This annual conference is designed for high school girls in California who have leadership potential and an interest in politics and civic engagement. Young women will meet with and learn from women elected officials and professionals and learn valuable communication and relationship building skills.
The Young Women’s Leadership Conference brings high school girls 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 young women 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-aged girls.
Register to join us for this year’s conference!
CPF is excited to host this annual conference on Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT at the USC campus in the “Franklin Suites,” Tutor Campus Center (TCC) 350, 351, 352.
This event is in partnership with USC student organizations: VoteSC, USC Women in Politics (WIP), USC Political Student Assembly, Trojan Democrats, USC College Republicans, and The Moderator. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
By registering you are 100% committing to attend. Please make sure you are free on Saturday, March 23 for a day of inspiration, connection, empowerment, and women supporting women!
2024 Young Women’s Leadership Conference Recap
Held during Women’s History Month on March 23, CPF’s annual Young Women’s Leadership Conference brought high school girls throughout the Los Angeles area to USC to hone their leadership skills and encourage their involvement in public service. This year’s conference featured welcome remarks from YWLC alum Maria Manjarrez, a community involvement panel discussion with Jeanine Nicholson, Mindy Romero, and Erin Ross, a USC admissions discussion with Jennifer Cox, a leadership workshop run by the USC Joint Educational Project, and a politics panel discussion with Ashley Fumiko Dominguez, Melanie Mason, and Noelia Rodriguez.
In partnership with USC student organizations: VoteSC, USC Women in Politics (WIP), USC Political Student Assembly, Trojan Democrats, USC College Republicans, and The Moderator. Thank you to all the participants, speakers, and USC volunteers who joined us!
In case you missed it, watch the 2024 Young Women’s Leadership Conference Community Involvement Panel and Politics Panel, and view the conference photos.
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: 2016 video, 2017 video, 2018 video, 2021 video, 2022 video and conference photos, 2023 videos (Women Leaders Panel and Keynote) and conference photos.