July 27 - Register Now

Women: Organized to Win's Inaugural Women's Summit Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California is the latest supporter to sign on with Women: Organized to Win California PAC and Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia to present the inaugural Women’s Summit later this month. The event is aimed at providing resources and information to progressive women who are considering running for the California State Legislature beginning in 2014.  “We are so pleased to have prominent organizations support our efforts,” said Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, who is co-presenting the Summit. “When women run for and are elected to public office, women’s issues receive the attention they deserve. This Women’s Summit should be a high priority for anyone concerned with women’s issues.” Additional Summit supporters include HOPE Political Action Committee (www.hopepac.org), the state’s only political network that raises campaign contributions specifically to assist Latinas running for public office. A series of talks and panel discussions focused on the special needs of women candidates is being held during the daylong Summit that is taking place on the campus of Cerritos College July 27. There will be sessions tailored to women who are running for office and another track focused on women still in the exploration stage. The California State Legislature is comprised of less than 30 percent women, even though the state’s population is majority female. In fact, the number of women in the state legislature is on the decline. There are just 21 women in the state assembly today, compared to 25 in 2003. For more information and to register for the Women’s Summit, visit the Women: Organized to Win website at www.womenorganizedtowin.com or call 323.920.5804. The mission of Women: Organized to Win (www.womenorganizedtowin.com) is to elect progressive women to the California State Legislature. We work in partnership with other organizations that share similar goals, focusing our efforts on target districts where we can help women candidates with the tools to win and mentoring to guide them on the path to victory.

Board Member Spotlight: Serena Josel

Serena Josel serves as the Director of Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles and Deputy Director of the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles County—a 501(c)4 advocacy organization that works to elect candidates and enact public policies that protect sexual health care and education.

Since joining Planned Parenthood in 2005, Serena has worked to defeat anti-choice ballot measures and elect champions of women’s health in several states, including California, Alaska, Virginia, and Mississippi.

Serena's commitment to reproductive freedom began in college when she interned at NARAL Pro-Choice New York, helping to pass the Women’s Health & Wellness Act and elect Senator Hillary Clinton.

Originally from New York, Serena graduated cum laude from New York University with a B.A. in Politics.  In 2010 she joined the Board of the National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC) L.A. Westside chapter and currently serves as the organization’s PAC Chair.

Board Member Spotlight: Lindsay Bubar

Lindsay Bubar is a Los Angeles-based political consultant who is best-known for her work recruiting, training and advising women and progressive candidates as they run for office.

Lindsay has worked with a broad range of clients, including Wendy Greuel for Mayor, social justice advocate Sandra Fluke, Congressmember Henry Waxman, Emerge California and Carolyn Ramsay for Los Angeles City Council.

Working to ensure we have full gender equality in politics, Lindsay has been on the Board of the National Women’s Political Caucus, LA Westside for more than five years, helping to elect pro-choice women throughout Los Angeles County. Lindsay is also on the Advisory Board of Running Start, an organization dedicated to bringing young women into politics.

Lindsay serves on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters and as a Project Partner for the Truman National Security Project. She is the former Political Director of the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats, was named one of California Forward’s Forward Thinkers, and previously worked for the California League of Conservation Voters and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

Lindsay was raised in the San Fernando Valley and graduated from the University of Southern California with degrees in Psychology, Business and Advertising. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, David Graham-Caso.