By Sally Carpenter Hale, Communications Chair, LWV Clark County and Dee Anne Finken, Communications Portfolio Director, LWV of Washington

The League of Women Voters of Washington and AAUW of Washington have begun conversations about ways the women-led nonprofit, nonpartisan organization can collaborate to defend democracy.

These talks follow the national League’s November launch of its Grassroots Power Partners initiative, an effort to explore the defense of democracy with other like-minded and motivated organizations.   

"Our Washington state League is looking forward to a deepened relationship with AAUW,” LWVWA President Karen Crowley said during the December presidents’ call, a monthly Zoom meeting of local League presidents and other interested League members. 

“We've already had productive meetings, connecting with local leaders from both organizations,” Crowley added. 

Emily Hitchens, president of AAUW Washington, and Sandra Distelhorst, the state organization’s public policy director, joined Crowley’s presidents’ call. Afterward, she concurred with Crowley’s sentiments.  

“Our partnership with LWV is part of the ‘stronger together’ spirit but even more, in these troubling times, sharing support and friendship is key," Hitchens said.“AAUW-WA branches across the state are welcoming League members to join in social gatherings and educational events.” 

The ultimate goal of the partners’ initiative is to increase civic participation and community collaborations to create a more inclusive democracy, the leaders said.   

For the League, it is the next phase of the broader Unite and Rise 8.5, the plan begun last May to mobilize8.5 million people to foster resilience, equity, and collective action leading up to the 2026 midterm elections. 

During the December presidents’ meeting, Hitchens and Distelhorst described AAUW Washington’s structure and goals.  They noted AAUW has 23 branches in Washington, ranging in size from nine members to 300, along with an online branch with about 1,200 members. 

The LWVWA, meanwhile has almost 3000 members in 20 local Leagues across the state. 

During the meeting, League presidents from around the state also brainstormed areas of common interest with the AAUW leaders.  

They noted the League long has focused on voter registration and education through tabling events and candidate forums, and AAUW has recently launched the “It’s My Vote!” campaign to engage voters. 

Both groups have legislative newsletters and could join forces on informing members about legislation of interest. And both had annual lobbying events with state legislators in January.  

The Clark County League already has taken steps, with the hosts of its Citizen 411 radio show and podcast interviewing the leaders of the two local AAUW branches. The show is co-hosted by League members Tracy Reilly Kelly, Teresa Torres and Rachel Bancroft. 

The hosts interviewed Hudson’s Bay AAUW chapter President Kathi Pickett and AAUW member Kathy Bender, who is also a Clark County League member (see adjoining story about Bender’s experiences).   

Earlier in the day, Kelly, the radio show co-host, had attended Crowley’s presidents’ call.  “It’s amazing how the policies and values of these two organizations align,” she said afterward.  

“As we look ahead to 2026,we know that we will be working together to make more people in our community aware of our shared issues and values and we will be encouraging them to get out and vote.” 

In Snohomish County, meanwhile, the League is working with its AAUW counterpart on formulating questions for candidate forums. 

Reaching young women is a priority for both groups. Many AAUW branches give local scholarships for its Tech Trek STEM Camp for girls, while the League has a strong relationship with the Girl Scouts.  

Participants in Crowley’s December meeting suggested AAUW could help place the League’s textbook, “The State We Live In,” in more schools. The state League also has been conducting a series of media and news literacy education workshops. 

“Our shared commitment to civic engagement and mutual belief in the importance of education provide a strong basis for collaboration. I am looking forward to hearing how local Leagues develop the creative possibilities," Crowley said. 

Kelly, the Clark County radio show co-host, added: “AAUW shares the League’s deep concerns about what is going on in America in 2025-2026. 

“No wonder we are partners. We are seeing the same things.”