Women’s power matters because decisions made without women consistently cost women their freedom. Representation alone is not enough. Getting women into public office who will fight for that freedom is how we protect what we have and push toward full autonomy over our bodies, our families, our communities, and our futures.

Local Leader Lab is where that work begins. We equip women to step into local leadership where policy gets made, where coalitions form, and where the pipeline to power starts.

This isn’t campaign training. It’s about helping women understand how local power works, identify where they can have influence, and take meaningful action in their communities. It’s leadership for real life, rooted in local impact.

And it works. After completing the program, 98% of participants reported increased confidence as civic leaders.

The Local Leader Lab is designed specifically for women who are early in their leadership journeys, including those who may not see themselves as “leaders” yet. You don’t need political experience, civic experience, or any kind of formal leadership background to participate.

Whether you’ve been active in your community for years or are just starting to pay attention to local issues, the Lab gives you the tools, confidence, and structure to grow from wherever you are. If someone is willing to learn, reflect, and take small steps each week, they are absolutely ready for this program.

The Local Leader Lab is offered on a sliding scale of $25 to $250, a fraction of what this program actually costs to deliver. The remainder is made possible through philanthropic support, and your contribution helps She Should Run keep building the pipeline of women into public leadership. We ask those with greater financial capacity to contribute at the higher end so we can welcome women who need to contribute less.

Confidence. Clarity. Community. Motivation. Strategy. These are the things our Cohort Members have gained from the Lab. We provide this support through interactive curriculum during the live sessions, such as mini-teaching segments, breakout group conversations, and self-reflection journaling. We also offer 1:1 project coaching to help you overcome blockers to whatever may be holding you back from taking action in your community. Last the support you receive from knowing you are not alone and completing the Lab’s transformative experience together.

The next cohort is for the Summer of 2026. Live sessions will take place on Wednesdays from 7-8:30pm EST on the following dates:

• July 1, 2026
• July 8, 2026
• July 15, 2026
• July 22, 2026
• July 29, 2026
• Aug 5, 2026

Live session participation is one of the most important components of the program. We understand life happens, planned and unplanned. We ask that Cohort Members strive to attend 100% of live sessions and allow for one excused absence. If the live sessions do not work for your schedule or you have a recurring conflict, such as a class or family obligation, you should decline your offer to participate in the program and apply again a future cohort that works for your schedule.

The Local Leader Lab begins at a contribution of $25. If this poses a genuine hardship, please email us at [email protected].

You should join the Lab! If you are new to your neighborhood, the Lab will provide you with concrete steps and tools to help you learn about the landscape, building connections, and get involved. If you plan to move soon, that is ok too. Your research may focus on where you plan to move or the skills we share to help you recruit followers to your cause will be even more important so that you can make your work sustainable to continue when you leave.

The Local Leader Lab is not a traditional campaign 101 training program that provides the nuts and bolts of running a political campaign like fundraising, Get Out the Vote, or how to build a campaign team. Rather, the Local Leader Lab prepares leaders to define their purpose and develop concrete ways to take action in their community. So, if you are looking to deepen connections in your community and strengthen your civic leadership skills then the Lab is right for you, whether you are a current elected official, active candidate, or potential candidate. We have had all three participate in the program and grow tremendously. We also offer exclusive informational sessions for Cohort Members to meet with women elected officials to ask questions to explore if running for office is right for you.

If completing your application poses any obstacle, please email [email protected] to request accommodations.