By: Emily VanVleck
2^nd Vice President of Advocacy, NFBPWC 2024-2026 

Hello BPW sisters!  

The 2024-2026 advocacy term is off to a very strong start! We held our very first  program of the term on August 24th, ‘The Path to Equality’, in honor of Women's  Equality Day. We were joined by three expert panelists who took us on a journey  through the 19th Amendment through the current fight to get the Equal Rights  Amendment published as the 28th Amendment. This event would not have been  possible without Kathy Telban who organized and moderated the event. THANK YOU,  KATHY! 

Our first advocacy meeting of the term was held on Thursday the 22nd and we had a robust conversation on  how to actualize our advocacy platform. There are some very exciting plans coming out of the advocacy  committee, and we hope you can join us at our next meeting on September 19th.  

I know that life is busy and with so many great events happening across the organization and, let’s be real,  outside of the organization in our everyday lives, it’s hard to attend everything. I have no doubt that even if  you aren’t regularly attending advocacy committee meetings and events that you are engaging in advocacy  initiatives - and I want to see it! Maybe you went to a rally for an elected official, or a luncheon or fundraiser  for another organization - maybe it was a picket! Whatever it was, share your advocacy in action moment with  us!  

For example - thanks to NYC member Francesca Burack, I was introduced to the PowHer New York Leaders  for Equity, Advocacy, and Progress (LEAP) program. A few weeks ago, we had our in person summer  networking mixer where I was able to connect with fellow women activists. It was a fantastic night out and  has led to some powerful collaborations which I’m looking forward to sharing about in our next monthly  magazine. I hope you feel inspired to share your Advocacy In Action moments!