This year, the Network of enlightened Women (NeW) celebrates 15 years of empowering conservative women and building community across the country – both on college campuses and in numerous cities through young professional groups. NeW has much to celebrate this year, including publishing its first book last fall, She’s Conservative: Stories of Trials and Triumphs on America’s College Campuses, featuring essays by 22 young women about the challenges they faced on campus and why they are conservative. Three of the women appeared on Fox Nation and 7 had their essays published as editorials. Impressively, the book reached an audience of 2,660,122 followers on Twitter.
Over the years, conservative women have been emboldened to speak out for their beliefs through campaigns and programs such as #ShesConservative, challenging the stereotypes of what it means to be a conservative, and “Conservative Women Vote”, which highlights that not all women vote for the female candidates or how their father or brother tell them to. NeW is proud to be creating a culture where it is cool to be a conservative woman.
And it’s not just conservative women who are taking notice. In the last few years, NeW has been featured in Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, and on CBS News. TIME even sent a reporter to the 2019 National Conference. Not all college-aged women are liberal, and NeW is proud to support women who choose to go against that mainstream notion and instead think independently for themselves.
Through our chapters on campus, NeW believes in creating a place where women can be inspired by and learn from others who have gone before them and pursued their career goals through a variety of different paths. In April 2019, for example, NeW chapters brought several impressive women to their campuses, hosting Olivia Enos, Policy Analyst at The Heritage Foundation; former Homeland Security Advisor Frances Townsend; former Congresswoman Mia Love; Katie Yoder, Content Manager for National Review Online; Emily Jashinsky, Culture Editor for The Federalist; Lisa Boothe, a Fox News Contributor; and Kassy Dillon, staff writer for the Daily Wire.
Testimonials from countless women speak to the crucial role that NeW is playing on college campuses.
“Prior to my involvement with NeW, I wasn’t decidedly active in voicing my personal and political beliefs on campus—a combination of a lack of confidence and a lack of space to do so. I am so glad that I joined NeW. It provides an outlet to gain confidence, grow in a community of similar beliefs, and empower other women to do the same in the process.” – Jamie LeVie, NeW at Baylor
“NeW has given me amazing opportunities to connect with other conservative women on my college campus and from across the country. In this community I have been able to strengthen the way I talk about conservatism with others and strengthen the skills that I know will carry me through the rest of my time in college and in my career.” – Julia Canzano, NeW at Boston College
“NeW has provided me with a girl squad of strong women who empower one another in our shared and different views. It has given me the confidence and comfort to speak up about my beliefs even when I am in the minority. This is invaluable to me as I further develop who I am throughout my college career. NeW has undoubtedly made me a stronger woman.” – Sophia Benevento, NeW at UVA
Conservative women’s voices deserve to be heard, and while it has been an amazing 15 years, NeW looks ahead to 15 more with the hope that every conservative woman will feel empowered and emboldened to speak up for what they believe in and follow their dreams both in their personal and professional life.
Has NeW had an impact on your life? Share your story with us today for a chance to be featured. Or wish NeW and NeW Founder, Karin Lips, a Happy Anniversary!
