the need for leaders grounded in empathy, equity, and collaboration continues to grow. We are ready to build upon our 23-year history and begin our new chapter as a community-based leadership incubator rising to be responsive to needs across the state.

CWL's impact is measurable and far-reaching

Over the last 23 years we have engaged 1,000s of program participants, mentors, boards, and supporters. We work with rising community leaders who reflect the diversity of our state at the intersections of race, gender, and other categories of difference by centering them in co-designed programming.

23

Year of Service

24 of 36

Counties Served

1,000+

Program Alumni

At a moment when gender equity and democracy itself faces increasing challenges, women-led movements are vital drivers of stability and progress. National research from the Center for American Women and Politics shows that women leaders strengthen governance, (re)build trust, and drive solutions grounded in community needs.

CWL’s community leads this work across Oregon and continues to amplify their voices, impact, and innovation. We are ready to build a future of Oregon where women and gender-expansive leaders are leading decision makers and believe that strengthening leadership capacity across OR will change the narrative of who –and how we lead.

Our Programs

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    Convening Community

    Opportunities for the CWL community to deepen our connective tissue and dive into issues impacting the intersection of gender, race, and other categories of difference. Our last learning series, Solidarity in Sovereignty, engaged over 200 community members in meaningful conversations on the contemporary issues facing Native Nations. 


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    Coaching & Mentorship

    Access to leadership and career coaching from a variety of certified, statewide providers to amplify the potential and leadership practice of our program alumni throughout their careers. Relational network building through formal and casual mentorship connections and support with multi-sector leaders across the state of Oregon. For rising and seasoned professionals.

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    Leadership Development

    Curated learning communities offered in a hybrid format of virtual and in-person sessions to bring together cohorts of cross-regional leaders. Themes are set in co-creation with participants who represent intergenerational and geographical diversity and a shared interest in our region’s shared prosperity. We have engaged over 1,000 participants since the Center’s founding.

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    Turn Up Your Voice

    Taking Action for Community Change (Rural Leaders Program). A collaboration with Rural Development Initiatives to engage rising community leaders from across the state in exploring dimensions of power.

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    NEW Leadership Oregon

    For 24 years, NEW Leadership Oregon has brought together cohorts of college students to explore leadership. Our current program is a 6-month fellowship co-designed with our participants to meet their needs.

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    Gender, Leadership & Policy

    Focused on intersectional social issues impacting the quality of life for women and gender-expansive people in Oregon. Our 2025 learning theme was the Care Giving Crisis and Care Economy.

Community Partners

We stand on their shoulders and continue to build the momentum of gender justice for Oregon’s future. Thank you to our community advisors and partners for their ongoing partnership.

  • Court Morse

  • Murph Murphy

  • Saba Saleem

STEERING COUNCIL

TRANSITION TEAM

  • Candice Williams 

  • Kim Duncan 

  • Jane Cease

  • Governor Barbara Roberts

  • Maggie Gilman-Holm

  • CM Hall

  • March Strategies

  • Toni Plato

  • Della Rae 

  • Cyreena Boston Ashby

  • Lisa Watson

  • Kimberlee Salmond

  • Kaysha Duffy

  • Samantha Swaim

  • Roberta Hunte

  • Andi Walsh

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  • Logo of Meyer Memorial Trust with stylized green 'M' icon.
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Grow with Us

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    Follow Us on Social

    Stay inspired between events. Follow us for leadership insights, community highlights, upcoming programs, and stories from women leading change in real time.

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    Join Our Newsletter

    Get leadership tools, event updates, and thoughtful reflections delivered straight to your inbox. Our newsletter keeps you connected, informed, and moving forward—on your terms.

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    Attend an Event

    Experience leadership in action. Workshops and conversations with changemakers, our events are designed to spark connection, build skills, and support women at every stage of their journey.

    VIEW EVENTS

Invest in women and gender-expansive leaders shaping Oregon’s future

Your support fuels accessible, relationship-centered leadership programs that strengthen communities.

What Your Gift Supports

  • Access

    We reduce financial barriers so leaders can participate fully — covering lodging, meals, childcare, transportation, and access needs like ASL and Spanish interpretation.

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    Reciprocity

    We believe in non-extractive leadership development. Facilitators and partners are compensated, acknowledged, and amplified.

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    Community Impact

    Our program alumni apply their lived experience to real challenges. From policy change to rural economic development.

Have questions about our work or want to learn more about how you can support women's leadership?

We'd love to connect.

CONTACT US