In a powerful demonstration of civic engagement, over 500 women gathered in person—along with hundreds more online—at Utah Valley University on Saturday, March 22, for Mormon Women for Ethical Government’s (MWEG) largest Spring Conference to date. The event, held during Women’s History Month, celebrated the long tradition of women’s civic leadership in Utah and unveiled a new initiative designed to make a lasting impact on national policy conversations.
During the closing session, MWEG’s executive directors launched the “Peace by Piece” Quilting Campaign—part of a growing national movement to unite diverse voices in a call to renew democratic principles and shared civic responsibility. “Women of faith have a long history of stepping up in moments that matter,” said MWEG Executive Director Emma Petty Addams. “This conference and our ‘Peace by Piece’ campaign show that we are not only willing to engage in civic dialogue, but also to do so in ways that are peace-building, and capable of creating meaningful change.”
The campaign invites women to use quilting as a powerful form of peaceful protest and advocacy. Each attendee received a personal quilt square to write messages to their congressional representatives, which were then sewn together at on-site sewing stations. Women from across the country—both in person and online—will also receive toolkits to host their own quilting advocacy events in their communities. These collective quilts, bearing the stitched voices of engaged citizens, will be hand-delivered to congressional offices in Washington, D.C., in May 2025.
“The energy in the room at MWEG’s Growing Forward Conference proved that the United States retains many women of devout faith who are also devout citizens,” said conference keynote speaker, Lauren Pinkston. “These women embody peacemaking principles, and are poised and ready to work with their elected officials at all levels of government for a brighter tomorrow.”
MWEG’s annual Spring Conference provides training, resources, and inspiration for women of faith seeking to engage in politics and civic service with integrity, courage, and compassion.
