This annual conference is designed for high school girls in California who have leadership potential and an interest in politics and civic engagement. Students will meet with and learn from elected officials and professionals and learn valuable communication and relationship building skills. Students of any gender are welcome to attend.

 

The Young Women’s Leadership Conference brings high school students throughout the Los Angeles area to USC to encourage them to channel their leadership into public service and to become more involved in their communities. Students will learn the fundamentals of community organizing from an intersectional lens and hear from and meet with influential women leaders.

Always held during Women’s History Month, the annual Young Women’s Leadership Conference has helped hundreds of students become more civically engaged. Some program participants have gone on to work in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the offices of local, state, and federal elected officials. The conference is free and open to all high school students. Registration for the 2027 conference will open in March.

 

2026 Young Women’s Leadership Conference Recap

Students attending CPF's 2026 Young Women's Leadership Conference
Students attending CPF’s 2026 Young Women’s Leadership Conference

CPF’s annual Young Women’s Leadership Conference brought high school students throughout the Los Angeles area to USC to hone their leadership skills and encourage their involvement in public service. Many of the students had never been on a college campus before this special life-changing day with esteemed community leaders, USC student leaders, and of course the CPF team. The conference took place thanks to support from Kelly Corley (thank you, Kelly!) and in partnership with the USC Joint Educational Project. Check out the conference photos.

The day featured a voter engagement workshop run by the USC Joint Educational Project, a USC admissions discussion with Marlin Banuelos, and two amazing panels:

  1. “Power Looks Good on You: Pathways to Leadership & Public Service” panel featuring Teresa Acosta (Council Member, City of Carlsbad) and Carla Fuentes (Commissioner, Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission; Social Innovation Manager, Goldhirsh Foundation). Yemisi Egbewole, Political Commentator and Spring 2026 CPF Fellow, moderated the conversation.
  2. “Leadership and Driving Change in Your Community” panel featuring Rhonda Haymon (Attorney, Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office) and Erin Wilson (Deputy Chief of Staff to Former Vice President Kamala Harris). USC student and CPF Administrative Coordinator Ruby Belt moderated the conversation.

The day ended with some networking and campus tours. It was an inspiring and even life-changing event for many of the students.

 

Testimonials:

“In all of the panelists’ stories, I feel like there’s a little part where I can connect to them which makes it easier to imagine myself in a high position.” – Kimberly Olivares, Santa Monica High School

“The conference helped me just by being able to talk to some elected officials that have really made an impact on their community. As a young woman and as a woman of color, seeing panelists that have made changes and that I feel resemble who I am was really inspiring.” – Maya Reval, Culver City High School

Select Speakers from Previous Conferences:

  • Tara Campbell – Mayor of Yorba Linda
  • Wendy Carrillo – California State Assemblymember (D-LA)
  • Barbara Comstock – Former U.S. Congresswoman (R-VA); Spring 2021 Fellow at Center for the Political Future
  • Anita DeFrantz – Olympic medalist; First American woman to serve on the International Olympic Committee
  • Kelly Gonez– Board President, Los Angeles Unified School District
  • Lindsey Horvath – Former Mayor, West Hollywood
  • Shaniqua McClendon – Political Director at Crooked Media; Spring 2021 Fellow at Center for the Political Future
  • Aida Rodriguez – Vice President of Advocacy and Government Relations, Alliance College-Ready Public Schools
  • Leslee Sherrill – Former Vice President, ABC News
  • Margita Thompson – Vice President, Public Affairs, California Resources Corporation
  • Mimi Walters – Former Congresswoman (R-CA), Fall 2020 Fellow at Center for the Political Future

 

Thank you to our donors, especially principal funder Kelly Corley, for making this incredible experience possible for so many deserving young women.

Watch previous Young Women’s Leadership Conference videos: