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For more than a century, women have stepped forward to shape the political landscape of the United States, of-ten long before the nation was ready to recognize their full rights. Their courage, persistence, and vision laid the groundwork for every woman who serves, leads, or seeks office today.

In 1872, suffragist and reformer Victoria Woodhull became the first woman nominated for President of the United States. Her historic candidacy, decades before women could even vote challenged the na-tion to imagine leadership beyond traditional boundaries.

The momentum continued in 1884 when Marietta Stow became the first woman nominated for Vice President. Though her name is less familiar than Victoria’s, her willingness to run signaled a growing movement of women determined to claim their place in public life.

By 1916, progress reached the halls of Congress. Jeannette Rankin of Mon-tana became the first woman elected to federal office, proving that voters were ready to trust women with national leader-ship even before the 19th Amendment guaranteed their right to vote.

These early pioneers were more than candidates, they were catalysts. Their campaigns sparked conversations, shifted expecta-tions, and inspired generations of women to step into leadership roles at every level of government.

Today, their legacy lives on in every woman who serves her community, advocates for change, or mentors the next generation of leaders. Their stories remind us that pro-gress is built on courage, and that each step forward, no matter how bold or unconventional, moves us all closer to equality.

A Call to Lead: Officers Needed for 2026–2028

NFBPWC has always been powered by women who step for-ward, women who believe in our mis-sion, our momentum, and our re-sponsibility to shape a stronger future for working women. As we prepare for the 2026–2028 Biennial, we seek dedicated members who are ready to bring their skills, passion, and vision to the national leadership team.

Serving as an officer is more than holding a title. It is an opportunity to influ-ence policy, strengthen our programs, mentor emerging leaders, and ensure that our organization con-tinues to thrive. Whether you are a seasoned leader or ready for your next chal-lenge, your voice and expe-rience matter.

If you believe in advocacy, equity, and the power of women support-ing women, this is your moment. NFBPWC needs leaders who are willing to guide, collaborate, and inspire. Consider stepping into a role that will not only shape the future of our Federation but also ex-pand your own leader-ship journey.

Together, we can continue the legacy of pro-gress.

Together, we lead.

Angie Jackson-Wilson
Chair Nominations
nominations@nfbpwc.org

An open letter to all my NFBPWC sisters and their friends:

I have good news!!

I have spaced “On the Porch” on Fridays with Barb Bozeman so many times, including signing up and then forgetting, but last night I hopped on and it was so fun!! There were seven of us by the end of the zoooooom.

Everyone threw stories out and we laughed and cried – so much exciting exchange.

If you haven't joined in yet because you’re busy having a life on Friday nights, think of us zoomies On the Porch! And then come in for a while before you head out. No commitment, come once, or come back every week – that’s up to you.

That Barb lied though.

There ain't no porch!

She’s forgiven, because I guess it's cold and snowy in NC right now.

COME ON, JOIN US!!!!!

Sharon Simmons (CO and WA)

Register on the website. Open to members and non-members.

As I sit down to write this, I reflect on a life that has been anything but ordinary.

My name is Sujata Tiwari, author of Against All Odds, founder of Sujata Against All Odds Pte Ltd, and an advocate for women's resilience and mental health.

From my early days across borders to my current home in Sin-gapore, where I serve as Regional VP Asia Pacific for the World Federation for Mental Health and BPW NAC Training Coordinator and Gender based Vi-olence Chair of NFBPWC, I've encoun-tered countless souls navigating the storms of life. Through my book, workshops, UN events, and personal interactions, I've wit-nessed how mental well-being isn't a lux-ury it's the foundation for survival, growth, and purpose.

Mental well-being is the quiet strength that allows us to endure when the world feels unbearable. It's not about being perpetual-ly happy; it's about finding equilibrium amid chaos. In my book, I recount the har-rowing six-year battle for justice after my daughter's rape, a time when darkness threatened to consume me. The emotional toll was immense: sleepless nights, haunt-ing calls from the past, and the irony of being a caregiver while crumbling inside.

Yet, through supernatural encounters I call "angels", who include supportive police of-ficers and spiritual guides, I learned that well-being begins with acknowledging pain without letting it define you.

In my advocacy at UN CSW events on gender-based violence, I've heard from survi-vors across continents: One woman spoke of community silence amplifying her trau-ma, while another professional described workplace harassment eroding her self-worth. These stories underscore that well-being requires justice, holding perpetrators accountable, and fostering safe spaces.

