📍Washington, D.C.
October 21st-24th, 2024
The annual LOLA Leadership Retreat took place in Washington, D.C., from October 21st to 24th, with the goal of equipping LOLA Chapter leaders with essential leadership skills to become the most effective ambassadors of liberty. Attended by over 20+ LOLA Chapter leaders, members, and staff from around the globe. The event provided a unique platform for leaders to meet, share stories of activism, learn new skills, and deepen connections. The retreat was a tremendous success, leaving all attendees motivated and ready to elevate their Chapters to new heights.
Monday, October 21st, 2024
History of LOLA & How I found Liberty Stories
Nena Whitfield, President, LOLA
On Monday, after welcome and dinner, Nena Whitfield, LOLA’s President shared the organization’s history of how LOLA has become a global organization inspiring women worldwide to advocate for liberty. The retreat attendees then shared their journey on how they came to the ideas of liberty and their journeys in LOLA.
Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024
What it means to be a Libertarian Woman?
Kat Murti, Executive Director, Students for Sensible Drug Policy
On Tuesday, day 2 of the retreat, Kat Murti, the Executive Director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and member of LOLA D.C Chapter, gave a talk on the subject of libertarian feminism and its implications for women. During the presentation, Kat discussed how libertarianism emphasizes individual needs, and also touched upon specific issues that affect women.
Finding your Leadership Style
Nancey T. Tsai, Medical Director, Kandu Health
After a short break, Nancey T. Tsai, Medical Director at Kandu Health and Clinical Professor, delivered an insightful talk on finding your unique leadership style. She emphasized maximizing their individual strengths and unique approaches. Nancey inspired attendees to embrace their personal leadership style instead of comparing themselves to others, equipping them to lead with authenticity and confidence.
Leading Your Life
Hannah Ruth Earl , Executive Director, America’s Future
After their lunch break, Hannah Ruth Earl, Executive Director of America’s Future, delivered an inspiring talk on leading your life with intention. She guided leaders on focusing their energy toward areas within their control, empowering them to remove obstacles and pursue their highest goals. Emphasizing that clarity is key to success, she highlighted the importance of prioritizing effectively, even if it means saying “no” to avoid feeling overwhelmed. She also encouraged self-compassion, reminding leaders to take a step back, evaluate their journey, and recalibrate their agenda. Her session offered a powerful opportunity for leaders to realign with their vision and maximize their potential for impactful success.
Take Your Chapter to the Next Level
LOLA Brazil Team
The LOLA Brazil Team led a session on strategies for advancing local chapters, sharing valuable insights on chapter growth, member engagement, and organizing events that resonate with both members and the broader community. As one of LOLA’s fastest-growing regions, LOLA Brazil was specifically chosen to speak on chapter development, outreach, and growth, allowing leaders to learn firsthand from a region that has seen significant success. The team emphasized the importance of leadership development, networking, and effectively utilizing available resources to help elevate each chapter to new levels.
Pitching Yourself to the Press
Grace Bydalek, Writer, Performer & Administrator
Grace Bydalek, a writer, performer, and administrator, gave a talk on effectively pitching yourself to the press. She guided attendees through crafting compelling pitches, highlighting the importance of clear messaging, understanding your audience, and positioning yourself authentically. Grace also shared tips on building relationships with media contacts and making your story stand out to increase visibility and engagement.
Pitch Contest
After a brief break, the participants engaged in an exciting LOLA elevator pitch competition. Each woman had one minute to step into the role of a potential first LOLA president of the USA, showcasing her vision, leadership skills, and passion for LOLA’s future.
This fun and fast-paced challenge was all about crafting a compelling, clear, and confident pitch to inspire others and highlight each participant’s unique goals and commitment to advancing liberty and leadership..
Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024
Media Training
Hannah Catherine Brann, Communications Professional, Stand Together
Hannah-Catherine Brann, a communications professional from Stand Together, led an intensive, hands-on, three-hour media training session designed to prepare leaders for live media appearances. This deep-dive experience enabled participants to select topics they were passionate about, simulate live on-camera interviews, and practice real-time responses while being broadcast on a large screen. With the complete setup of an earpiece and mic, each leader experienced the authentic environment of a live media session.
Leaders were called backstage one by one to practice their skills live on camera, with everyone in the next room cheering them on enthusiastically. This training emphasized key aspects of confident and effective media communication, giving participants personalized feedback. The experience is expected to equip leaders to represent their causes in the media, projecting voices of liberty and leadership worldwide.
The White House Tour
On Day 3 of the DC retreat, attendees had the unforgettable experience of a personalized White House tour. For many leaders visiting from different countries, this was their first time visiting the U.S., and they were thrilled to explore the White House. The tour marked a unique highlight, inspiring excitement and awe among all.
The Art of Planning Events
Valerie Durham, Executive Director, Freedom Fest
Valerie Durham, Executive Director of Freedom Fest, shared her insights on event planning in her session, “The Art of Planning Events.” She guided attendees through key stages of planning, from setting a vision and goal to coordinating logistics and creating memorable experiences for attendees. Valerie emphasized the importance of aligning event themes with audience interests and ensuring that each detail enhances the event’s impact. With her extensive experience at Freedom Fest, Valerie provided practical tips and strategies to help aspiring event planners execute successful, purpose-driven events.
Fundraising & Networking
Stephanie Lips, Author & Philanthropy Advisor, DonorsTrust
Stephanie Lips, an author and philanthropy advisor with DonorsTrust, led a session on Fundraising & Networking, where she shared strategies for building strong donor relationships and effective networking skills. She highlighted the importance of aligning fundraising efforts with mission-driven goals and provided practical insights into cultivating long-term support from donors. Stephanie also offered guidance on expanding networks strategically, emphasizing how authentic connections can open doors for meaningful partnerships and sustained funding. Her experience in philanthropy provided attendees with actionable tips to advance their initiatives and deepen their impact.
LOLA Halloween Mixer
After that, the ladies went to the LOLA Mixer, which was open to the public. The event allowed the women to network, grab drinks, and have bar snacks with other attendees. Retreat attendees along with our friends, partners and donors from across DC joined us at the mixer, showcasing their passion for liberty.
Thursday, October 24th, 2024
How to Address Your Message on Social Media
Emma Camp, Assistant Editor, Reason
Emma Camp, Assistant Editor at Reason, delivered a session on how to address your message on social media, focusing on effective communication strategies for liberty-minded advocates. She shared techniques on crafting clear, engaging messages that resonate with diverse audiences while staying true to core values. Emma emphasized the importance of tailoring content to fit different platforms and knowing when to use data, storytelling, or humor to enhance relatability. Attendees learned how to create posts that spark meaningful conversations and build an authentic online presence, empowering them to amplify their impact in the digital space.
Thank You to our sponsors & donors!
LOLA would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to making the 2024 LOLA D.C. Leadership Retreat a resounding success. From our outstanding donors and sponsors to the amazing women who participated, your support and generosity created an experience that inspired and empowered all involved. A special thanks to Michel-Kelly Gagnon, , Nancey T. Tsai, Nena Whitfield for their generous donations, which significantly impacted our retreats success. The connections forged during this event will undoubtedly continue to uplift and strengthen attendees for a long time to come. Thank you all for being a part of something truly special!
