Why She Will Fight

When I started She Should Run over 12 years ago, it came from an aha moment.

I saw that the only women who had a real shot at elected office were the ones who already knew they wanted to run. They already had access to power, money, and connections.

Nobody was encouraging women who weren’t already in the pipeline. No one was unpacking the “how” of running for office for people who didn’t already have a pretty good idea.

Now, we’re living through a critical moment. Democracy is under real strain. This moment feels a lot more urgent, but also similar.

We all know that standing up to protect democracy is critical. But the “how” is missing.

How do we show up when the stakes are so high? How do we know which actions are worth our time, energy, and fight?

That’s the gap She Will Fight is here to fill.

Meeting the moment

Most women aren’t deeply engaged in civic life because the system feels overwhelming, and it’s unclear where their time and energy are most needed.

It’s easy to feel like one person can’t make a difference. That is by design.

But the truth is this: Local action has never mattered more.

Working locally, we can have a direct impact on who runs for office and their platforms. We can correct voter misinformation and counter suppression. We can directly affect people at risk by protecting them, supporting their work, and coming to the aid of those in need.

We can also make everyday changes that matter. We can fight for a stop sign, fix broken sidewalks, push for better school funding, create safer parks, and make sure local leaders listen and act.

When we work in our communities, we see the results of our efforts. We model to our kids and neighbors what democracy looks like. We connect with those around us, building bonds and trusted networks that help us respond to the current crisis and heal divisiveness to build something better for the future.

If we don’t act now, we risk losing not just hope, but the long game of democracy itself.

Why She Will Fight exists

Our democracy and our communities can only benefit from the unique perspectives of women, especially during a time when long-held rights are at risk or already gone.

Getting more women to see themselves as elected leaders will always matter. It is evergreen.

But right now, there’s an urgent need to help women take action in their communities, no matter what their leadership goals are.

She Should Run has always lived in the invisible pre-candidacy space. We have been doing this work for over a decade. We built the resources that women need long before they ever think about getting on a ballot. That work has always been about civic engagement—all elected officials start out by showing up where they live and making a difference.

We know from years of work in this space that we don’t need to convince women to care. We need to make it easier for them to act in ways that feel real and doable.

We also know how to balance urgency with hope (and always some laughter!). And we know how to meet women in their real lives without shaming them or making them feel like they have to be political insiders to participate.

With She Will Fight, we’re showing up in the ways women need us now. Offering tools, building community, strengthening networks, and meeting the moment head-on.

What we’re doing

The Action Index

The heart of She Will Fight is an easy-to-use Action Index with tangible ways to build power in your community. Every action has an impact, no matter how big or small.

Each action has a clear set of steps and why it matters. Those who join will never be in the dark about what to do. Start with your interests and experience level, and choose what works for you.

Connecting the community

Resistance and political change don’t begin and end with action plans. We need compassion. We need support. We need hope. We need joy. And we need to show up for each other. Together, we can connect across the country to empower each of us where we live.

Fear and isolation paralyze us. Problem-solving together magnifies our impact and helps us keep going.

Co-learning with women in real time

I am a former teacher with a master’s degree focused on organizational learning and development. I’m wired to keep learning, and I do my best work when the path forward means listening, adapting, and building something better.

We’re bringing all of She Should Run’s experience and research to this fight. But history rhymes rather than repeats. We need to build this with women, not for them. We’re learning in real time about what works.

That’s why we’re rolling out She Will Fight in phases. We’re starting in a beta phase so we can learn together quickly before we scale this fall. This is not a polished, top-down rollout. It is real, raw, and responsive to what women need right now.

We can’t wait for perfect conditions. And we won’t.

How to join the fight

Share

The more people who join, the faster we can make an impact. Get the word out. Share our posts on Instagram. Send this article to one person who needs to see it today.

Fuel the fight

If you can donate to She Should Run, it’s one of the most effective ways to take action. Every dollar gets us closer.

Partner with us

We will scale this movement by partnering with organizations that believe in the power of local action. If that sounds like you, let’s team up.

Join us

No matter how engaged you are politically right now, become a member of She Will Fight. You’ll step into a network of women taking action right now to protect what matters most.

Stay hopeful

Hope is not passive. It’s a choice. I believe in what’s possible when women fight for their communities. I believe in what’s possible when we fight together. I believe that the action we spark in each other now will be the foundation of a better democracy than we’ve ever seen.

We’re fighting for hope. We’re fighting for our future. And we’re fighting for each other.