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Contact:
Katya Spear
Managing Director
knspear@mayorsinnovation.org
Local leaders are facing unprecedented challenges. Women mayors are meeting them head on, and together.
We raise the profile of women mayors and their successes across the country to benefit women leaders and their cities.
In partnership with Equity Agenda, we launched the Women Mayors Network during the Winter 2020 Policy Meeting. The Network continues to meet remotely both for conversations facilitated by the Mayors Innovation Project, as well as informally for events hosted by members.
We invite woman-identified mayors to join us and be connected to other women mayors across the country.
This summer: MIP Launches Research Project
This summer, the Mayors Innovation Project is launching a research project aiming to better understand the experiences that mayors face while campaigning for and in the position of mayor. Through this work, we hope to shed light on both the challenges and opportunities mayors face and what resources, people, or support systems have helped them in each stage of this process.
In early June, we will be sending all current mayors a short survey asking about their experiences campaigning for the position of mayor and governing as mayor. Additionally, we invite women mayors to participate in focus groups to share their experiences.
Please reach out to Katya Spear to sign up for a focus group and learn more about the project.
Why a Network for Women Mayors?
Women mayors within our network have consistently expressed the need for a space where they can speak candidly, learn from each other, and gain the skills necessary to succeed amidst the challenges that sexism creates for all women, but in particular for women in leadership roles. We are excited to offer a space for mayors who identify as women to connect with each other.
The Women Mayors Network provides women mayors with the opportunity to:
- Explore the context and issues that affect the success of women mayors in their roles, with an initial focus on the specific experience of women in executive leadership (as opposed to more legislative roles).
- Prioritize equity, representation, and intersectionality and understand how gender and race can be explored together.
- Provide vetted high road policy options around intersectional/gender equity for all MIP members.
- Inform the broader MIP membership network by providing resources to allies to help them interrupt sexism and racism, address equity concerns and support their colleagues’ leadership.
Current and Past Participants
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Click to view current and past Women Mayors Network participants
Karen Alexander ∙ Salisbury, NC
Roxie Alexander ∙ Kingfisher, OK
Linda Anderson ∙ Douglas, MI
Mary-Ann Baldwin ∙ Raleigh, NC
Lacey Beaty ∙ Beaverton, OR
Catherine Blakespear ∙ Encinitas, CA
Rosalynn Bliss ∙ Grand Rapids, MI
Paige Brown ∙ Gallatin, TN
Felicia Brunson ∙ West Park, FL
Shari Cantor ∙ West Hartford, CT
Latoya Cantrell ∙ New Orleans, LA
Elizabeth Carr-Hurst ∙ Fairburn, GA
Jane Castor ∙ Tampa, FL
Breea Clark ∙ Norman, OK
Paige Cognetti ∙ Scranton, PA
Kate Colin ∙ San Rafael, CA
Sandy Cox ∙ Lakeway, TX
Michelle Davis-Younger ∙ Manassas, VA
Michelle De La Isla ∙ Topeka, KS
Michelle Delisfort ∙ Union Township, NJ
Amanda Dewey ∙ Berwyn Heights, MD
Robin Edens ∙ Skiatook, OK
Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft ∙ Alameda, CA
Deborah Feinen ∙ Champaign, IL
Yolanda Ford ∙ MO City, TX
Cassie Franklin ∙ Everett, WA
Alice Gallagher ∙ Western Springs, IL
Kate Gallego ∙ Phoenix, AZ
Patti Garrett ∙ Decatur, GA
Marita Garrett ∙ Wilkinsburg, PA
Leirion Gaylor Baird ∙ Lincoln, NE
Anne Gerwig ∙ Wellington, FL
Becky Glewen ∙ Beaver Dam, WI
Jennifer Gregerson ∙ Mukilteo, WA
Leslie Hager Smith ∙ Blacksburg, VA
Beth Haney ∙ Yorba Linda, CA
Jamie Harkins ∙ Lafayette, CO
Heidi Harmon ∙ San Luis Obispo, CA
Pam Hemminger ∙ Chapel Hill, NC
Heidi Herzberg ∙ Deltona, FL
Rebecca Hopp ∙ Ferrysburg, MI
