Blog by Haika Mrema
Looking back on my previous college years, I am grateful to the organizations that gave me the opportunity to express my passions and build strong relationships. Whether you are a freshman starting out or you are finishing your senior year, joining a community of like-minded women can make all the difference in your college experience.
Below is a list of four organizations that all conservative women in college should know about. As you journey through college, consider these organizations, as there is a good chance it will drastically improve your college years for the better.
Originally launched as a book club, the Network of Enlightened Women (NeW) serves to educate, equip, and empower women to become “principled leaders of a free society.” Women in college can connect with other like-minded “pro-liberty” individuals through their discussions on women’s issues, public policy, and culture. In nearly 20 years, NeW has expanded to over 50 college campuses nationwide.
Beyond the speaker events, social activities, and professional development workshops that happen through chapters on college campuses, you can also enjoy annual perks made to prepare you in being a conservative leader. NeW offers mentorship opportunities, leadership retreats, and media trainings to equip college women to advocate for their beliefs boldly and articulately.
I am blessed to have been involved with NeW for the majority of my college years, as it has helped shape me into the woman I am today and gave me my start in the conservative movement.
If you are a Christian conservative woman looking to “promote Biblical values and conservative principles” alongside other like-minded women, Young Women for America is the organization for you! With several chapters on college campuses across the country, YWFA concentrates on “prayer, education, and action” on campus and in the community.
Women can join in solidarity as they advance YWFA’s core issues, including the “sanctity of life,” “religious liberty,” “education,” and “defense of the family.” Leadership opportunities are also available through “chapter president” and “ambassador” positions. Join or create a chapter on your campus today to foster a community of virtuous women who value God and country.
Selected young women could also attend YWFA’s annual Leadership Retreat to explore cultural issues in depth and learn how to uphold conservative principles.
As one of the “leading pro-life advocacy organizations in the world,” Students for Life serves to train and empower students to “abolish abortion” through “strategy, policy, and programming” initiatives. SFL is present in 1,400 educational institutions in all 50 states, where students can help women in need and champion policies that preserve the sanctity of life.
College students have a front seat in advancing the pro-life movement as they engage with their peers to change young people’s minds and hearts on the abortion issue. No student will be pursuing this mission alone either, as joining a chapter on campus will connect those most passionate about protecting the unborn and advocating for family values.
We may be in a “post-roe” society, but the work is just beginning. Don’t miss the opportunity to advance the pro-life message on your campus and beyond.
I must give an honorable mention to the Clare Boothe Luce Center of Conservative Women. While the organization does not have college chapters, it exists to “prepare women for effective leadership and to promote leading conservative women” through valuable resources, summits and seminars, and campus activism.
CBL also brings speakers on college campuses to help shed light on conservative viewpoints on relevant issues. Notable conservative figures such as Allie Beth Stuckey, Lila Rose, Liz Wheeler, and Riley Gaines are just a connection away through CBL from traveling to your college campus to challenge the liberal narrative dominating higher education.