2023 CWL Fellows Scholarships Announced!

California Women Lead (CaWL), in partnership with the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls (CCSWG), announced the 2023 class of recipients of the California Women Lead Scholarship Program for women and gender expansive Fellows in the Sacramento Capitol community. 

The awardees were honored at a celebratory breakfast held at the Citizen Hotel in Sacramento and will be awarded a total of $100,000 in scholarships. 

The CA Women Lead Scholarship Breakfast celebrated the achievements and ambitions of all forty scholarship recipients who were awarded with a $2,500 scholarship each. These scholarships will support the participation of diverse women and gender expansive students participating in the Capitol Fellows Programs, by helping to offset the cost of living as they launch their careers through this valuable program. The Breakfast featured remarks from notable state women leaders, including Senate President Pro Tempore Toni G Atkins, who also serves on the CA Women Lead Board of Directors and California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls Chair, Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan. 

“I am so proud to join California Women Lead and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls to celebrate and support this year’s class of Capitol Fellows. The financial assistance and mentorship I received as a young person enabled me to pursue a career in government and public policy work. Scholarships make a huge difference, as will these Fellows through their service to our state.”

“This program has been tremendously successful in providing women the resources to help them continue on their leadership path,” said CA Women Lead President Dr. Diandra Bremond. “We are thrilled all eligible fellows are participating in the program together. We are stronger together and need to support each and every one of us.” 

“The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls are honored to once again provide grant funding to support this critical effort to increase support for diverse women and gender expansive people working in state government,” said CCSWG Executive Director Holly Martinez. “If we are going to change the systems that were not originally built with women in mind, it is imperative that we support the active participation of those who have been historically excluded. Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients - we can’t wait to see what you do as you lead California into the future!”

In addition to a $2,500 scholarship, each recipient will have the opportunity to participate in professional development events designed to grow their skill sets and professional network, hear from experts and former Fellows on key skill building issues and advice on how to tackle challenges they may face as they build their careers post Fellowship. Scholarship recipients also have access to CA Women Lead and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girl’s events, programming, training, and expansive network of supportive women leaders to elevate their professional endeavors.