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.

 

Register to join us for this year’s conference!

CPF is excited to host this annual conference on Saturday, March 29, 2025 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT at the USC campus in Tommy’s Place. Review the Young Women’s Leadership Conference 2025 agenda for more event details.

This event is in partnership with the USC Joint Educational Project, USC Political Union, USC Political Student Assembly, Trojan Democrats, USC College Republicans, and Pi Sigma Alpha. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

By registering you are 100% committing to attend. If you cannot guarantee attendance on Saturday, March 29, please do not register.

Join us for a day of inspiration, connection, empowerment, and women supporting women!

 

2025 Young Women’s Leadership Conference Recap

Students attending CPF's 2025 Young Women's Leadership Conference
Students attending CPF’s 2025 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, USC Political Union, USC Political Student Assembly, Trojan Democrats, USC College Republicans, and Pi Sigma Alpha. Check out the conference photos.

The day featured a leadership workshop run by the USC Joint Educational Project, a USC admissions discussion with Lucy Jordan, and two amazing panels:

  1. “Power Looks Good on You: Careers in Politics” panel featuring Jessica Millan Patterson (former Chair of the California GOP and former CPF Fellow), Noelia Rodriguez (former Press Secretary to First Lady Laura Bush and former CPF Fellow), Helen Torres (CEO of HOPE – Hispanas Organized for Political Equality), and Betty Yee (former CA State Controller and former CPF Fellow). USC student Jaylah Wilson moderated the conversation and CPF Fellows Program Manager Kayla Koerting gave welcome remarks.
  2. “Lead Like a Girl: Community Impact” panel featuring Martha Escutia (former CA State Senator and former CPF Fellow), Melanie Mason (Senior Reporter for POLITICO), Yasmine-Imani McMorrin (former Mayor of Culver City, California), and Alivia Roberts Director of Federal Government Affairs at Motion Picture Association). USC student and CPF Administrative Coordinator Celine Bacily 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: 2016 video, 2017 video, 2018 video, 2021 video, 2022 video and conference photos, 2023 videos (Women Leaders Panel and Keynote) and conference photos, 2024 videos (Community Involvement Panel and Politics Panel) and conference photos.