EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, kicked off Oscars week by bringing together powerful women across entertainment and politics, for EMILY’s List’s first ever “Resist, Run, Win” pre-Oscars brunch. The brunch featured an impactful high-level panel about women raising their voices and resisting the cultural forces that threaten to hold them back.

Comedian and activist Chelsea Handler, co-chair of EMILY’s List’s Creative Council, moderated the panel and raised important questions, spurring an inspiring conversation between panelists former Senator Barbara Boxer, Padma Lakshmi, Elaine Welteroth, Amber Tamblyn, and Constance Wu. The discussion focused on how women can capitalize on current momentum and public attention to drive real change.

Throughout the panel, Handler emphasized the importance of women supporting each other, saying, “as a woman you have to be a sister to every single woman you meet. What has happened since the election is that woman have come together, and we are staying together because we are stronger together. And we don’t just need one win. We need a wave of wins. We need to change the environment.”

“We are in the midst of a revolution. To call it by any other name is a disservice to what we are all doing here and to all the women who paved the way so we can sit in this room together. We are in a revolution everywhere, in all industries, and certainly in politics,” said panelist Amber Tamblyn, acknowledging the gravity of the current cultural and political atmosphere.

“We can look through history and see that young people have always been at the forefront of change. Millennials came here to disrupt and dismantle. Until we have more women in the government nothing will change,” said panelist Elaine Welteroth.

EMILY’s List Creative Council aims to help the organization reach new, diverse voters across industries, geographies and age groups. The organization has raised over $500 million to support pro-choice Democratic women candidates. Their grassroots community of over five million members helps Democratic women wage competitive campaigns – and win. Since 1985, they have helped elect 116 women to the House, 23 to the Senate, 12 governors, and over 800 to state and local office. Forty percent of the candidates EMILY’s List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color.

By Kinya Claiborne, STYLE & SOCIETY

Photo Credit: Photo by Rachel Murray/Getty Images for EMILY’s List