
An inspiring portrait project initiative started to celebrate the record number of women serving in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and aims to inspire women and girls everywhere. The โDear Girlโ Project, led by the stateโs first woman speaker, aims to highlight the contributions and journeys of these trailblazing women.
โI have been a member of the House for nine years come August,โ said Speaker Joanna E. McClinton. โWhen I came into the House, Pennsylvania was ranked towards the bottom nationally in terms of representation. This current session, in which Iโve been so blessed thanks to the support of my colleagues to become the first woman speaker, we have the largest number of women ever serving, interestingly enough, on both sides of the aisle.โ

The speaker emphasized that the project, initially launched during Womenโs History Month in March, aims to celebrate womenโs achievements throughout the year. โPeople are not as appreciative or acknowledging how hard women are working, where weโre leading, and where weโre serving. So, Iโd like to think that we donโt have to be confined to celebrating Womenโs History Month,โ she said.
The โDear Girlโ Project features each woman lawmaker in the caucus with a professional portrait and a heartfelt letter to their younger selves. The letters, rich with themes of self-confidence, resilience, faith, self-love, and self-care, offer inspiring insights and encouragement.
In total, 37 women participated in this project, with 11 members belonging to the PA Legislative Black Caucus. This diverse group includes Speaker McClinton herself, the stateโs first woman and second African American House Speaker, and Rep. LaโTasha D. Mayes, the first openly lesbian member of the PA General Assembly.

Some of the other women leaders in Pennsylvania politics who are featured include Rep. Carol Hill Evans, Rep. Carol Kazeem, Rep. Darisha Parker, Rep. Donna Bullock and Rep. Gina H. Curry.
โI didnโt see young Black women leading in politics as a child or as a young adult,โ speaker McClinton explained. Iโve never had anybody pick up the phone and say, โHey, so when you were speaker, floor leader, and caucus chair,โ because thereโs never been a woman to do them.โ
The project aims to show young women and girls that they, too, can aspire to roles in public service. โWe need to show our daughters, our nieces, for me, Iโm an auntie and a godmother like they need to see us as young as they are, so that they start to think, oh, I donโt have to be confined to the regular professions. I can also play a role in public government; I can serve other people,โ said
One unique aspect of the project is the inclusion of letters from the women to their younger selves. โAs current women leaders, my confession is Iโm not perfect, that I can get overwhelmed, and that I can have challenges,โ the speaker said. โWhen we take a moment to write to our younger selves, weโre able to reflect on the journey that weโve taken and how far weโve come individually and collectively.โ

The speaker also highlighted the importance of staying engaged in the political process, especially for black women voters. โMy message to Black women voters is to not be dismayed, discouraged, or tired of fighting. Our vote has significant power. It changes circumstances, not permanently or instantly, but it does.โ
Reflecting on the process of writing to her younger self, the speaker said, โTo me, those are like the most challenging times in life because youโre so overwhelmed by what everyone else thinks. The world will never be able to say, you know, theyโre 100% approving of you. But it doesnโt matter.โ
This portrait project is set to highlight womenโs achievements in Pennsylvania politics and inspire future generations to pursue leadership roles. As the speaker noted, โThese are the women who are on the front lines, standing together, fighting for women of all colors, and putting our votes every time we have a chance to support initiatives that will help women.