You ran for public office to make a difference.
Western Leaders Network provides you with simple and time-efficient opportunities to do even more. Founded in 2017, WLN is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization that brings together local, tribal, and state elected officials across the Interior West to address the climate crisis, advance conservation initiatives, and protect democracy.
why the environment and democracy?
When a democracy is under attack, forward progress on environmental protection stalls, and the climate suffers. When the climate is unstable and communities feel the impacts, democracies are at risk of collapse. Each crisis fuels the other. Protecting the environment is a democracy issue, and protecting democracy is an environmental issue.
Local, tribal, and state elected officials sit at the center of this relationship with a dual responsibility: protect the policies and practices of participatory democracy so everyone has a voice in shaping climate and conservation solutions, and drive momentum on environmental action to ensure the social and economic stability that keeps democracies strong.
why local, state, and tribal elected officials?
Environmental and democracy progress relies on visionary and strategic local, state, and tribal officials who have the support and skills to lead. Our network includes county clerks, election officials, county commissioners, city/town council members, tribal leaders, mayors, state legislators, electric co-op and water district board members, school board members, and other local elected and appointed officials.
Deep local ties in their communities make them trusted messengers who are uniquely positioned to bridge divides and build bipartisan coalitions, drive innovation and new policy approaches, ensure community input in decision-making, strengthen civic participation, and champion sustainable environmental solutions.
what we do
Our work is two-fold: Western Leaders Network offers actionable opportunities for direct advocacy as well as tools and resources to help elected officials make the most of their time in public office.
We help elected officials collectively take action, make their voices heard at the state and federal levels, and engage in key policy debates by:
Testifying before agencies and committees
Publishing opinion editorials in major publications
Signing letters to decision-makers to advocate for urgent policies and programs
We help elected officials cultivate their skills and become more impactful leaders by:
Sharing news and information on emerging democracy and environmental issues
Offering webinars, trainings, and virtual events
Publishing toolkits, fact sheets, and resources
Amplifying best practices and ideas for effective governance, local climate action, and strengthening democracy
Connecting elected officials across the region