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Author: Charmaine Riley

President’s Note: 2026 Is Already in Full Swing

Post date February 9, 2026
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Dear WWPR Members,

It is hard to believe that I took the reins from Past President Colleen Gallagher just 40 days ago. In that short time, the organization has already accomplished so much, with even more ahead.

First, if we have not yet met, my name is Charmaine Riley, and I am honored to serve as the 2026 WWPR president. I am proud to have spent several years on the WWPR Board as Emerging Leaders co-chair and to have served as vice president in 2025. As I step into this role, I am building on the strong legacy of WWPR leaders who came before me while charting a path that meets women in communications where they are in 2026.

Here are a few highlights so far.

2026 WWPR Board and Advisory Council Induction

Earlier this year, we inducted the 2026 Board and Advisory Council. Both are exceptional groups of women with deep experience across sectors that help WWPR best serve our members.

I am pleased to welcome Bridgette Dodge as treasurer, Julie McDowell as operations chair, Tisa Sinclair as secretary and Vanessa French as vice president to the WWPR Executive Board. You can view the full list of new and returning board members here.

For the 2026–2028 Advisory Council, WWPR is proud to welcome an outstanding group of communications professionals. Led by women who exemplify empowerment, industry leadership and long-standing support for WWPR, the council will play a key role in strengthening our long-term vision and impact. Members include:

Debbi Jarvis, president and CEO, The Debbi Jarvis Group
Lauren Tyler, chief of staff and communications strategist
Nell Callahan, founder, Frontwood Strategies
Sukhi Sahni, communications senior advisor and educator
Tina Anthony, founder, Iris Strategies

2026 Annual Meeting

On Jan. 21, WWPR kicked off our 46th Annual Meeting at The Hamilton. It was an incredible showing of members and leaders past and present, including former presidents and board members Colleen Gallagher, Susan Matthews Apgood, Avelyn Austin, Kendra Kojcsich, Lauren Lawson-Zilai and Kate Perrin.

I also had the honor of hosting a fireside chat with D.C. powerhouse Erica Loewe. We discussed what it takes to succeed in today’s communications landscape, how women can advocate for themselves and more. You can read the recap here.

One Party

For the first time in years, WWPR partnered with AMADC, AAF, PRSA and IABC to bring together communicators and creatives from across the region for a celebration of our industries. Hundreds of professionals joined us for a night of connection, networking and island vibes.

New Pro Bono Client: Community Bridges

WWPR is thrilled to announce Community Bridges as our pro bono client for 2026-2027. After reviewing 34 applications from exceptional organizations across the DMV area, Community Bridges stood out for its transformational impact, strategic readiness, and powerful untold stories.

Our Pro Bono Chairs and Committee also recently launched a new resource for all nonprofits in need of communications support.

Whew, what a January. And we are just getting started. Here are a few upcoming events to mark your calendar:

Make the Most of Your WWPR Membership or Learn More About WWPR

Virtual | Feb. 11 at 9 a.m.

How AI Is Changing Search and What It Means for Your Reputation

Virtual | Feb. 18 at 8:30 a.m.

How to Network Like a Star

FIU in D.C. | Feb. 23 at 6 p.m.

I hope to see you at future events as we continue to focus on pride, purpose and connection. I welcome everyone, members and nonmembers alike, to bring their full selves to WWPR and experience a community dedicated to meeting women in communications where they are. And if you see me, please stop and say hello.

Cheers to 2026!

Charmaine

Tags presidents note

Q&A with WWPR Annual Meeting Keynote Speaker Erica Loewe

Post date January 12, 2026
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WWPR’s Annual Meeting keynote speaker, Erica Loewe, is a nationally recognized communications strategist. Recognized by The Root 100 as one of the Most Influential Black Americans, Essence Magazine’s Power 40, ColorComm’s 28 Black Women in Communications Making History, the U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce’s 50 Under 40, and the Washington Association of Black Journalists for Excellence in Communications, Erica brings more than a decade of experience at the intersection of media, politics, and entertainment.

In this conversation, Erica shares her perspective on communications in Washington, D.C., navigating challenges, and how women communicators can use our voices and influence for good.