As someone who channeled betrayal into entrepreneur-ship, I advise:

• Build resilience through purpose.
• Start small, set one goal, like con-necting with a men-tor,
• And celebrate wins.

To all reading this: If you're struggling, know you're not alone.

Seek professional help if it works for you or surround your-self with "angels," human or spiritual.

From the people I've met, I've learned that well-being is a collective effort:

• Share your story,
• Support others,
• And advocate for change.

Together, we turn lived pain into lasting light.

Sujata Tiwari
Chair Gender-Based Violence
gbv@nfbpwc.org

Dear NFBPWC Members and Allies,

I am thrilled and deeply honored to announce my appointment as Chair of the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Committee for the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs (NFBPWC).

As a passionate advocate for women's empowerment and a survivor who has turned personal challenges into a platform for change, this role feels like a natural extension of my lifelong commitment to justice and equity. This is my first article in this capacity, and I couldn't be more excited to invite you to join me in this critical work. 

In the United States, GBV remains a pervasive crisis that affects millions, cutting across all demographics and impacting our workplaces, homes, and communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of women (45.1%) have experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetimes, with 21% reporting completed or attempted rape.

One in four women and one in nine men face severe intimate partner violence, including physical abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, as highlighted by the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV).

These statistics are staggering: In 2024 alone, nearly 30,000 women were killed by intimate partners globally, with the US contributing significantly to this toll through high rates of femicide and abuse.

The economic cost is equally devastating, intimate partner violence against women burdens US society with an estimated $12.1 billion annually in health costs and lost productivity (adjusted from 1995 figures). 

“One in four women and one in nine men face severe intimate partner violence, including physical abuse, sexual assault, or stalking."

As professional women, we know GBV doesn't stop at home, it infiltrates our workplaces, hindering career advancement and economic independence. NFBPWC has long championed policies that benefit working women, and our GBV Committee will build on this legacy by focusing on US-specific issues like the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), workplace protections against harassment, and support for survivors in professional settings. We'll advocate for stronger enforcement of laws, increased funding for shelters like those supported by the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and education to prevent abuse in our communities.

My vision for the committee is collaborative and action-oriented: We'll host webinars, lobby for policy changes at state and federal levels, partner with organizations like the NNEDV, and create resources for BPW members to support survivors in their networks. We will also partner with global organizations because this is a universal problem. Whether you're a business leader, educator, or advocate, your voice matters in ending this epidemic.

I invite you to join the GBV Committee together, we can amplify survivor stories, push for equitable laws, and foster safer environments for all women. To get involved, email me at gbv@nfbpwc.org or visit NFBPWC's website for membership details. Let's turn awareness into action and build a future free from violence.

Warmly,

Sujata

Sujata Tiwari
Chair Gender-Based Violence
gbv@nfbpwc.org

Sandy Thompson
Finance Chair
inance@nfbpwc.org

Women in History: Leading the Change for a Sustainable Future

Women have long been at the heart of movements that protect communities, restore ecosystems, and champion a healthier planet. Their leadership blends vision, collaboration, and a deep understanding that sustainability is about both people and the environment.

From Wangari Maathai, who mobilized women across Kenya to plant millions of trees, to Rachel Carson, whose work sparked the modern environmental movement, women have consistently reshaped how the world understands stewardship and responsibility.

Leaders like Gro Harlem Brundtland helped define sustainable development itself, linking environmental health with economic and social well-being.

Women’s leadership in sustainability is rooted in lived experience. When natural resources are strained or communities face climate-related challenges, women are often the first to respond and the strongest advocates for long‑term solutions. Their approaches emphasize equity, resilience, and community empowerment.

As we look ahead, envisioning a sustainable future means placing women’s leadership at the center. Imagine communities where women guide climate strategy, girls see themselves as innovators and policymakers, and environmental decisions reflect the voices of those most affected.

The women who came before us laid the foundation. The women leading today are carrying the work forward. And the women rising now will shape a future where communities thrive and the planet is protected for generations.

When women lead, sustainability becomes not just a goal, but a shared, achievable vision.

NFBPWC AMBITIONS

• Equal participation of women and men in power and decision-making roles.
• Take professional responsibility on all levels in the economy, politics, and society.
• Think and act locally, nationally, and globally.
• Engage in networking and mentoring programs.
• Continuous development of personal and professional skills through the Lifelong Leadership and Learning (L3) Program.
• Develop the professional, business, and leadership potential of all women.
• Work cooperatively with the United Nations and other national and international organizations.

