Last June, I stood on the stage at our National Convention as the League of Women Voters announced me as the next CEO. For me, it was a moment filled with hope, pride, and a profound sense of responsibility. I knew I was stepping into a new leadership role at an organization with a rich history and an unwavering commitment to building a more perfect democracy. 

Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of meeting members and volunteers from across the country. League members are the heartbeat of this organization. From small-town chapters to bustling city Leagues, I’ve witnessed the power of our grassroots work up close. Your passion, determination, and willingness to show up for democracy inspire me every single day. 

I’ve been particularly proud to see so many members of the next generation step into their grassroots leadership, like with our Young Leader’s Cohort, who I met at the 60^th anniversary Selma Jubilee. These are the people who will inherit our democracy; I’ve seen firsthand what thoughtful, inclusive, and action-oriented advocates they will be. 

Our Impact in 2024 

Together, we showed what is possible when everyday people commit to protecting the vote. The League’s work in the 2024 election was nothing short of extraordinary. We registered and educated voters in every corner of the country, fought voter suppression, and provided trusted, nonpartisan resources to millions of Americans through VOTE411.org. At a time when misinformation threatened to overwhelm truth, the League stood firm as a beacon of facts, fairness, and inclusion. 

Because democracy takes all of us, we partnered with one of our most diverse, wide-ranging groups of partners of all time to promote election information! This included sports teams like the Washington Mystics, Broadway musicals like Suffs, bath and beauty organizations like LUSH and Saie Beauty, and so many more! 

I was also able to share our message of empowering voters and defending democracy across the media, like on Morning Joe and Roland Martin Unleashed, and had the profound honor of returning to my alma mater to talk about the election with a panel sponsored by The 19th. It was a blast to work with members of my team and the media, whose work to keep the public informed is more important than ever. 

Meeting the Moment for Democracy: Unite and Rise 8.5 

Yet even as we celebrated those successes, we entered 2025 facing an unprecedented constitutional crisis. For the first time in our modern history, the League declared publicly that our democracy was in jeopardy. This was not a statement we made lightly — but when the rule of law and the principles of governance are under attack, silence is not an option. 

That’s why we launched our Unite and Rise 8.5 initiative: a call to action for every American to stand together, rise above division, and recommit to the values that bind us as a nation. 

Commit to Unite and Rise! 

Looking Ahead: The Freedom Agenda 2.0 

As I look to the future, I know the work ahead requires boldness and clarity of purpose. That’s why we’re building what I call the Freedom Agenda 2.0 — a roadmap to safeguard voting rights, push back against threats to free and fair elections, and hold those in power accountable. We will continue to challenge policies and practices that weaken our democracy, and we will do it as we always have: firmly nonpartisan, yet never neutral when it comes to protecting the rights of voters. 

In 1952, at the height of this hysteria, the League launched its “Freedom Agenda” — an unapologetic campaign to defend civil liberties and educate the public about their constitutional rights. It was a bold stand, not born of political calculation, but of principle.  

Now, I believe we have to call for the New Freedom Agenda: a recommitment to one another and to the unfinished promise of this nation. Just as our foremothers rose to meet the challenges of their time, we must now reimagine that legacy — not as nostalgia, but as a blueprint for action. Because when democracy drifts, it takes visionaries to bring it back.

Some may call this bold, and they’re right. But bold action is nothing new for the League. From the fight for the 19th Amendment to defending voting rights in the courts today, our history is a testament to what happens when women — and our allies — organize for change. When the stakes are high, the League shows up. And today, the stakes could not be higher. 

Our nonpartisanship is our greatest strength in this deeply divided era. It allows us to build bridges, not walls; to be a trusted voice when trust feels scarce; and to fight for every voter, regardless of political affiliation. 

I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together this year, and I’m even more energized for what’s ahead. The future of our democracy depends on us — on you — and on the belief that united, we rise. 

Thank you for standing with us. Even if the road ahead is long and uphill, I have full faith that together we can empower voters and defend democracy. Let’s keep going. See you at the finish line.