Center for Women's Leadership

03/04/2026

We’re thrilled to announce that the new Center for Women’s Leadership website is live! ✨

Our refreshed digital home reflects who we are today: a community changing narratives by cultivating courageous women and gender-expansive leaders in Oregon and beyond.

Explore programs, upcoming events, and opportunities to connect with our growing network of changemakers. We invite you to get to know what we are about, get involved, and celebrate this exciting new chapter with us!

Check it out: https://www.centerfo
rwomenleadership.org/
Thank you to our web launch team:
- Renee Garcia, Brand Strategy & Visual Design
- Lauren Lester, Web Design, Development & Systems
- Alexandra Hagel, Communications & Messaging Strategy

Collaborating with all of you on this project was an incredible experience.

A message of gratitude to Amanda Mailey for your 2024-2025 strategy guidance and Beau Herabat for your 2025 refinement of our beautiful new brand.

Let's do this!

11/20/2025

For more than two decades, the Center for Women’s Leadership (CWL) at Portland State University has been Oregon’s home for cultivating courageous, inclusive leaders.

Thousands of women and gender-expansive Oregonians have benefited from CWL programs such as NEW Leadership Oregon (NLO), the Rural Leaders Initiative (Turn Up Your Voice), Girls Oregon Action Leadership Summit (GOALS), and the Gender, Leadership, and Policy Cohort. Together, we’ve built an ecosystem of leaders strengthening communities, influencing policy, and redefining what substantive leadership looks like in every corner of our state.

Today, CWL is preparing for its next evolution. After deep analysis, partnership conversations, and community reflection, CWL will begin a strategic transition to become an independent, community-based organization — while maintaining close collaboration with PSU. This change positions the Center to meet the evolving leadership needs of Oregon with greater flexibility, statewide reach, and sustainable growth opportunities.

Why Leadership Development Matters Now:
At a moment when gender equity and democracy itself face 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 of alumni is already leading this work across Oregon — and this transition will amplify their voices, impact, and innovation.

Ways to Engage in Conversation:
We invite you to share insights, ideas, and feedback with us as we continue exploring new pathways and models for CWL’s future.

Provide feedback: https://lnkd.in/gYayP4gQ

Additionally, we will be preparing for a CWL community townhall meeting in early 2026, which will allow us to be in conversation about where we are now, where we go from here.

Please stay tuned for additional details on this convening, coming soon. Thank you all for your ongoing support.

01/11/2024

Join the PSU Advocates for a collaborative town hall featuring PSU's delegation, Senator Kate Lieber, and Representative Dacia Grayber. Gain insights into the forthcoming 2024 Legislative Session as Senator Lieber and Representative Grayber share their goals. This event provides an opportunity for active engagement, allowing you to pose questions on issues that are important to you. We extend a warm invitation to the general public, the Portland State community, and constituents from each district are strongly encouraged to participate.

Additional Details & RSVP: https://www.portlandstatealumni.org/s/1904/bpint/interior.aspx?sid=1904&gid=3&pgid=1235&content_id=3449

11/28/2023

This we invite you to invest in our emerging community leaders. The Center for Women's Leadership is dedicated to uplifting women and gender expansive leaders through learning series, programming, and training. We are committed to building gender justice leaders who are equipped with the skills and analysis needed to lead in today's world!

Donate Here: https://lnkd.in/g5HMZ65i

06/30/2023

Pride Month may be drawing to a close, however, love and the fight for LGBTQIA2S+ rights continues. Remember to create a comfortable and welcoming environment for everyone, to foster growth and connections, and help people live their truths and love themselves year round. Happy Pride, once again, to all those part of the diverse and vibrant community under the rainbow. 🌈

“History isn't something you look back at and say it was inevitable. It happens because people make decisions that are sometimes very impulsive and of the moment, but those moments are cumulative realities.” ~ Marsha P. Johnson

Here are additional local resources that can provide support and guidance:

Q Center:
-https://www.pdxqcenter.org/

Portland State Q***r Resource Center:
-https://www.pdx.edu/q***r-resource-center/

Sexual & Gender Minority Youth Resource Center:
-https://newavenues.org/smyrc/

Outside In:
-https://outsidein.org/

06/30/2023

We’d like to say congratulations to two amazing members of our team who graduated this month! Khadija Davis, our NLO Program Manager, graduated with a Masters in Nonprofit Leadership. Lucia, our Research Program Manager, graduated with a Masters of Social Work. We’d like to thank them for the hard work they have done for the Center for Women’s Leadership and for bringing generosity and joy to our office. We can’t wait to see what phase of their lives they bloom into next!

06/27/2023

In honor of Pride Month, we would like to celebrate Marsha P. Johnson. She became one of the most prominent and inspiring figures of the Gay Rights Movement in the 1970s, advocating for homeless LGBTQIA2S+ individuals and transgender rights following the Stonewall Uprising in New York City. Before this, Johnson had just moved from New Jersey to pursue self-expression, acceptance, and a better life. She officially came out as transgender and became a drag queen, building new connections and encouraging others to love themselves. Despite numerous struggles and setbacks, she never let them hinder her pursuit of advocacy and equality. Her motto is “Pay It No Mind,” which is what the ‘P’ in her name stood for. Johnson’s kindness and generosity sparked inspiration and love within her community, and her role as a pivotal figure set the stage for the continuous fight for gender equality and LGBTQIA2S+ rights that continues today.

Learn more:
-https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/marsha-p-johnson
-https://www.bostonwomensfest.org/blog/2020/6/21/marsha-p-johnson-and-her-impact-in-the-fight-for-liberationnbsp-nbsp
-https://wams.nyhistory.org/growth-and-turmoil/growing-tensions/marsha-p-johnson/

06/27/2023

We’d like to introduce one more facilitator who joined us for NLO 2023! Sirius Bonner is a passionate social justice leader and a noted presenter and facilitator. Her work focuses on the intersections between social justice issues such as racial oppression, gender justice, reproductive justice, fat activism, q***r rights, health equity, educational equity, poverty, and liberation, recognizing that as we begin to untangle one issue, we can untangle them all. Previously, Sirius led institutional equity work in higher education and consulted with a diverse group of organizations. Sirius got her bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Reed College and is currently an alumni board member there. She also serves on the board of the North by Northeast Clinic.

06/24/2023

06/23/2023

We would like to introduce and welcome another wonderful addition to our group of NLO 2023 speakers, Jamila Thompson (she/her)! Jamila is dedicated to advancing racial equity and wellness in all spaces, and seeking out opportunities to build meaningful relationships that result in impactful action. She is a trainer, facilitator, and coach who is interested in building equitable teams and coordinating equity-based initiatives.

06/23/2023

NLO launched last night! We’re so excited to get to know this dynamic group of leaders over the next 4 days. Thank you for joining us for this part of your journey!

Special thanks to Portland Bee Balm for donating lip balm to our participants!