Be part of reaching 50/50 equality by 2020
in the Missouri House of Representatives

Yes, 2010 was a bad year for progressive women candidates everywhere. Missouri's Women's Leadership Coalition targeted five fabulous women running in rural Missouri outside Kansas City and St. Louis. All were bright, progressive, pro-choice and ran text-book campaigns in open seat races. And all lost. Unfortunately, the time was wrong.

But our mourning period is over. The MWLC board met last January with several of our courageous candidates to set a new course. We remember that definition of insanity; repeating past behavior and expecting a different outcome. Besides recruiting and helping women run, we're working to change the political climate in Missouri.

Plan to join MWLC's efforts to reach the goal of 50/50 equality in the Missouri House by 2020, the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage!

This exciting goal is going to cost us all some time and money. As you read, we ask you to become a Sustaining Donor with a monthly pledge of $5, $10, $15, $20 or $25. That's a latte or lunch out once a month or the new movie with popcorn, Milk Duds and Diet Coke. You get the idea. It's NOT an amount that you'll miss once you sign up. However this regular donation from you would mean serious stability for MWLC as we work together toward this goal of equality.

Make an online contribution now by choosing a donor level at right, or mail to Ardy Pearson, MWLC finance chair, 1012 W. 66th Ter., Kansas City, MO 64113 and include your name, address and email. You will receive a monthly notice from PayPal for your donation. You can click any time and stop payment.

We are serious about this time frame. There are five more elections -- beginning with 2012 -- to reach equality by 2020 in the Missouri House. It means averaging eight more women in each election. It won't be easy, but with your help, it's possible. Amazingly, women's numbers rose from 36 of 163 seats in the Missouri House to 41 seats after the 2010 election. This brings Missouri to 23.4% women and a ranking of 24th among the 50 states. Colorado ranks #1 at 405 women in its State Legislature. No state legislature has yet reached 50/50 equality.

Of course, support isn't just about electing skirts. We want thoughtful, progressive legislation passed. We want choice kept safe and legal, a matter for the woman and her health professionals, not a political wedge issue. We want Missouri to be one of the final three states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, a matter of simple fairness.

The MWLC Board thanks you for any and all past support. All board members donate and eat their own bills. Non-board members donate to help hire campaign experts, support limited printing and mailing, and absorb Internet fees. We would be greatly diminished without our financial supporters.

MWLC's community thanks our courageous candidates for running high-energy campaigns with impressive integrity in the poisonous 2010 election. The women ran against flashy, full color mailers and robo calls that accused them of unanswerable charges like "killing the American dream" and raising taxes when all were conservative about government spending. We hope these women will run again when opportunity opens and there is political climate change in Missouri. And all of us will be there to help.

Make a Donation

We need your help to recruit, train and support progressive women in Missouri. To ride across the state with us in spirit, send a donation payable to "MWLC."

Mail to:
Ardyce Pearson, MWLC Treasurer
Missouri Women's Leadership Coalition
1012 W. 66th Terrace
Kansas City, MO 64113

or donate online now:

Become an MWLC
Sustaining Contributor

$10 per month

$15 per month

$20 per month

$25 per month

Sustaining and regular donations to MWLC and the ERA PAC are not tax-deductible.

MWLC Education Fund

A deductible, non-partisan, non-profit 501c3 organization conducting educational workshops across the state. Tax deductible.

Mail to:
Pat Bartholome
MWLC Education Fund Treasurer
4221 Kenwood
Kansas City, MO 64110

or donate online now: