#LeadersMatter Virtual Event Series

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Back by popular demand, this series highlights our Emerge alums and other notable leaders who give us hope and demonstrate why women are the strong and resilient leaders we need now. We have revamped our #LeadersMatter series to reach a broader audience! Ticket prices will now only be $25 and no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

UPCOMING EVENTS

3/28: Celebration of Women’s History Month
featuring South Carolina State Representative Heather Bauer, candidate for TN State House Allie Phillips, and Emerge Young Leaders Cabinet member and author Haley Taylor Schlitz
RSVP here today!

PAST EVENTS

2024 Virtual Events:

2/28: Celebration of Black History Month
featuring Emerge Deputy Affiliate Director Melissa Watson Ward, WI State Rep. LaKeshia Myers, El Cerrito Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn Wysinger, and MI Board of Education Member and candidate for Congress Pamela Pugh

Watch the recording here.

2023 Virtual Events:

9/28: Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month:
featuring Vice Mayor of Alhambra, CA Sasha Renée Pérez, Candidate for Sussex County Commissioner Damaris Lira, moderated by Emerge Board Member Amanda Aguirre

Watch the recording here.

8/28: The Importance of Women on School Boards:
featuring Hillsboro, OR School Board Member Ivette Pantoja and Midlothian, VA School Board Candidate Dr. Lauranett Lee, moderated by Emerge Political Director Brianna Carmen

Watch the recording here.

6/28: A Celebration of Pride Month:
featuring Emerge Virginia Executive Director & VA State Delegate Danica Roem and Port of Tacoma Commissioner Kristin Ang, moderated by Emerge Affiliate Director Jill Barkley Roy

Watch the recording here.

3/21: Recognizing Leaders of Jewish Heritage:
featuring Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Vermont Congresswoman Becca Balint, Vermont State Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale, and California Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan

Watch the recording here.

2/28: A Celebration of Black History Month
featuring Emerge President A’shanti Gholar, CT Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, VA Delegate Briana Sewell (HD-51), and KY State Representative Col. Pamela Stevenson (HD-43)

Watch the recording here.

1/30: “New Year, New Congress”
featuring Congresswoman Val Hoyle (OR-04), Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06), and Congresswoman Emilia Sykes (OH-13)

Watch the recording here.


View recordings from 2022 below!

8/25: “Hitting a Nerve: Standing Up and Speaking Out”
with Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow and Emerge President A’shanti Gholar

Watch the recording here.

6/24: #LeadersMatter Salon with Democratic Nominee for Georgia Governor Stacey Abrams – featuring a panel of incredible Emerge Georgia alums moderated by EGA Executive Director Maggie Chambers

Moderated by Emerge President A’shanti Gholar and EGA Executive Director Maggie Chambers

6/16: A Conversation on Women in Politics: Why Women are the Answer, featuring Emerge President A’shanti Gholar and Cecile Richards, Co-chair of American Bridge 21st Century. 

Watch the recording here (starts at 0:30).

5/10: Celebration of Eid and Muslim Women in Office: A conversation with Assemblywoman Sadaf Jaffer and Councilwoman Zulfat Suara on the importance of having Muslim women lead and run for office

Moderated by Emerge Director of Special Projects Laila Mohib

4/11: Why Women for Attorney General: A conversation on the importance of women as Attorneys General, featuring Former Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell and Georgia State Senator Jen Jordan (GA-06)

Moderated by Emerge President A’shanti Gholar
Watch the recording here.

2/16: Black History month: A conversation with EMILY’s List President Laphonza Butler, President of Planned Parenthood Action Fund Alexis McGill Johnson, and Emerge President A’shanti Gholar

Watch the recording here.


You can check out our 2021 salons by viewing full recordings below!

10/13: Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month featuring Virginia Delegate Hala Ayala, Nevada State Assemblywoman Selena Torres, and District Attorney of Georgia’s Western Judicial Circuit Deborah Gonzalez

Moderated by Emerge National Board Secretary Regina Montoya

Delegate Hala Ayala, Assemblywoman Selena Torres, and D.A. Deborah Gonzalez celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with an important conversation. Watch the recording here.

9/14: The Battle Over Women’s Healthcare featuring Congresswoman Lauren Underwood and Former Texas State Senator Wendy Davis

Moderated by Emerge National Board Member Gretchen Sisson

Congresswoman Lauren Underwood and State Senator Wendy Davis discussed women’s healthcare. Watch the recording here.