Q&A

Can you share your current role and what a “typical” day looks like for you?

I advise clients across media, tech, politics and philanthropy on communications and social impact strategies. A “typical” day involves more calls than I’d like, managing fast-moving moments, and a lot of reading.

Which communications or leadership accomplishment do you feel made the greatest impact, and what did that experience teach you?

Any opportunity to create access. Some of my proudest moments include bringing Black media outlets to the White House who had never been invited and mentoring younger women finding their professional footing.

Are there any defining moments or projects that shaped your communications or leadership style?

When headlines like “President Biden defunds HBCUs” or “Biden-Harris Administration is Disseminating Crack Pipes” went viral, it became clear that disinformation is now an unavoidable reality. We no longer live in an era where we can rely on journalistic integrity and story corrections to catch up. We have to move faster, push back aggressively, and be proactive with our narrative.

Your career spans media, politics, and social impact. How has navigating those spaces influenced your approach to storytelling and strategy?

It’s made me bilingual. I’ve learned how to speak to audiences and institutions. Strategy without storytelling falls flat and storytelling without strategy is soon forgotten.

What advice would you give to emerging communications professionals?

Dress up. Show up. Never give up. Pull others up. The skills come with time and experience, but what sets you apart is how you show up and treat others.

In 2024, you were featured in The Sixth, chronicling your experience during January 6th. What was that experience like?

It was deeply personal. Sharing that story was less about reliving the trauma and more about preserving truth. I’m proud to have been part of an Emmy-award-winning project that will shape how history remembers that day because we told it honestly.

How do you define impactful leadership in today’s communications landscape?

Impactful communications leaders know when to respond quickly and when to shut up. Both require thoughtfulness, clarity and restraint.

In a 24-hour news cycle, what does taking care of yourself look like and how has that changed?

Early in my career, self-care meant pushing through, whether caregiving for my mom with Alzheimer’s or working around the clock. Now it still means those things but with boundaries, rest, and perspective. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

Register now for the WWPR Annual Meeting on Wednesday, January 21 to hear Erica Loewe’s keynote and be part of this important conversation.

Tags Annual Meeting, blog

Meet Our 2026-2027 Pro Bono Client: Community Bridges

Post date January 6, 2026
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EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS

Community Bridges empowers girls from under-resourced communities in Montgomery County, Maryland, to become resilient young women who thrive as students, engaged community members, and confident leaders. Through year-round leadership development, academic support, and college readiness programming, they serve girls in grades 4-12, often helping a single girl for more than 10 years.

Their outcomes speak for themselves: last year, 100% of Community Bridges’ high school seniors graduated and enrolled in college. They are eager to work with the experts in WWPR’s membership to strengthen their reach and visibility.

“We believe that with WWPR’s guidance and expertise, we can expand our reach, strengthen our communications capacity, and inspire broader community engagement,” said Shannon Babe-Thomas, Executive Director of Community Bridges. “Ultimately, we want to enable more girls and families to benefit from our programs.”

WHY COMMUNITY BRIDGES

The WWPR Pro Bono & Social Impact Committee, co-chaired by Christina Crawley and Alicia Aebersold, selected Community Bridges after a rigorous evaluation process that included a deep assessment of organizational capacity, impact potential, and execution readiness.

“Community Bridges has the perfect combination of compelling stories to tell and the infrastructure to implement strategic communications,” said Crawley. “They’ve built an incredible program with proven results. Now we get to help them amplify those stories to attract new supporters, strengthen partnerships, and expand their reach.”

Community Bridges already has strong foundations in place—including a signature annual gala that raises $100K, active social media channels, and established partnerships with organizations like Wells Fargo and Montgomery County Public Schools. WWPR’s support will help them scale strategically through media training, storytelling frameworks, and capacity-building guidance.

A NEW WAY TO SERVE: THE WWPR NONPROFIT COMMUNICATIONS TOOLKIT

The competitive selection process for our new pro bono client revealed something important: dozens of worthy organizations need communications expertise, but we only have one slot for a pro bono client.