Angie Jackson-Wilson
Chair Bylaws & Resolutions
bylaws@nfbpwc.org

Considering Women’s History Month draws me to books – truth be told, most everything does. In this case, there’s a wealth of history about the how women have rebelled against the proscribed roles society wanted to foist upon them.

Here are just three of the non-fiction options I found with brief summaries based on those written in reviews and on their publisher’s websites.

The Once and Future Sex: Going Medieval on Women's Roles in Society by Eleanor Janega

The more things change, the more they stay the same, or so says this history that examines the role of woman in society in a time when their prospects were incredibly narrow social and cultural punishments for stepping out of line were extreme. This is a pop-cultural approach that traces the origin of many lasting misogynistic views of women over time, and gives us anecdotes from the historical record about the women who moved ignored them.

Queens of Jerusalem: The Women Who Dared to Rule by Katherin Pangonis

Sometimes the most important aspect of a historical record is what is left out. This is especially true of official records, mainly written by, about, and for men – it is called HIStory, after all. This book highlights the queens and princesses who ruled Medieval Palestine with political agency and deft decision making. Women who were incredibly influential in their time but have largely been ignored until now.

When Women Ruled the World: Making the Renaissance in Europe by Maureen Quilligan 

Mary Tudor, Elizabeth I, Mary, Queen of Scots, Catherine de’ Medici: these names have resonated in history books for centuries, often cast as rivals, but a closer look at their relationships shows how their mutual respect produced peace, which led to widespread political and artistic creativity.

It’s probably safe to say that while some NFBPWC members are quiet regal, and many are strong and gracious leaders within and outside our organization, none of us are actually royalty or imbued with the kind of wide-spread recognition and power some of the women in these books were. That stated, however, every one of us is descended in spirit if not genetically from them all.

Theirs are the shoulders upon which we stand. The achievements that paved the way to where we are today. The lives that inspire us to make more of our own, to make the world safer and more equal for the women and girls of today, and to lay the foundations for future generations to build on.

One of the ways we can do this is through NFBPWC. If you’ve been on the fence about volunteering to work on a committee, suggesting an event or recruitment drive for your state’s club, even running for local or national office – now is the time to climb down on the side of YES!

Yes, you can add one more thing to your crowded plate – because your plate is made of solid stuff, ceramic or stone, rather than the soggy paper so many women are relegated to holding around the world in cultures that devalue and degrade them. You have already take the first step by being a member. Maybe you have taken other steps by doing the things I mentioned in the previous paragraph. If so, kudos to you, now it’s time to take whatever the next step is.

If not, take heart and inspiration from those who braved more difficult and dangerous times and situations and your NFBPWC sisters who have stepped out of their comfort zones to step up for an organization rooted in making the world a better place for women and girls today and tomorrow. Talk to them. Ask them why they volunteered to do more. What was the hardest thing they had to overcome? What they thought would be hard that turned out to be pretty simple or easy?

Then talk to your local sister-members. Maybe someone else wants to do something but fears not having enough time – perhaps you can share a role, serve as co-chairs of an event, co-chairs of a committee, or some other partnership that allows your club to receive the gift of your talents without either of you sacrificing the time and energy it would take to do it all yourself.

Want a great place to start? Something that’s easy. Something you only have to do once? Something you will have some help with if you get stuck? Write something for our magazine!

The next time you attend an event, take a little pad and jot down the highlights: things you learned, laughter you shared, whatever was interesting about it. Take some photos with your phone. Then write something telling the rest of us about your experience.

This is not an official club report. It’s you sharing your own experience. You do not need permission from anyone. You do not have to let anyone approve or even read it before submission.

There is no minimum word count you have to meet, no style book you need to comply with, none of the things that might stress you out when writing something for others to read. Something casual and friendly that might make someone else want to attend an event too.

And if you’re “not a writer” or even if you “just can’t write” that’s OK too. You have the free services of a professional writer and editor to polish things up if necessary.

If you think you’d like to do this, just drop me a line (magazine@nfbpwc.org) telling me what you want to do, or, just send me the story you wrote.

Happy writing, and reading!

Lisa Dicksteen
Magazine Editor
magazine@nfbpwc.org

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