RELEASE: Louisiana Progress Action launches new state level advocacy network to engage 10,000 Women Louisiana.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–March 16, 2022
BATON ROUGE, LA—Over the last few months, Louisiana Progress Action has convened women leaders from around the state to develop 10,000 Women Louisiana to connect women who want to solve problems at the state and local levels.
By strengthening statewide and regional networks of informed and engaged women leaders and attracting new women to advocacy, the debate at the Legislature can be focused on issues of long-term significance to Louisiana—improving education and healthcare, reducing poverty and addressing the critical needs of children as well as other social justice issues.
Melissa Flournoy, Louisiana Progress Action, chair, said, “we believe that 10,000 Women can be a powerful force in the future direction of the state when women are informed, engaged, and mobilized to solve Louisiana’s problems and not just fight culture wars.”
The Co-chairs for 10,000 Women are Lori Callais, a community leader from Livingston Parish and former candidate for the Legislature in 2019 and Alfreda Tillman Bester, former Secretary of Labor and general counsel of the NAACP. Lori Callais said she was involved in planning 10,000 Women because, “So many of our children have moved out of Louisiana and we need to fix our problems so our children and grandchildren will stay in Louisiana.”
Alfreda Tillman Bester said, “I am elated at this purposeful movement of women. We recognize the importance of diverse voices in addressing the social, cultural and political challenges that impact the health and safety of our citizens. We are mobilizing an army of women to assist our policymakers in moving our state forward.”
10,0000 Women will provide advocacy trainings, Women on Wednesdays at the Capitol cosponsored by Lift Louisiana during the Legislative Session, and weekly zoom calls to motivate and mobilize the power of women. Additional training resources and opportunities to get informed are available at www.10000womenla.org including weekly emails on advocacy priorities, a bill tracker of important legislation, quick easy to follow podcasts on advocacy, how to testify at a committee, how to contact your legislators, and short comprehensible policy updates so women can know what is really going on at the capitol.
Who: Louisiana Progress Action
What: Launch of 10,000 Women Louisiana
When: March 16, 2022
Contact: Melissa Flournoy, Board Chair, Louisiana Progress, (225) 936.7200 m1flournoy@gmail.com
Connect at www.10000womenla.org. Join our Facebook Page 10,000 Women Louisiana and follow us on Twitter @10000WomenLA.