The Mission Continues Launches New Leadership Program for Women Veterans
The Women Veterans Leadership Program is the First-of-its-kind Professional Development Program for Women Veterans
WASHINGTON, DC [February 27, 2020] – The Mission Continues, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the empowerment of veterans as community-based leaders, is proud to announce the launch of a new program exclusively for women veterans, beginning this week in Washington, DC. The Women Veterans Leadership Program will welcome 70 female veterans interested in leveraging their leadership skills and unique veteran experience to build a movement pursuing equality for all women.
The five-month program sets women veterans up for success in leadership positions in their professional and personal lives through a virtual learning curriculum and a series of in-person sessions. Participants will hear from engaging speakers, network with other veterans, and gain practical skills and experience in topics ranging from interpersonal communication and public speaking to increasing resiliency. Through the Women Veterans Leadership Program, the organization seeks to change the narrative on what it means to be a woman veteran by providing the pathways for women to become change-makers in their community, deepen bonds with other veterans, and enhance their professional networks.
“The women of The Mission Continues have been leading from the front for years,” said Mary Beth Bruggeman, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and President of The Mission Continues, “They represent nearly 40% of our programs and are active in their communities as role models and mentors. With this program, we’re helping them develop a deeper network and tangible skills that enable them to grow a movement of empowered women in this country, working towards equality of opportunity for all.”
The first session of the program will take place March 4th through March 6th. Women in attendance will expect to hear from a panel of women in current leadership roles, and engage in sessions focusing on professional networking, authentic leadership, and personal storytelling. The weekend will also include a service project by and for women at Calvary Women’s Services.
In 2015, The Mission Continues conducted a research study on the need for further programming for women veterans, who represent approximately 40% of the organization’s membership. In contrast, 19% of the post-9/11 veteran population is made up of women. The results shed light on a generation of women who are proud of their service yet have encountered challenges and obstacles unique of their male peers, consequently leading to the launch of the Women Veterans Leadership Summit in 2016. Today’s Women Veterans Leadership Program was developed to greater serve these women and offer further opportunities for leadership development.
The program is made possible by investments from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, Major League Baseball, The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Vera Bradley, and Sword & Plough. For more information, please visit: www.missioncontinues.org/wvlp.
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The Mission Continues is a national veterans organization dedicated to the empowerment of veterans as community-based leaders. We invest in veterans and under-resourced communities, developing new skill sets and equipping a growing veteran volunteer movement with the tools to drive positive change. Our programs in 56 cities nationwide deploy veteran volunteers alongside nonprofit partners and community leaders to improve educational resources, increase access to parks and green spaces, foster neighborhood identity, and more. Through this unique service model, veterans are provided opportunities for connection and personal growth while generating visible community impact. To learn more, visit http://www.missioncontinues.org or follow us on Twitter at @missioncontinue.