8/26: Women in Party Leadership featuring Assistant Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Katherine Clark and Majority Leader of the Nevada State Senate, Nicole Cannizzaro

Moderated by Emerge President A’shanti Gholar

Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark and Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro discussed the role of women in party leadership. Watch the recording here.

6/28: The Economic Impact of COVID on Women featuring Congresswomen Katie Porter and Nikema Williams

Moderated by Emerge President A’shanti Gholar

Congresswomen Porter and Williams discussed the work they are doing in Congress to mitigate the disproportionate effect of the pandemic on women. Watch the recording here.

5/4: Combating the Climate Crisis with Congresswoman Kim Schrier and New Mexico Representative Melanie Stansbury

Moderated by Emerge President A’shanti Gholar

Congresswoman Schrier and Representative Stansbury joined A’shanti for a crucial conversation about the climate crisis and the work they are doing to provide sustainable solutions in their communities. Watch the recording here.

4/22: Combating Anti-Asian Hate with Congresswoman Grace Meng and Chair of the DNC AAPI Caucus Bel Leong-Hong

Moderated by Emerge MA Executive Director Nina Liang

Congresswoman Meng and Bel addressed the rise in violence against the Asian community, shared their own experiences as Asian Americans, and discussed ways we can work together to combat anti-Asian hate. Watch the recording here.

4/13: Fighting Voter Suppression in the South with Congresswoman Lucy McBath and TN State Representative London Lamar

Moderated by Emerge SC Executive Director Melissa Watson Ward

Congresswoman McBath and Tennessee Representative Lamar discussed the importance of voter rights and fighting Republican efforts to suppress the votes of their own constituents. Watch the recording here.

3/17: The Future of the Democratic Party with DNC Chair Jaime Harrison and A’shanti Gholar

Chair Harrison and A’shanti spoke about investing in a 50-state strategy, providing resources to communities that have historically been overlooked, and building the pipeline of women candidates and candidates of color. Watch the recording here.

2/23: A Celebration of Black History Month and A’shanti’s Birthday with Senior Advisor to the Biden Inaugural Committee Tamia Booker

Opening remarks by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley

Congresswoman Pressley kicked off the evening with some opening remarks, then A’shanti and Tamia Booker discussed the tremendous impact Black women have had in politics and what it means now that we have more women of color in the Presidential Cabinet. Watch the recording here.

2/16: Lunar New Year Celebration with Maryland Delegate Lily Qi and Eastvale, CA Mayor Jocelyn Yow

Moderated by Emerge California Executive Director Melanie Ramil

Delegate Qi and Mayor Yow engaged in an important and timely conversation on why we must elect more women of color and the role we all can play to combat hatred and violence towards AAPI communities. Watch the recording here.


*The Leadership Circle is a core group of supporters who give $1,000 or more each year to support Emerge’s ongoing work. Leadership Circle members receive all-access to the complete #LeadersMatter virtual salon series including one guest pass. Other membership benefits include:

  • Exclusive and regular updates from Emerge Executive Staff
  • Special recognition as a Leadership Circle member
  • Personal access to a Leadership Circle dedicated staff member

Individual tickets for each salon are also available to purchase for non-Leadership Circle members at $100.


You can check out highlight reels from our 2020 salons on our YouTube channel and view full recordings below!

9/24: A Conversation with SURGE film producers: Alyssa Milano, Hannah Rosenzweig & Wendy Sachs

Moderated by Emerge Board Member Regina Montoya

SURGE follows three candidates in Texas, Indiana, and Illinois who were looking to flip their red district to blue, including Lauren Underwood, the youngest black woman to ever be elected to Congress. On this salon, Alyssa, Hannah and Wendy discussed the importance of sharing women’s stories, the work we need to do leading up to election day, and the film’s central question: is this a moment or a movement? Watch the recording here.

9/10: Representation Matters: First Native American Women in Congress featuring Rep. Sharice Davids and Rep. Deb Haaland in conversation with A’shanti Gholar

Congresswomen Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland discussed their experience as the first two Native American women in Congress and the importance of representation in office. Watch the recording here.

