Co-authored by Siddhi Narayan, Research Intern, RDA at the National League of Cities
Women’s voices in municipal government are essential: as of 2024, women represent half of the U.S. population, yet they hold only 32.3% of municipal offices. That’s why gatherings like the Women in Municipal Government (WIMG) 2025 Summer Conference are so vital. Held in San Antonio, Texas, the WIMG 2025 Conference brought together female municipal leaders from across the U.S. to elevate women in leadership, foster connection and spark innovative solutions. The WIMG gathering not only highlighted the challenges women face in public office but also showcased the resilience, creativity and solidarity that fuels real advancement in America’s cities, towns and villages.
WIMG Expands Perspectives in Local Government
WIMG leaders are accelerating change and advancing gender representation in municipal government. In states like Colorado, Nevada and Oregon, near-equal gender representation in municipal leadership is becoming a reality. However, other states — such as Mississippi and Nebraska — remain far behind, with women comprising less than one-fifth of local leadership positions. This gap underscores the significance of WIMG’s mission: to elevate women’s voices, support their leadership and create more representative municipal governments.
At the WIMG Conference, these disparities were spotlighted front and center. Discussions emphasized that women’s representation enriches local governance, ensuring broader perspectives in policy development and implementation. This issue is not just about equality — it’s about ensuring communities are shaped by the experiences of everyone who lives there.
Focusing on Municipal Challenges and Solutions
The conference delved into pressing challenges municipalities are facing, as well as the women tackling them head-on. Key topics included youth empowerment, workforce development, civility and support for both women and their families.
One standout initiative highlighted at the conference was San Antonio’s Ready to Work program. Designed to uplift the community, particularly women of color and mothers, the program offers training and education to upskill participants in preparation for higher-paying jobs. Notably, the program connects participants with essential resources such as childcare and transportation, helping to remove barriers so participants can fully engage in training, education and employment. This initiative exemplifies how thoughtful policies, supported by community trust and response to real needs, can create transformative opportunities.
WIMG Conference sessions also explored challenges posed by federal budget cuts, particularly around mental health and social services. In one panel, WIMG board members and local experts shared strategies for filling these gaps, such as leveraging opioid settlement funds, forging partnerships with nonprofits and embracing telehealth solutions for rural communities. These solutions emphasized local leaders’ resilience, collaboration and commitment to serving vulnerable populations.
The conference also provided invaluable spaces for women leaders to connect, find community and collaboratively tackle challenges. A particularly popular session was the interactive problem-solving workshop, where participants broke into smaller groups to discuss pressing issues facing their cities. These breakout discussions enabled leaders to share their experiences, compare strategies and collectively brainstorm innovative solutions around topics like infrastructure, AI and education.
In addition to the panels and discussions, attendees toured the YWCA Women’s Live and Learn Center, an innovative new facility focusing on building skills for young women and young mothers by providing housing, workforce training and other social services to build self-sufficiency. This visit underscored the vital role of partnerships between local governments, nonprofits and residents in creating sustainable change.
Resilience and Leadership in Action
Conference participants heard powerful stories of resilience from women in municipal leadership. Sharon Weston Broome, former Mayor-President of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Betsy Hove, Assistant to the Director of Military and Veteran Affairs from the City of San Antonio, shared the challenges and hard-won lessons they encountered in public office. Both speakers emphasized that leadership requires risk, resilience and an unwavering commitment to move forward — especially for women who are often the “first” in their roles.
However, both leaders also underscored the importance of self-care, reminding participants that one must prioritize their own well-being to lead effectively. By sharing their journeys, these women reminded us that resilience is not just personal — it’s collective.
Looking Beyond WIMG: Future Constituency Group Events
Attending the WIMG 2025 Summer Conference was a powerful reminder that women’s leadership in municipal government is not just about representation — it’s about resilience, collaboration and the power of community. Through discussions, problem-solving workshops and stories of personal courage, the conference demonstrated how women leaders across the U.S. are making transformative changes in their communities. This gathering was more than a conference: it was a call to action, fostering stronger, more inclusive leadership and inspiring engagement and innovation in municipal government.
For those who couldn’t join the WIMG conference in San Antonio, NLC encourages you join the group to stay up to date on their work or to attend one of the upcoming Constituency Group summer meetings. Whether you’re a member of NLC’s National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO), Hispanic Elected Local Officials (HELO) or the Local Indigenous Leaders (LIL), these gatherings offer a unique opportunity to connect, share insights and shape the future of local leadership.
Explore Upcoming Summer Events!
Learn more about our Constituency Group events this summer and sign up to attend.
About the Author
Celebrating Women in Municipal Government
- Fiona Duncan
Motherhood and Public Service: Insights from Local Leaders
- Lara Burt
Summer Events
Local Solutions to Our Biggest Problems Include Economic Mobility
- CitiesSpeak Guest
Small Cities Month: Big Impact in Small Communities
- Carmel Jones
Local Voices, National Impact: NLC’s 2025 SML Fly-In Builds Momentum for City Priorities
- Archana Sridhar