Christine Hunschofsky ∙ Parkland, FL
Sadaf Jaffer ∙ Montgomery Township, NJ
Teri Johnston ∙ Key West, FL
Tishaura Jones ∙ St Louis, MO
Stellartean Jones ∙ Gray Court, SC
Ella Jones ∙ Ferguson, MO
Ellen Kamei ∙ Mountain View, CA
Farrah Khan ∙ Irvine, CA
Indya Kincannon ∙ Knoxville, TN
Nikylan Knapper ∙ Maplewood, MO
Jan Kulman ∙ Thornton, CO
Nicole LaChappelle ∙ Easthampton, MA
Keisha Lance Bottoms ∙ Atlanta, GA
Emily Larson ∙ Duluth, MN
Lydia Lavelle ∙ Carrboro, NC
Lori Lightfoot ∙ Chicago, IL
Patricia Lion ∙ Douglas, MI
Nikki Lloyd ∙ Bethany, OK
Kristine Lott ∙ Winooski, VT
Vi Lyles ∙ Charlotte, NC
Paula McCombie ∙ South Barrington, IL
Lauren McLean ∙ Boise, ID
Lily Mei ∙ Fremont, CA
Erin Mendenhall ∙ Salt Lake City, Utah
Kayce Munyeneh ∙ Cheverly, MD
Nickole Nesby ∙ Duquesne, PA
Kim Norton ∙ Rochester, MN
Shaunna O’Connell ∙ Taunton, MA
Monique Owens ∙ Eastpointe, MI
Mary Parham-Copelan ∙ Milledgeville, GA
Elise Partin ∙ Cayce, SC
Shawyn Patterson-Howard ∙ Mount Vernon, NY
Mary Lou Pauly ∙ Issaquah, WA
Austin Quinn Davidson ∙ Anchorage, AK
Christie Rainwater ∙ Hanahan, SC
Dawn Ramsey ∙ South Jordan, UT
Maria Regan Gonzalez ∙ Richfield, MN
Satya Rhodes-Conway ∙ Madison, WI
Maria Rivera ∙ Central Falls, RI
Katherine Rosenberg ∙ Wausau, WI
Nancy Rotering ∙ Highland Park, IL
Sally Russell ∙ Bend, OR
Meghan Sahli Wells ∙ Culver City, CA
Mary Salas ∙ Chula Vista, CA
Libby Schaaf ∙ Oakland, CA
Hillary Schieve ∙ Reno, NV
Shelli Selby ∙ Yukon, OK
Emma Sharif ∙ Compton, CA
Kathy Sheehan ∙ Albany, NY
Amy Shuler Goodwin ∙ Charleston, WV
Danene Sorace ∙ Lancaster, PA
Alejandra Sotelo Solis ∙ National City, CA
Yvonne Spicer ∙ Framingham, MA
Erin Stewart ∙ New Britain, CT
Kate Stewart ∙ Takoma Park, MD
Katrina Thompson ∙ Broadview, IL
Jaclyn Veasy ∙ Evesham, NJ
Cheryl Viegas-Walker ∙ El Centro, CA
Jules Walters ∙ West Linn, OR
Lovely Warren ∙ Rochester, NY
Acquanetta Warren ∙ Fontana, CA
Anne Watson ∙ Montpelier, VT
Laura Weinberg ∙ Golden, CO
Anissa Welch ∙ Milton, WI
Chasity Wells-Armstrong ∙ Kankakee, IL
Nan Whaley ∙ Dayton, OH
Lori Wilson ∙ Suisun City, CA
Debra Wimpee ∙ Broken Arrow, OK
Victoria Woodards ∙ Tacoma, WA
Women Mayors Network News
Promoting Community Civility to Reduce Local Political Violence
“According to the Mayors Innovation Project, threats against local officials are also threats “to democracy, [by] threatening to deter individuals from campaigning, serving in office, and seeking subsequent terms… [they are] threatening to deter progress …
August 14, 2024
Who Runs the World? Women Mayors.
In January 2020, the Women Mayors Network was launched as a part of the Mayors Innovation Project at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The network is an impressive sisterhood that provides a safe space for women mayors where they can speak candidly, learn from each other and gain the skills necessary to succeed—especially for women in leadership roles.
February 13, 2024
Grant award to help brighten future for Meadville youths
Kinder initiated local interest in the grant after learning of it at the Mayors Innovation Project summer meeting in Scranton, where she was a panelist for a discussion of rental housing and tenant protections. After meeting Kyra Naumoff Shields, director of the grant program, there, Kinder worked with Roberson when she returned to Meadville to pursue the grant.
November 17, 2023Barbara Lee Family Foundation shares support for the Women Mayors Network as the Foundation announces its decision to wind down in 2024
The Mayors Innovation Project is thrilled and humbled to announce generous support from the Barbara Lee Family Foundation to support and advance its work to lift up the leadership of women mayors.
November 7, 2023
Deep engagement informs city programs and spaces in Rochester, MN
This week, we are featuring member city Rochester, MN’s work to make community co-design a central approach to developing city spaces and programs. Rochester is bringing co-design into city procedures, beginning with a Discovery Walk …
March 14, 2023- More Women Mayors Network posts