9/3: Georgia & Southern Expansion with Georgia State Senator Nikema Williams, Georgia State Representative Shelly Hutchinson & Georgia State House Candidate Julie Jordan

Sen. Williams, Rep. Hutchinson, and Julie discussed Georgia and the key role Democrats in the South will play in elections in 2020 and beyond. Watch the recording here.

8/12: Keeping it Local with Emerge alums Colorado Representative Daneya Esgar, Maryland Delegate Brooke Lierman and Kentucky Representative Attica Scott

All politics is local. Our Emerge alums discussed the importance of getting involved at the state and local levels. Watch the recording here.

8/6: A Conversation with Senator Cory Booker and Emerge President A’shanti Gholar

Senator Booker sat down with A’shanti to discuss racial justice and the ways men can support women running for office. Watch the recording here.

7/28: Making History with former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg

Moderated by Emerge alum and California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis

Mayor Pete discussed his historic Presidential run and the importance of empowering young people to run for office and supporting down-ballot candidates. Watch the salon here.

7/21: The Road to the Senate with Emerge alum and Speaker of the Maine State House Sara Gideon

Moderated by Emerge President A’shanti F. Gholar

Speaker Sara Gideon discussed the importance of flipping the Senate and take your questions surrounding her decision to take on Susan Collins and her journey towards Election Day.

7/10: Why Women for Attorney General? with Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey and Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum

Moderated by January Contreras, Emerge alum and candidate for Arizona Attorney General

Attorneys General Healey and Rosenblum discussed the importance of equal representation, their work standing up against the Trump administration, and how they protect and serve their constituents as women AGs amidst a pandemic.

6/26: “When Home is Not Safe” with Colorado State Representative Leslie Herod and Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins

Moderated by Emerge Massachusetts Executive Director Nina Liang

Representative Herod and District Attorney Rollins discussed the rise in domestic violence during shelter in place, criminal justice, racial equity, and why we need more women leaders who will protect and defend communities who need them most. Watch the recording here.

6/16: A Conversation with “That Woman from Michigan,” Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Moderated by Former Governor of Michigan and Emerge Advisory Board Member Jennifer Granholm

Governor Whitmer discussed how she dealt with targeted attacks from the White House and her own constituents and reclaimed her title as “that woman from Michigan.” Watch the recording here.

6/4: A Conversation with Supermajority Co-Founder Cecile Richards and Emerge President A’shanti F. Gholar

Cecile Richards sat down with A’shanti to discuss Democratic women leadership and the importance of representation in politics and public office. Watch the recording here.

5/28: Polls and Politics during the Pandemic with former DNC Chair Donna Brazile and Celinda Lake

Moderated by Emerge President A’shanti Gholar

Former DNC Chair Donna Brazile and noted pollster Celinda Lake provided critical analysis into this year’s elections and shared the impacts of these results going into November. Watch the recording here.

5/14: Election Protection with Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold and Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs

Moderated by Emerge Colorado Executive Director Michal Rosenoer

Our Emerge alums and Secretaries of State talked us through the importance of voting by mail and ensuring safe elections during this time. Watch the recording here.

5/5: Public Safety Amidst a Public Health Crisis with Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-06) & San Francisco Supervisor Catherine Stefani

Moderated by Moms Demand Action Founder and Emerge Advisory Board Member Shannon Watts

Emerge alums Congresswoman Lucy McBath and Supervisor Catherine Stefani discussed the gun safety issues brought to light by the current public health crisis. Watch the recording here.

4/30: What Happens When You Flip a State with Virginia Delegates Jennifer Carroll Foy and Danica Roem

Moderated by Emerge VA Executive Director Veena Lothe

Virginia Delegates Jennifer Carroll Foy and Danica Roem discussed what they are working on now and shared more about their stories as Emerge alums. Watch the recording here.

4/16: Mayors on the Front Line: San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf

Moderated by Emerge California Executive Director Melanie Ramil

Our incredible Emerge alums are Mayors of two large cities impacted early in this pandemic. They have led the way and gave a full picture of the issues at play.

4/7: A Physician’s Perspective: Congresswoman Kim Schrier (WA-08) and Dr. Hiral Tipirneni

Moderated by Emerge New Mexico Executive Director Dr. Sharmin Dharas

The doctors presented their thoughts on the crisis and took questions from the Emerge network and their children. Watch the recording here.