That’s why the WWPR Pro Bono Committee is launching a new initiative in early 2026: the WWPR Nonprofit Communications Toolkit. This program will provide free educational resources—including one-page guides, expert Q&As, and potentially webinars—available to any nonprofit in the DMV area.

The Toolkit will allow WWPR to share its expertise more widely while creating opportunities for more members to contribute.

GET INVOLVED

WWPR members interested in supporting Community Bridges or contributing to the Toolkit initiative can join the Pro Bono & Social Impact Committee email list by contacting Christina Crawley or Alicia Aebersold. Opportunities will include everything from media training and messaging support to creating educational resources for the nonprofit community.

We’ll share more details about the partnership kickoff and Toolkit launch very soon. In the meantime, we invite you to learn more about Community Bridges at communitybridges-md.org.

Here’s to two years of empowering young women to lead!

ABOUT WWPR’S PRO BONO & SOCIAL IMPACT PROGRAM

Since 2003, Washington Women in Public Relations has partnered with nonprofit organizations to provide strategic communications support, capacity building, and expertise. The program reflects WWPR’s commitment to strengthening our community while providing members with meaningful opportunities to give back through their professional skills.

CONTACT:

Christina Crawley, Pro Bono & Social Impact Committee Co-Chair

Alicia Aebersold, Pro Bono & Social Impact Committee Co-Chairprobono@wwpr.org

Tags blog, pro bono

Washington Women in Public Relations Announces Community Bridges as 2026-2027 Pro Bono Client

Post date January 6, 2026
Categories Posts

DMV Organization Empowering Girls to Break Cycles of Poverty Through Education Selected from Competitive Field of 34 Applicants

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) today announced Community Bridges as its pro bono client for 2026-2027. The Montgomery County, Maryland-based nonprofit empowers girls from under-resourced communities to become resilient young women who thrive as students, engaged community members, and confident leaders.

Community Bridges was selected from a competitive field of 34 applications following a rigorous evaluation process that assessed organizational capacity, impact potential, and execution readiness. The organization serves girls in grades 4-12 through year-round leadership development, academic support, and college readiness programming, last year achieving a 100% graduation and college enrollment rate for high school seniors.

“Community Bridges has the perfect combination of compelling stories to tell and the infrastructure to implement strategic communications support,” said Charmaine Riley, President of WWPR. “They’ve built an incredible program with proven results, and their mission of transforming the lives of young women through education and leadership development aligns deeply with WWPR’s values. We’re excited to help them amplify their stories to attract new supporters, strengthen partnerships, and ultimately serve even more young women.”

Over the next two years, WWPR volunteer members will provide strategic communications guidance and support to help Community Bridges expand its reach and visibility.

“We are thrilled and honored to be selected as WWPR’s pro bono client,” said Shannon Babe-Thomas, Executive Director of Community Bridges. “We believe that with WWPR’s guidance and expertise, we can expand our reach, strengthen our communications capacity, and inspire broader community engagement. Ultimately, we want to enable more girls and families to benefit from our programs and help elevate the narrative around what’s possible for young women from under-resourced communities.”

The pro bono partnership model provides comprehensive communications support crafted to meet the goals the client identifies, which may include everything from strategic planning to support with media relations or social media. WWPR members volunteer their time and expertise to build long-term communications capacity within the client organization.

Community Bridges joins a distinguished group of nonprofits WWPR has supported through its pro bono program, including Running Start (2024-2025), New Endeavors by Women (2022-2023), Academy of Hope (2020-2021), Sitar Arts Center (2018-2019), Bright Beginnings Inc. (2015-2017), and others dating back to 2003.

The partnership officially launches this month (January 2026).

About Community Bridges

Community Bridges empowers girls from under-resourced communities to become resilient young women who thrive as students, engaged community members, and confident leaders. Through integrated 4th through 12th grade programs, Community Bridges supports girls and their families living at or below the poverty level in Montgomery County, Maryland, using a holistic, long-term approach that addresses developmental needs and breaks cycles of poverty through education. For more information, visit communitybridges-md.org.

About Washington Women in Public Relations

Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) is a member-based professional society cultivating and inspiring female communicators to reach their full potential in the DC market and beyond. The organization is committed to providing leadership opportunities, professional development, mentorship, and industry networking. For more information about WWPR and its pro bono program, visit wwpr.org.

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Tags blog, pro bono

Washington Women in Public Relations Announces 2026 Board of Directors and Advisory Council

Post date December 4, 2025
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For 46 years, the organization has led networking and professional development opportunities for female communicators in D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 4, 2025) – Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR), a leading membership organization for female communications professionals in the Washington, D.C. area, today announced its 2026 Board of Directors. The newly elected Board is as follows:

President: Charmaine Riley | American Beverage
Past President: Colleen Gallagher | OnWrd & UpWrd
Vice President: Vanessa French | Vanessa French Consulting
Secretary: Tisa Sinclair | AARP
Treasurer: Bridgette Dodge | Edelman
Operations Chair: Julie McDowell | College of American Pathologists
Content and Digital Marketing Co-Chair: Elisa O’Halloran | U.S. Department of Agriculture
Content and Digital Marketing Co-Chair: Kamica Price | Vectorworks, Inc.
Content and Digital Marketing Co-Chair: Kate Keverline | The Carlyle Group
Emerging Leaders Awards Co-Chair: Isabel Aldunate | MatchPoint Strategies
Emerging Leaders Awards Co-Chair: Janae Washington | Information Technology Industry Council
Membership Co-Chair: Kate Urbach | Curley Company
Membership Co-Chair: Tiffanie Rosier | Hotwire & ROI DNA
Pro Bono & Social Impact Co-Chair: Alicia Aebersold | American Psychological Association
Pro Bono & Social Impact Co-Chair: Christina Crawley | Virtuosa
Professional Development Co-Chair: Courtney Bailey | Meta Platforms, Inc.
Professional Development Co-Chair: Kim Kinser | Communications and Strategy Consultant
Social Media Chair: Melanie Vynalek | Adfero
Woman of the Year Co-Chair: Adiya Mobley | Mission to Movement Worldwide
Woman of the Year Co-Chair: Marie Baldassarre | Office of Congressman Ro Khanna

All WWPR members were invited to participate in the online voting process for the 2026 Board in November 2025.

For more than four decades, WWPR has cultivated and inspired female communicators to reach their full potential in the D.C. market and beyond. The Board of Directors plays a central role in guiding the organization and delivering leadership opportunities, professional development, mentoring, community partnerships, and industry networking.

“Rooted in pride, purpose, and partnership, the 2026 Board of Directors is ready to meet this moment,” said Charmaine Riley, 2026 president, WWPR. “We entered 2025 with strong momentum, and we are committed to building on that progress by growing our membership, elevating our programming, and strengthening support for communicators across every sector. This is an important moment for our industry, and we are energized to work with this exceptional board to deepen our community and invite even more leaders to get involved.”

WWPR has also inducted a new Advisory Council, which will strategically guide the Board over a two-year term. Led by women who exemplify empowerment, industry leadership, and long-standing support for WWPR, the Council will play a key role in strengthening the organization’s long-term vision and impact. WWPR is proud to welcome:

Debbi Jarvis, president & CEO, The Debbi Jarvis Group
Lauren Tyler, chief of staff and communications strategist
Nell Callahan, founder, Frontwood Strategies
Sukhi Sahni, communications senior advisor and educator
Tina Anthony, senior vice president, marketing and communications, NobleReach Foundation

WWPR will continue to host a robust slate of professional development and networking events throughout the year. The Annual Meeting will be held on January 21, 2025, at The Hamilton. It will kick off the organization’s 2026 programming, including its two signature events—the Emerging Leaders Awards and the Woman of the Year Awards. Tickets for the Annual Meeting, featuring keynote Erica Loewe, are available here.

Learn more about WWPR and upcoming events at wwpr.org.

ABOUT WASHINGTON WOMEN IN PUBLIC RELATIONS
Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) is a member-based professional society that cultivates and inspires female communicators to reach their full potential in the D.C. market and beyond. The organization is committed to providing leadership opportunities, professional development, mentorship, and industry networking. Visit us at wwpr.org. For more information: info@wwpr.org.